25 October 2019: La Rabida to Lepe (38 miles-818 total)

Can we ride it? John and I spent a lot of time trying to determine if and how we might enter Huelva from the east over one of the bridges. Sources disagreed. In the end, John led us across the N-442 bridge crossing the Rio Tinto. We had 4-lanes, 2 in each direction, so vehicles could pass. We turned on our blinky lights and went for it. John said he spotted a sign barring bikes; none of us did. 

We stopped a a major Columbus-themed monument, then rode the cycle path along the Rio Odiel to the train station, then into the heart of Huelva. While large, we sensed a good vibe, a bit mellower than Seville, Cordoba, and Granada.

Then we said our goodbyes, and the three SLO riders headed towards Seville while I went west towards Portugal. I'll be back in Bozeman in 1 week, next Friday. Difficult to comprehend going from delightful 73F sun to near freezing temperatures.

Much of my ride after leaving Huelva was on dedicated bike paths. The initial portion was flat, seaside, along salt flats. Then the trail was adjacent to an expressway, rolling up and down through a low pine forrest, followed by excellent roads passing vacation homes, apartments, and farms.

Tomorrow I will ride 13 miles to Ayamonte with my gear, where a small ferry should be running, taking pedestrians, bike, and a few cars across the Guadiana River to Portugal. The ferry leaves Spain on the hour and returns from Portugal on the half-hour. If operating, I'll look for lodging in Tavira, Portugal, then return to Spain on Sunday where I can easily reach the train in Huelva on Monday. The Monday forecast is rain, so I may have to adapt. Even so, I did bring good rain gear.

MONUMENTO A LA FE DESCUBRIDORA

This massive statue, located at Punta Sebo where the rivers Odiel and Tinto meet, is often mistaken for the figure of Columbus.

The statue actually represents a Franciscan friar of Monasterio La Rábida, who took Christopher Columbus in while he was planning his first voyage and waiting for confirmation of funding from the Spanish monarchs.

The cubist statue, at 37m tall and made from quarried stone from Niebla, looks out to the west and is dedicated to the sailors who with faith and perseverance aided Columbus in the discovery of America. The pedestal is a tribute to the cultures discovered in America with bas-reliefs depicting Mayan, Aztec, Inca and Christian elements. It has two memorial plaques on its pedestal; one of them reminds visitors of the donation of the statue by the United States in gratitude for the discovery, and La Real Sociedad Colombina Onubense is responsible for the second plaque.

It was built in 1929 and the director of the project was Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, an American sculptor, disciple of Rodin in Paris and she also studied in New York and was named "adopted daughter" of the city of Huelva. 

Traveling the boardwalk along the Rio Odiel on the west side of Huelva.

Cycle path and riverside park looking south

Cycle path and riverside park looking north

Dead Battery. With their car blocking the road, two young women were getting plenty of help. However, the young guys were familiar with automatics and not stick shifts. On guy was in the car, repeatedly trying the starter, and just getting the dead battery click. I told then is was a dead battery and John noted it was a stick shift. So we suggested they jump start it in reverse instead of trying to push the car uphill. Once we convinced the guy driving to let it go downhill, it started, we were thanked in excellent English, and we cycled away.

Gravel Biking. Robin wanted to go to the Huelva city center and John managed to find some gravel, leading up to this trail the spiraled upwards to what seemed to be the top of Huelva.

Parting Group Pose

Matador

Departing for Seville

Leaving Huelva, crossing the Rio Odiel on the pedestrian and bike bridge.

Salt Beds.

Spain's Atlantic Beaches. About 70F and nearly deserted.

We see row-upon-row of plants growing in these shelters.

Do not mix with bike tires. I expect these plants are safe from nearly everything.

My Lepe Lodging. Clean, quiet, refrigerator in the room, and 1 block from a commercial street and 3 blocks from the recommended place for breakfast, lunch, tapas, and drinks. I checked-in, stashed my bike and trailer in my room, explored Lepe, then returned for a shower and catching up on this blog. Early dinner was sushi; the 2nd light dinner was a half bocadillo with fries and red wine.`