After a late start I headed toward Bilbao this morning. It was quite cool and damp on my departure and I considered putting long johns on. I managed a few hundred Kms before I decided to pull up. The countryside is green here. The altitude is pretty high for an area so close to the coast. It is hard to believe that places like Seville are in the same country. All along the road, mostly non-highway, there were small farming communities and fields and wooded areas. The roads were winding and the surfaces were well above par: the infrastructure and general feeling I get in the north of Spain is that they have a lot more money than their counterparts in the south. I picked a point for a campground on the tomtom and pointed the bike in that direction. Little did I know that I dialed in one if the best places I have visited in Europe. Ribadesella. This place has it all in one compact town. History dating back to cave paintings, surf beaches, seafood, a great town square......the list goes on. The town sits on a ocean river mouth and is snugly tucked away at the base of some very large granite topped mountains. Scenically spectacular. So when I could not find the campsite, I rode around and found a cheap hotel to call a home for the night. 50€ ..no problem. A wander down the promenade out to the river mouth takes you to the beach and where the surfers and the fishing boats jostle for waves. I saw some photos of this bar crossing and it would appear that the weather in the winter here cops the full force of the Atlantic Ocean. But not now. It is one o the most idealistic places I have ever visited. Lunch today was paella and squid cooked in ink sauce. Dinner is yet to be decided.