Nine2FivePro

2026 kicked off with a ski weekend. New Years Day at Mont Ste Marie doing lift runs with Kate and Adam.

Followed by a Sutton getaway for some alpine touring. Blew up my ankle on the climb up Sutton. It was a beauty climb and a dicey descent. Ankle issue meant I was benched for the second ski day, with the bench being a sauna. Gotta make the best of it, right? Upwards & Onwards 2026!

Day 4 of our Bilbao - Picos Mountains trip we found our cycling legs rested, after taking a day of Picos hiking up in Bulnes, a small mountain village of stone buildings with a population less than 50. However, with the funicular providing an (effort) free 2km ride up to the 650m elevation of Bulnes, the village sees thousands of visitors every year.

Rested up for another day of riding (now without any bags!) we planned a trip to the famous Lagos de Covadonga, two glacial lakes (named Enol and Ercina) at the top of a super scenic 11km climb providing Picos Panoramas galore. Lucky for us the road also has a toll gate for cars, so minimal traffic while we scaled the mountain.

On the way up we enjoyed a few switchbacks, some longer straightaways, and lots of cattle just hanging out amongst the jagged mountain scenes of the Picos, with some strolling down the road as well.

At the top we checked out the views over the lakes, savoured the snow capped mountains in the distance, and fuelled up for the trip home with a cheese plate and meatballs. Was a nice lunch view over the lake.

Then we made a fun descent back down the mountain and made our way back to our home base in the Picos at Hostal Poncebos.

2024 Strava summary. Another year on deck for more 2-wheeled fun! 2025 here I come!