Wednesday 3rd December 2014
We had a rest day yesterday (Tuesday) which gave one’s ‘Nether Regions’ a chance to recover from another one of those ‘Shazza Expeditions’. We generally pottered and just got on with some ‘Domestic’ stuff, mainly involving giving the internal areas of the van a good clean and a general tidy up. It had been a lovely warm and sunny day, however, it is quite noticeable now that when the sun sets it gets quite chilly, well actually, its bloody cold and we have now had to turn the heating on for a couple of hours before going to bed !!
We awoke to a chilly start to the day, it is the first time on this trip that the internal gauge has read a little under 10 degrees(c). I took a peek outside and could see no trace of a blue sky or the sunshine, however, the ‘work of fiction’ had forecast a dry day ? It didn’t take long though for the sun to make an appearance, but once again, it was noticeable that it didn’t feel as warm as we had been used to. “Shall we go for a Picnic” she enquired, although I already knew that this wasn’t a question that she expected anything other than a positive response to. “Where would you like to go for a picnic” I replied, trying to appear excited by the suggestion. “Well” she said, “I liked that big park we were in on our first visit here“. I knew which park she was referring to, ‘Parque De Maria Luiza‘ because on our first visit she had commented on how nice it would have been to have had a picnic there. “Will we be catching the bus” I asked, “No” she replied, with one of her mischievous grins, “I thought we could ride in on the bicycles“, my ‘Nether regions’ were already aching again just at the thought of it !! But how bad can it be, I thought to myself, a half hour ride to the park then we could sit, eat our picnic, then walk around the park again for an hour or so, this would give my ‘Nether regions’ time to recover before the half hour cycle back. With picnic stashed in ‘Shazzas’ saddlebag, we set off, we were not that far into our cycle ride when ‘Shazza’ just happened to throw in “I thought we would do a circular route today” !!
At least we had those nice wide ‘traffic free cycle paths’
“Hey Shazza, hang on a minute. Tell me about this circular route……..Shazza, I know you can hear me !!!
Nice view of the River, this is the one that flows past where we are parked but I am not even going to mention that otherwise tomorrow’s trip will be in ‘Kevin’ the Kayak !!!!!!
Looking across to the busy ring road, boy am I glad that we don’t have to cycle on that into the city !!
“Yes Shazza, my Nether Regions are coping quite well at present, thank you”
Off the bridge now and turn left along this old, and now, ‘traffic free’ road
It was at this point that ‘Shazza’ introduced her deviation onto her ‘Circular Route’. Remember that Ring Road that I was glad that we didn’t have to cycle on, well you can guess where we were headed !!! The thought flashed through my head “She’s after the bloody Life Insurance” !!
It wasn’t as bad as I had first feared, there was a nice wide hard shoulder to cycle on and we left at the next exit, in all we were only on this busy bit of road for les than a minute.
Back to nice wide cycle paths !!
“How are your Nether Regions darling”
“Hey guys, look at that blokes face on the bike, looks like he is suffering with a sore arse !!”
At last, the park !! Time to find a picnic spot so that I can get off this damn bike !!
This will do very nicely thank you !!
Shazza wastes no time getting stuck into the picnic !!
At last, a rest from the saddle, after this a bit of a walk to get some feeling back into certain parts of one’s anatomy !!
Hey Gertrude, take a gander at that guy with the sandwich !!
Go on missus, give us a bite of your apple, we need our ‘five a day’ too you know !!
Lunch over, it wasn’t a walk in the park !
I hope she knows where she is going ?
I know it’s a cycle track but I guess he is on a set of wheels !!
Shazza ! Are you sure this is the right way ??
Must be nearly there, that road going off to the right is the bit where we joined the Ring Road !!
Back on the bridge !
Nearly home !!
Oh yes ! ‘Big Momma’ a sight for sore buttocks !!
Some of the Marina Apartments, very nice !
Where have you two been then, we nearly reported you as ‘Missing Persons’ !!
“Hey Shazza, me and ‘The Duck’ been talking whilst you were out. Do you think Eric will take us for a bike ride…………….. !!!!!
And so, it would appear that last year’s Winter Adventures were all about ‘Shazza Expeditions‘, this year they have now become ‘Shazzas Scenic Bike Rides‘. I hope you enjoyed the ‘virtual’ ride with us but I bet your ‘Nether Regions’ aren’t as sore as mine !!
"Big Momma's Great Adventure" 
fabulous – its like being out with you two on the bike ride 🙂
Thank you, that was hopefully the intention but bet your glad I didn’t include all 144 Photographs 😄😄
I was worn out keeping up with Shazza! I was reading today on some motorhome forum about the Spanish police insisting that you know must have insurance and a certificate of conformity for electric bikes, have you heard of this ?
Great pics by the wat 👍😃
There is always a lot of mis-interpretation on forums, but yes we did read up on it. The Electric bikes to which these rules appear to imply are the Scooter type, ones that will travel at 25mph or more. Normal pedal-assist type are okay but we still would not use the electric only capability just to play safe !! Worth noting though, there are lots of other people using the pavements/cycle paths so going fast is not an option. As usual it is about applying common sense !! We have now used our bikes several times over here, twice in the centre of Seville, passed many Police Officers, none of whom have shown any specific interest to our bikes !!
I thought that would be the case tbh, to many self proclaimed experts on forums these days!
Do intend to visit Gibraltar on your travels? i only ask as there is a documentary running here in the UK at the moment and the place looks nice and interesting, not sure if there are any Aires there though.
I think that it varies, there is some very good advice and extremely useful information on forums. Sometimes though it will depend on which forum !! I tend to wary of comments that start with ‘I have heard’ or ‘I have been told’, in such posts or comments it is best to do your own research 😉 As for Gibralter, there are no Aires that I know of. I believe that the roads are too narrow for ‘large’ vehicles and getting out from Gibralter back into Spain is quite a long winded process. Most people make a day visit, they park just outside at ‘La Linea’ and walk in. We have no plans to visit this time around 😊
They say that Seville has the 2nd most cycle paths of any city in Europe (after Amsterdam). Looks like you intend to try them all…
😄😄 Correction, looks like ‘Shazza’ intends to try them all 😂😂😂
love the comment ” a sight for sore buttocks ” !!! :O)
Believe me, it was !! Good to see you back in Europe 😄 got your ‘brief’ Email 😂 will reply to it later today, love to you both 😘
Loved the virtual tour Eric and pics fab as ever. Have to say my backside is sitting comfortably on my workchair (at lunchtime) but actually would prefer to be suffering a bit and enjoying the fabulous time you are having. Cooked my first cake in the remoska, disaster, I burnt the top and it looked nothing like Sharon’s cakes. Guess I’ll just have to keep practicing. Have fun in Sevilla.
Thanks Debs 😄 I guess I have to agree, a bit of ‘posteria’ discomfort or sat at a desk working ?? No contest really 😃 If it’s any consolation, Shazza doesn’t use the Remoska for baking anymore, she uses the oven 👍 Probably be in Morocco early next week. Good to hear from you, take care 😎
What a fantastic navagator you have in your Shazza. Look after her shes better than a SAT-NAV.
She will have to prove her worth in Morocco as our Sat Nav doesn’t cover outside of Europe !! It will be back to reading maps 😬😦
Giggles. ..I hope u have recovered now from your lovely bike ride ☺