{"product_id":"9781506904207","title":"High Spain Drifter","description":"\u003cp\u003eCyclist, Mark Krieger and his wife Roz set off on another of their many fascinating journeys throughout Europe, this time around Spain and Portugal's Iberian Peninsula.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFollowing the footsteps of the Tour de France and Spain's Vuelta a España through the Pyrénées, Mark recalls many of cycling's memorable moments; some inspirational, and some that the sport would rather forget.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcross the border into Spain, summer is approaching, a time when Catalonians are in festival mode. Travelling west, there is a treacherous 'goat track', near Oviedo, that Mark's determined to conquer after two failed attempts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArriving in Portugal, the pair are enthralled by the country's history; events like the 'Age of Discoveries', the 1755 earthquake, the Carnation Revolution and the humble beginnings of Fado. As for the present, there's nothing better than the food and the distinctive way it's presented.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarge cities are not normally on Mark's 'to do' list, especially when cycling is involved, but, drenched in history and abundantly alive in the present, Lisbon proves an awesome exception. Just as evocative in its own way is the small Spanish town of Trigueros. Once the sun goes down, its previously near-deserted streets come alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContinuing through the south of Spain, the travelers visit the Sierra Nevada range. It's here where Mark tries to fulfill another obsession; to cycle up its highest peak, Pico de Veleta. Much higher and harder than any mountain he's ever dreamed of tackling, its final kilometres of treacherous road make the thought of continuing seem foolish. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFast approaching the town of Solsona, where his cycling trek began, Mark recalls some of the memories he and Roz have shared on their journey, while the thought of 'where to next' is never far away.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAuthor_Bio: An avid cyclist, Mark has travelled widely throughout Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe. Now a retired schoolteacher, these passions, as well as his life-long interest in history, have become the catalyst for his writing. His and his wife's journey around France in 2009 – portrayed in his book, Lycra, Lattes and the Long Way Round – was the first of many wonderful adventures in the years ahead. Today, Mark and Roz live happily on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeywords: cycling, travel, Vuelta a Espana, history, cinema, mountains, Portugal, Spain, Fado, Reconquista\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Edition Design Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47032752046320,"sku":"9781506904207","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781506904207_p0.jpg?v=1763721405","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781506904207","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}