April 29, 2014

Two tasks for today – new cycling shoes and sea sickness tablets – both having equal priority.  There is only a fine drizzle this morning and it’s due to clear up later on. We could go to Decathlon on the bikes but we decide to walk instead as we have plenty of time. So we memorised the Google map and set off. We meander through the shopping streets of Santander – why is it that you always see loads of nice stuff when you can’t buy anything? I spend a fair amount of time debating with myself whether I can fit a new pair of sandals on the bike. It would be possible but I wouldn’t use them on the trip and so I make the sensible decision and don’t buy them. Ken’s contribution to the debate is to point out a cast-iron teapot in a shop window – very helpful.

Decathlon have one pair of cycling shoes in my size so I don’t have to spend much time choosing, still better that they have one pair than none at all. We have a quick look around at the other stuff, but actually there hasn’t been anything that we’ve needed that we haven’t had with us. Even Ken’s chain ring problem has resolved itself for the time being as the new chain has ‘worn into’ the worn chain rings and is running smoothly now. The problem now is that once his current chain wears out he will have to replace not just the chain and the chain rings, but the cassette as well, as it will also be being worn in by the chain. Still, they should all last for this trip so that can be sorted out once we get back.

Our mission for the day is accomplished when we buy seasickness tablets at the Pharmacy on our way back.  Hope they work, crossing the Bay of Biscay with the winds we’ve been having lately is not my idea of fun, which reminds me to check the weather forecast for tomorrow night.  Well, it says rain, of course, and the wind still coming from the west to the east at between 15 and 20 km/hour – might not be too bad.  Fingers crossed!