# Tag 56 Jurassic Park in Asturias

Ribadesella - Coast in Asturias - very clean and well-kept.

Even on second glance, the land looks like a copy of South Tyrol with the sea at the door. Juicy green meadows, livestock everywhere on the hilly pastures, in the background the panoramic world of the 2000-meter mountains with snow-covered peaks, and the sun is shining. You can't ask for more.

After the first washing machine, we take out the bikes and explore the town.

It is located at the mouth of the Sella River and therefore has two districts - the old town center on the eastern side of the river with a pedestrian zone, cafes on the promenade, and a beautiful path to the lighthouse at the river mouth.

The western part is located directly on the expansive beach Playa de Santa Marina, has a broad promenade along the entire beach, hotels, apartments, and a very nice new residential area with holiday homes. Our campsite is also located in this part, which has its pitches on lush green lawns. Unfortunately, due to the recent rainfall, the lawn has become so waterlogged that the site manager advises us to park on the gravel paths. This is not a problem either, except for 3 or 4 permanent campers, we are the only guests.

On our bike ride, we are amazed by a sign that reads "ruta de los dinosaurios".

A few Google searches later, we are wiser. In this area, there are many caves on the beaches and cliffs where fossil traces of dinosaurs have been found. The "Ruta" apparently leads to the excavation sites and caves, and there is also a museum. This makes us look at the area with different eyes and imagine whether Jurassic Park may have been filmed here.

In any case, the cliffs and mountains provide a great backdrop.

On the second day, I finally take out my racing bike again and decide on a 60 km round trip. The route initially follows the Sella River inland. On the river, you can see large groups of canoes heading towards Ribadesella. This is a very popular area for canoe trips. There are even annual competitions and events on the river.

Along the route, you can also see signs indicating outdoor activities that surely take place in the mountains. The water-rich area and the river are suitable for canyoning and other activities.

My route is different - when I leave the river, I take a small road uphill to "Mirador El Fitu," a viewpoint at a mountain pass. It is located about 10 km away, and it is all uphill. You know that every kilogram matters when cycling uphill.

But at the top, the sun is shining and rewards with a fantastic panoramic view of the coast and the mountain landscape. You can hear the bells of the cows grazing on the mountain meadows, otherwise, there is silence - just the landscape.

Then it's back down the mountain in a rapid ride until the brakes glow. Now just return to the starting point on the coastal road, which is still 20 km away.

New guests have arrived at the campsite in the meantime - two motorhomes from England parked next to us. The two couples took the ferry from Plymouth to La Coruna and are now exploring the northern Spanish coast as far as Bilbao, where they will take the ferry back. One of the men is very interested when I return with the racing bike. He also regularly rides at home, so we chat a bit.

Then it's time for another ride on the e-bike to the town for a leisurely afternoon on the promenade with an extensive walk on the beach.

Tomorrow we will continue and land in the next region - Cantabria.