So yeah, I’m relocating from Instagram. It was all bike stuff over there anyway… I departed late this morning having visited the market for fruit, and a chicken thigh to pair with the chunk of bread my host had packaged as fortification. She also supplied a bit of sour jam made from the bright yellow Mimosa trees that dot the hillside, and are indeed related to acacia Cars, bikes, and medieval, are the bridge options for leaving Ceret. I chose the medieval bridge as it would take me under the bicycle bridge and into the hills. The snowy peaks would loom around every corner of the day. Three cols before lunch, though 2 unmarked as the dirt road passes are rarely signed. The road down from Col de Puig is steep, rocky and rutted as it ducks in and out of the forest. But it’s also quiet. It’s just me and the boar hunters out here today. I paused for lunch in the park at Montauriol. Unwrapping my still warm chicken made me exceptionally popular with the band of feral cats that had taken up residence behind the mairie. Another dirt spur took me through Col de La Roca, not far from Castelnou, one of France’s many “plus beaux villages”. And beaux it was, but as I’d neglected to change shoes, I chose not to wander too far up its steep, cobbled and cleat incompatible lanes.
Crossing the Pyrenees in February is perhaps a questionable idea, but the cyclist I flagged down on the way up said it was clear, save for a bit of mud after crossing the border. Stopped for a bacon sandwich at a cavernous, and empty, social hall, where they proceeded to play the entirety of my 7th grade school dance playlist. Mr Big, Lump, The Offspring. There were 4 deer today. That’s more deer than I think I’ve seen in Europe in my entire life. 3 Cols. 2 cats.
With next weeks impending Catalunya 👉 Provence transit ride, and the high likelihood of at least some rain over the course of the week, it was time to get the fenders on. The cobbles of Monells made a fine proving ground. This ride put me over 100k ft for the year.
Probably won’t have time for this one again. The climb from Angles through Osor is dotted with waterfalls, though most well out of reach. I had to hike for a bit to get to this one. Instead of descending straight out of town I took the switchbacked turn off to Joanet. I missed a few of the fun banked sweeping turns, but got in a bonus 400ft, so that’s a win, right? It threatened to rain all day. It never delivered, but slowly deposited snow on the next hill over.
Joined Jenn on the train to Aix en Provence on Friday and, despite one cancelled and one delayed French train, made it back to Girona in time for an afternoon ride. Needed a few more feet, spun up to the TV tower that hovers over Girona. These little yellow flowers have popped up everywhere since last week. They remind me of acacia, though smell of nothing.
Frosty morning in Osor, an old mining town up the canyon to Sant Hilaire. Döner and a table in the sun.
The last few miles are a thing. Views are on point though.
South of Sant Feliu there's a road through the hills with a sweet steep climb. The reward is a sweeping descent on the other side, headed back from the sea, with a view of the Pyrenees.
Hors délais, or so they say "Too much time, at Le Café" Y'all can keep that go go pace I've simply had a different race
Threatened by rain all morning, but I needed a day off the bike anyway. Let's see how tomorrow plays out.
