Bonus & Wendy's Big Adventure . . . .

[Bloukrans]

On Friday I met with the Bank Manager . . . .

 

We are currently talking to two banks here in Spain regarding the "Top Up Loan" we need for our construction project.

 

The first bank is the bank whom we actually have an account with and who we started talking to early last year. They wouldn't proceed without the building license and then when that was finally granted they decided, after much deliberating (and time wasting in my opinion) that they could make us a loan but that we needed to put more money into the project than we currently plan to (or are indeed able to).

 

On Friday I met with the Bank Manager of the second bank we are dealing with. (This is the bank that specialises in loans for rural properties).  He's extremely positive about our project overall and between him and the deputy manager they have put together a very good recommendation for us. This, along with the actual "viability study" (which proves that the project can work) should be enough for the risk department to approve the loan . . . . they've had our paperwork for a couple of weeks now and we're expecting an answer soon. . . "Mañana, Mañana, as they say here"

 

 

If they also need us to put more money in than we currently are able to, Wendy may have to sell a Kidney . . . .  

Trust it is a favourable response!

 

Rather a kidney than a bike

[Bonus]

Exactly!

 

We don't have spare bikes . . .but we have spare kidneys.

[Bonus]

As much as I am enjoying helping Ramon on the farm, cutting firewood for next year and working on my Bike Park in the sunshine and Wendy is enjoying trying out new recipes, teaching English and learning Spanish . . . .the process of waiting & waiting & waiting is proving very stressful and we finally got to the point yesterday where we needed to put our tight-tight budget to one side for the day and spend some quality time together to recharge our batteries.

 

We took an hour or so's drive west of here and visited the town of Jaca - where we had stayed on our first two trips here when we were looking at properties and which we love to bits. From Jaca we drove north past the huge 90 year old railway station at Canfranc and up past the Candanchú Ski Resort to our friends coffee shop at the top of the Somport Pass on the French border. There is no active border control here and we actually parked our car in France and then walked 50m back up the road into Spain to get to the coffee shop

 

It was a lovely day, bright sunshine and not really cold at all. I found some English chocolate cookies in one shop and Wendy found some Chia seeds in another (no doubt who the winner was there then!)

 

We caught up with our friend Nieves in the coffee shop whom we only see about once a year (coincidentally I last saw her exactly a year and a day ago on my drive from the UK down to Spain) but she always recognises us when we walk in.

 

Came back through the 8km long "Tunnel de Somport" and were home by 9pm

Edited February 26, 2017 by Bonus

[Gen]

As much as I am enjoying helping Ramon on the farm, cutting firewood for next year and working on my Bike Park in the sunshine and Wendy is enjoying trying out new recipes, teaching English and learning Spanish . . . .the process of waiting & waiting & waiting is proving very stressful and we finally got to the point yesterday where we needed to put our tight-tight budget to one side for the day and spend some quality time together to recharge our batteries.

 

We took an hour or so's drive west of here and visited the town of Jaca - where we had stayed on our first two trips here when we were looking at properties and which we love to bits. From Jaca we drove north past the huge 90 year old railway station at Canfranc and up past the Candanchú Ski Resort to our friends coffee shop at the top of the Somport Pass on the French border. There is no active border control here and we actually parked our car in France and then walked 50m back up the road into Spain to get to the coffee shop

 

It was a lovely day, bright sunshine and not really cold at all. I found some English chocolate cookies in one shop and Wendy found some Chia seeds in another (no doubt who the winner was there then!)

 

We caught up with our friend Nieves in the coffee shop whom we only see about once a year (coincidentally I last saw her exactly a year and a day ago on my drive from the UK down to Spain) but she always recognises us when we walk in.

 

Came back through the 8km long "Tunnel de Somport" and were home by 9pm

So pretty

 

Hey did you ever get round to snowboarding?

[Bonus]

I haven't yet Gen :-(

 

I'll certainly be buying a snowboard and getting into it as soon as we have some cash to spare though. All through winter there's enough snow from about 20kms north of here right up into the mountains and you can ski or snowboard anywhere suitable really. We often see people coming down hills beside the road. Its not like you have to go to specific ski resorts etc.

[Gen]

I haven't yet Gen :-(

 

I'll certainly be buying a snowboard and getting into it as soon as we have some cash to spare though. All through winter there's enough snow from about 20kms north of here right up into the mountains and you can ski or snowboard anywhere suitable really. We often see people coming down hills beside the road. Its not like you have to go to specific ski resorts etc.

That's really cool.

[Bonus]

"Zona Zero", the name given to the world famous Mountain Biking Trail Area that we live in the middle of, has been given the "Seal of Tourist Excellence" for the third consecutive year :-)

 

Well done to everyone involved. These are the trails that I ride every time I take my MTB out and the award is well deserved!

[CAAD4]

Awesome Bonus. Let's hope your MTB park doesn't require approval from the damn UCI or any other bkoddy beauracratic bunch....

[Bonus]

Awesome Bonus. Let's hope your MTB park doesn't require approval from the damn UCI or any other bkoddy beauracratic bunch....

 

 

CAAD4:

 

"Zona Zero" is a huge "officially run" area, maybe 50km by 50km, in the Pyrenees mountains with around 1000km of trails and more being added all the time. Our B&B, when it's finished, will be in Guaso - roughly in the middle of this area.

 

My own bike park, which so far only has one 3.5km loop finished but of which I'm very proud, is mostly on one farm (our neighbours in Guaso) within the Zona Zero area.

 

It's on private land and will really only be for the benefit of guests and the families of guests who stay with us.

 

I do help out on the Official Zona Zero trails when I can too. It's a fantastic project.

Edited March 4, 2017 by Bonus

[Loose cog]

"Zona Zero", the name given to the world famous Mountain Biking Trail Area that we live in the middle of, has been given the "Seal of Tourist Excellence" for the third consecutive year :-)

 

Well done to everyone involved. These are the trails that I ride every time I take my MTB out and the award is well deserved!

Please tell us how much you pay to ride the trails?

[Bonus]

Please tell us how much you pay to ride the trails?

 

You don't pay anything to ride any of the trails here. It is all free.

 

They were initially built and are maintained by a group of highly dedicated local volunteers who wanted to give cyclists a good reason for visiting the area. The council and local land owners backed the idea and so it became what it is today.

[BigDL]

Can't wait for your project to be complete so we can come and try out some of these trails.

[Bonus]

Can't wait for your project to be complete so we can come and try out some of these trails.

 

You settling in OK over there in NI bud?

[BigDL]

You settling in OK over there in NI bud?

Yes thank you. Lucky enough to have lots

If positives to counteract the weather. Good job, not too many hours at work, little travelling for work, ride anywhere by myself, night or day, without worrying about muggers etc, family settled and safe etc etc. Still miss SA, but refuse to become a "when we".

[Bonus]

Today whilst our driving we stopped at the Mediano Reservoir that we visited back in the summer to check out how the winter rain had effected the landscape. . . . .

 

Some Before & After pics.

[Mntboy]

Today whilst our driving we stopped at the Mediano Reservoir that we visited back in the summer to check out how the winter rain had effected the landscape. . . . .

 

Some Before & After pics.

Amazing transformation!

 

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