To Ainsa: In Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park - Bilbao to Sete - CycleBlaze

September 26, 2017

To Ainsa: In Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park

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Wow. Incredible day.

In the park:

We began our day as we ended yesterday, with a ride into Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park. It's a five mile, thousand foot climb to the end of the road in the Ordesa valley.
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Hiking up the Ordesa valley, on a beautiful loop walk that follows both banks of the river. There are several bridges crossing the creek, so it's easy to tailor a loop to your needs.
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I was surprised to learn that this is a European robin (thanks, Martin!). It's nothing like the American robin, and I don't remember seeing one before. They're not even in the same bird family - ours is a thrush, this is a chat. He was remarkably bold, hopping almost up to our feet.
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We turned back here, crossing the second bridge from the visitors center and returning on the other side or the river. This loop is almost exactly five miles.
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In Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park. This looks like the classic U-shaped glaciated valley that I recall from Geology 101.
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In Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park
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We were happy to find our friends still right where we left them at the start of our hike,
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Dropping back toward Torla
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Torla to Ainsa:

In Torla
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On the surprisingly tough climb toward Fanio. We must have navigated thirty hairpin turns like this today.
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Over the top, dropping from Fanio. The peaks ahead are part of the national park still, I think - it's a vast Park, approachable from both the east and west. We'll be biking through a fantastic landscape for the next hour or so.
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Looking down into the incredible canyon of the Bellos River, in the national park.
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In Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park
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The chapel at Buerba
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The chimneys of Spain, continued: these are in Buerba.
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Fantastic!

Here's Rachael's video of this descent - best video from the tour so far.

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Ainsa:

Total elevation gain: today, 4,400'; for the tour, 39,600,

Our garage for the night - the bodega in the cellar of our hotel
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Plaza Major, the heart of the historical walled city
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We ate at this fine restaurant on Plaza Major, asosiated with the posada. Another delicious bargain. A great night for dining outdoors windless, not too chilly, cats milling around the tables.
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Our restaurant and our waiter, Ainsa
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Today's ride: 46 miles (74 km)
Total: 638 miles (1,027 km)

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