A Life in Waiting

Yup, my baby was still there!  After walking for what seemed like hours while on the downswing of a caffeine high, I finally found the place where I parked my bike.  Rounded the corner and breathed a sigh of relief as I saw the glint of my silver cover!  Not only was it still there, but nobody had messed with it.  I was so happy I did a happy dance!

Now as I was quite rushed at the time of departure in February, I didn’t leave the bike in the best of conditions.  It was quite filthy, a mixture of six weeks of airport traffic, but also from a previous ride from La Alberca in the rain to Madrid.  Not only that, but I left it with an empty tank.  But minor issues compared to the fact that IT WAS STILL THERE!!

So I spend a good half an hour getting re-acquainted with my bike and putting everything back into place.  She started right up on the first attempt, but blew out a bit of smoke at first in a fit of distaste for me leaving her there for so long.  Either that or just the result of sitting for six weeks without being started. 

I head out of the airport with my focus to find a gas station but that objective quickly changes as the sky starts to open up and dump a gallon a minute of rain on me.  I estimate that I have plenty of gas and just bee-line it to the hostel.  After about a half an hour ride in the rain, I finally arrive at Plaza de Santa Ana and park my bike in a familiar spot.  Remove my gear and head over to the hostel right around the corner.

Rain is the one factor that I hate about riding a bike.  It just makes everything so miserable.  Visibility is lessened, confidences decrease, and it’s just plain miserable riding while wet.  It’s been something that I had planned on avoiding as much as possible, but like the ride from the airport, sometimes it’s unavoidable. 

After I get myself settled, I head out in the evening rain to find a cozy spot to eat.  I stumble upon a cool looking pub that brews it’s own cervesas and serves tapas gratis (free Spanish finger foods typically consisting of a slice of bread with a variety of toppings on top.  Highly recommended!).  After two grande cervesas and a few tapas, I head back to the hostel to finish off the night with only a minor dent in my wallet.  What would’ve cost close to 20€ in Helsinki was only 7€ here. 

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