Category Archives: cycling

Satanic Route stage 6 Ponferrada to Compostela

Last entry of the Satanic route. Was supposed to be Ponferrada to Lugo, but I wanted to get home, so I decided to go all the way.
I left Ponferrada at around 1000, weather was good and the road was mostly flat. Good times were ahead, but first lets enjoy the warm up because Pedrafita was ahead, but I had almost 40 kms before facing it.

House in Cacabelos

House in Cacabelos


After Cacabelos, you pass through Trabadelo and Vega de Valcarce is the last town before going up through Pedrafita. I made a short stop in Vega de Valcarce adn asked whether to take the old road to Compostela or the N-IV and then turn left to Padornelo. Taking the N-IV adds up 5 kms to the trip, so I decided to take the old road.
Pedrafita is opened. No snow on sight.

Pedrafita is opened. No snow on sight.


Wrong big, huge fucked decesion. Should have taken the N-IV. The old road its like 3 kms uphill that never goes below 10%. That with 5kgs. in a back pack at 1400 in a sunny evening is a huge mistake.
Retablo publicity

Retablo publicity


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Satanic Route stage 5 León to Ponferrada

So we are getting closer to Compostela, this stage takes us from León to Ponferrada. Short stage around 100 kms. IT was holiday the day I left León so there was no traffic at all. I crossed myself with the bullring of León.

Leon bullring

Leon bullring


Arriving to Astorga is quite easy, flat 45 kms, good road and many cyclist too. Now I really liked Astorga, I was never there before and I really liked it. The cathedral is really worth a visit and the Episcopal palace too.
Cathedral entrance

Cathedral entrance


Cathedral and Episcopal Palace

Cathedral and Episcopal Palace


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Satanic route stage 4 Burgos to León

So stage four is going from Burgos to Leõn. Wake up at around 830 in the morning, have breakfast at local coffe shop close to the hotel, back to the hotel and started cycling at around 900.

Leaving Burgos

Leaving Burgos

After leaving Burgos its mostly emptiness, no traffic on N-120, most of the cars use the highway so the whole road was for me.
Emptiness ahead

Emptiness ahead

Had I known it was gonna be like this in Burgos I would have taken a train to León in Burgos. I was lucky there were clouds in the sky and temperature was around 20C. First stop I made was in Osorno, not much to see there asides from a fascist monument.
Osorno La Mayor

Osorno La Mayor

After stopping at Osorno for 15 minutes to refill the water bottles I went on towards Carrión de Los Condes, which was like 40 kms away. Flat terrain too all the way but after Carrión de Los Condes I realized terrain was not so dry, but greener. Another 40 kms until Sahagún where I decided I was gonna have lunch. Ride kept on being boring and almost without traffic, maybe one car every ten minutes or so. Anyway, there were moments were I could listen to me pedal strokes, my breathing, enjoy the Sun on my face and that was nice.

At Sahagún I made a long stop (about an hour). Needed to eat something asides from energy bars after around 150 kms. Not much to see in Sahagún either, but you could certainly see the increase in the amount of pilgrims heading to Compostela. So after Sahagún I went to Leó, which was like 50 kms away. At this time I was really eager to arrive to Le&oacunte;n. Theres a cross were you leave N-120 to take N-601. I made another stop in Matallana de Madrigal to buy some water, but got back on the road really fast because there were thunderstorms and I didnt wanted to get wet. And after a flat and mostly boring stage I arrived to León at around 1930.

Almost 8 hours later

Almost 8 hours later

Well deserved bath at the hotel and quick dinner at a local bar (typical spanich look). I was back at the hotel before 2200 to see another MasterChef episode.
Dried spanish bull

Dried spanish bull

Tomorrow was gonna be another day.

Strava file here.