Saturday, July 19, 2025

Spain Bike/Drive/Buy - Day 1

Still no riding today but I am in Spain.  I just want to relate some logistics and a few pictures.


Having a car is different than not having one.  Renting a car here is a lot cheaper than in the US.  I picked up the car in the MAD terminal and after waiting my turn finished the paperwyand walked across the street to the car.  MAD is a massive airport but all the car rentals in the terminal are right there.  It did take longer than I expected to get car condition sign off from the one girl doing it.  


Driving the freeways here is quite easy - just listen you your Google Maps.  Cars are just slower here and that makes a big difference when you are not familiar with the roads.  Once I got my phone and the car paired the route showed on the car screen and the directions came out of the speakers.


I set a course for the last Decathlon on my way out south to buy a helmet.  Decathlon was the only store open past 2pm on a Saturday or Sunday.  Any other day of the week there are thousands of bike shops en route.


I also needed USB-C cables because I forgot ALL of them.  My phone was below 20%.  The same mall had a big box electronics store and I got them there.  People in the checkout line in front of me had a big screen TV and a giant party speaker.  Looked like a good store to get a small washing machine and other appliances that could fit on a car.  Note to self.


The drive down was uneventful.  The road is like a curvy version of I-5 north of Sacramento to Redding.  Easy to drive 2 lane freeway.  I paid a 5€ toll leaving Madrid with a credit card.  There was an earlier one just after the airport for .95€.


The hotel is very nice and the restaurant is quite good.  The default red wine was very good.  I had two.


Counting on waking early because I usually do to build the bike and get out by dawn.  It might work that way.

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