2019's bright idea: cycle to Gibraltar via 21 back-to-back centuries. Let's help M.N.D. research, Bloodwise and Blesma! Wagon rolls on Friday 20th September...
My hotel was just too nice to leave at an early (read: sensible) hour...this wasn't helped by having to wait ages for a lift. Way too many Gallic OAPs going to/fro demolishing breakfast!
Thinking about it, some of them were only about 10 years older than me...
Could have stayed here all day!
So today's strife was at least half of my own making, setting-off at 8.30am! As ever, there would be the standard Google Maps faff, ahem...
The panniers did just fit: maybe Google is smarter than we know?
It soon became apparent that my hoped-for tailwind had not arrived- instead I got to know his unhelpful cousin.
You don't need a weatherman etc...
I can't go much slower and remain upright, hah-hah!
So that was the pattern for the rest of the day: take your medicine!
What- no horse riding permitted on motorways...since when?
I spent a few of those kms on the N-340 today. Perfunctory. So there.
They all count.
So the afternoon was about taking regular stops, both to rest the knee and to keep on top of rehydration and food. Oh yeah, and get a bit of shade too...
Double-use from drink refills. Coke & water = muy bien!
The Springfield tyre compound still smouldering away.
Today's route wound inland a tad so it was a thrill to see El Medo again.
They're mad for bonsai around these parts.
I was glad to see the 100 mile-mark appear as it had been a slog. I started to see what accommodation options were around, not least because it had gone 6pm and did not fancy another 13 miles to Torreblanca, so decided to give this place in the middle of nowhere a whirl...the price was right at 15€!
The view from tonight's acco. Basic.
Get this- they're glued to a 'Poirot' re-run. With subtitles! Apparently Dave Suchet has God-like status in this neck of the woods...
This was about 8pm: there's about 25 in now. Loud as!
I've cancelled all my remaining acco bookings, except the Gibraltar hotel. That one I have changed to stay one day less in order to free-up one more time on the road. Looks like it will be all that and a bag of potato chips!
The donations are a source of amazement- good on you all...you know that these are great causes.
Fresh as, this morn thanks to the undisturbed five hours kip that some thoughtful hotel guests deemed acceptable. Bless them, hah-hah!
I reckon I know how Bela Lugosi felt, hah-hah!
No matter, or breakfast and it was out to get out of Girona unscathed and the first mission was to get through Barcelona, 60 miles away. Well actually the first mission was to get some food!
Repsol are now my service station of choice. I'll be looking for an endorsement deal similar to my one with McDs.
The PGA Catalunya course looked immaculate.
This was the service road that shadows the Autovia: these guys were sweeping the cycle lane and got a thumbs-up from me as I passed. Toot of the horn in reply...excellent, hah-hah!
As ever, I was getting ever-so-slightly mixed messages from Google an' that about the best route: suffice to say that *someone* may have spent a little time on an Autovia, before scarpering...
Ironically, it was the safest road that I was on today- although I oughta make clear that 99.995% of drivers do their utmost to adhere to the 1.5m clearance idea. Nice one France y Espana!
Makes a change from the usual grey, right?
Post-Autovia shenanigans saw more 'suitable' roads. No fun!
I ain't too proud to admit that I drafted this bloke for a good 3 miles. I had a mind to ask him how much to the coast!
You'd think getting to Barca would be easy enough: in a car, no sweat but it wasn't just plain sailing on a er, bike. Eventually it came into view and that's when the fun began.
Avenida Diagonal is a riot of nonsense.
Fair's fair: Barca have plenty of bike lanes but the chaotic nature of civilians (pedestrians) make them awkward if you're trying to cut along. And because there are bike lanes, you aren't entirely welcome on the road, which is also fair.
No chance to sight-see or tarry.
One thing did make me laugh: you drink a lot of fluids, right? You will need to unload this at some point, fair enough? Well, I was almost at the end of Avenue Diagonal when I really didn't want to hold on too much longer and there was a bit of greenery around...grass, shrubs you know the deal.
There's also a grounds keeper's cabin there, so I did the decent thing and in my finest Spanglish asked if there was a bog around, Juan? Well, his English was pretty good and he gave his 4 mates (ladies too) a laugh by saying that I couldn't use their toilet but that because I was a cyclist then I had a licence to pee anywhere, hah-hah! I did just that, readers. Subtly, of course...
Top man here: could see that I was struggling to join the dots to leave Barca in the right direction, so he guides me onto the right road. Gracias Senor!
I knew that trying to navigate a city wasn't going to be quick or easy, but I lost a bit more time than I anticipated and there was a bit of a headwind just to annoy.
All that said and done, the scenery and view on the road to Sitges and beyond is simply wonderful: hugging The Mediterranean with climbs and fast descents, all the while giving you the best views. Recommended!
They go a bundle on this stuff on roundabouts. No idea.
My original plan (yes, there is usually one...it just doesn't work very well, hah-hah!) was to try for Tarragona today but that was not happening.
In the event I was lucky (read: very) when I was cycling through Calafell with about 40 minutes of daylight left and found the best place yet (don't tell Ibis Budget, please) for a bargain price.
The view from tonight's acco: a marked improvement!
The rest of the clientele are Seniors from France on a coach tour: you take your life in your hands trying to queue with them, hah-hah!
I know- buffet, right? Wrong- it was ace and just what this bloater needed!
So that's today done and dusted: more yards gained and I don't think my knee is any worse, thankfully. Let's see what tomorrow has in store...and I'll tell you this, if those OAPs have their televisions on loud late tonight, I'll do absolutely nothing about it, hah-hah!
The donations are a source of amazement- good on you all...you know that these are great causes.
Up, up and away from Laval slow-time, and on the way to Girona. The first climb wasn't too vicious, thankfully...wheezed-up there and by then the sun had risen and boom, what a scene!
Not too much traffic either.
Er, that does look an awful like another climb!
Early-doors bridge work: I'd be bombing down it in a minute.
Alright, it's no big fish but all the same these things need to be recorded. Now leave it!
I stopped at a small village to get a couple of bananas and raid the boulangerie as per. That's one difference about this (eastern) side of The Pyrenees, there seems to be a tad more civilisation...good news as the flawless skies meant the temperature would hit the 30s, so it's water and food, water and food...
If Carlsberg did roads.
And today in Bridgewatch. pt.1...
No. No mountains thanks. Or challenges either, you silly people.
This pair sailed past me but they did give it the old "There's no chance that idiot is making it, hah-hah!". Nah, plenty of chapeau/courage/defibrillator chat. Excellent!
Alright, only a tiddler but they all count.
Er, are those speed-bumps in the distance anything to do with this?
Bridgework, pt.2!
Thing the battery indication was optimistic, hah-hah!
A quick and final McDs dans France (free water, you're welcome...merci!) before the climb up and then descent across the border. Felt pretty good, after all the shenanigans so far!
Remembered to change over the inaccurate Google translations. hah-hah!
Buenas tardes...get in!
Even though you're still on the same stretch of tarmac, the names change...
The old N-11 does go on a bit, no?
Today I got three beeps and/or shouts of encouragement! One was from a more portly version of Noddy Holder, driving an ancient Citroen AX. Takes all sorts, hah-hah! All welcome.
Fair enough.
Just in case it doesn't work out for him at City. Smart.
Bit previous surely- we're only just over the border!
A flyover was about the only place to get shade. Only 20 miles left...
No real drama on the way in to the hotel...it's a basic nombre and it's showering facilities work as they ought to: you listening, Choice Hotels?
Tonight's winning view from the hotel bedroom window.
There's a few of these colours around.
Some sort of remembrance parade. Or something. I dunno. Catalans innit?
Chose Italiano again...muy bueno as it goes. Cheers y goodnight!
The knee felt a little bit better today, thankfully. We're still deep in 'one day at a time' territory of course: it's not worth wrecking myself for, I think we'd all agree. Er, wouldn't we...hello...anyone there, hah-hah!
The usual remaining items of business remain, namely:
1) Thank you so much for your extraordinary generosity. The best.
