Day 1: Sevilla to Huelva: muchas inundaciones y mucho viento

March 18, 2025

1-2 gear headwind and worst flooding I can remember seeing

We had to detour around this flood near Huelva

This was generally the scene between Oliveras and the outskirts of Huelva. Gently rolling farmland, and a long fetch for those headwinds.

Don’t light any matches! The gasoline smell was overpowering. Does Spain have a superfund law?

Typical flooding scene we saw everywhere today

After a very rainy day Monday, we’re setting off today with a dry forecast. Dan got his bike late Monday afternoon. It stayed in Chicago a day longer. A series of storms messed up air travel throughout much of the USA. We would’ve like to have had at least a short shakedown fully loaded, but the weather and baggage delays precluded this. I am using the Tailfin rack system from the UK with ortlieb panniers. Dan has an extra large ortlieb under seat bag and another ortlieb bag for under the tube. I left my short sleeve tshirts to save a bit of weight at the Sevilla hotel as the forecast predicts cool temperatures.

The first five and last six miles were the most challinging. Getting out of Sevilla and into huelva, though for different reasons. Getting out was lots of turns and trying not to do headers from the still wet pavement or people walking in the bike lane. Getting into huelva, lots of traffic with no bike infrastructure until we were well into centro, and lots of flooding.

Oliveras made for our first Cortado of the trip, with lunch in La Palma del Condado. Making the first day our biggest day of the trip, and with a full load (about 18-20 pounds for me) tested us, but there’s not much in accommodations in between, and we’d decided not to do an inland route due to the cold, for Andalucia, temperate, and more rain at altitude.

My Sevillano friend Pedro recommended just taking the A472 from Oliveras all the way to Huelva, saying most people use the autovia. He was correct, even though it’s a yellow color on Michelin map, except when we were in a town there was only one vehicle every ten minutes.

Once we descended off the Aljarafe to the coastal plain, the degree of flooding was incredible. And we had to detour once we got close to Huelva. The A5000 is not a fun road to ride on, but there are not any alternatives. People gave us room, but it’s pretty noisy. We were happy to have a cycle track for the last 3 km. And very happy to get to our hotel, the Senator ( snarky me asked if they also have a chain called Representative 😀).

Although both Dan and I prefer our hoppy Pacific Northwest IPA, the Estrella Galicia is tasting pretty good. I am a huge fan of a post-ride 1/2 liter of gazpacho, which you can buy from a supermercado for about 1.55 euros.

Today's ride: 100 km (62 miles)
Total: 164 km (102 miles)

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