Spain 5/07

Yesterday, working together, we disassembled and packed the bikes in one hour.  Today we flew from Palma to Madrid to Granada.  You usually have to pay for a second piece of luggage when flying in Europe.  But our luggage, 2 bikes and two duffel bags, was checked without question or a fee.  The only bad part of the trip was a 90 minute delay in the flight from Madrid.  But since they let us in the VIP lounge, it wasn’t a bad delay.

So we’re in Madrid where we meet our new group tomorrow evening.  The new ride is called “The White Villages of Andalusia”.  Read about Andalusia here.  It’s the red area on the map, north of the Straight of Gibraltar.

This is out first time in Granada and one thing I’ve discovered is that it is VERY hilly.  We took a two hour walk and were impressed with the greenery and parks.  Also, like all European cities, there were thousands of people on the streets on a Saturday evening.  Below, street shots of Granada.

Spain 5/06

Today is the last day of the Mallorca trip.  We have a 70 km ride back to the Delta Hotel near Palma.

At sunrise, there is a strong wind, from the North I think.  Will it slow us down?  The answer turns out to be “no”; most of the time it is a cross-wind.  We are leaving the Western coast and also the mountains.  Of course we have one climb, 1,200 feet, right out of the hotel.  We did the same climb yesterday; it seemed easier today.  Maybe we’re getting stronger, but I doubt it.  After the climb, most of the day is in fairly flat terrain – the open road!  It feels good to stretch the legs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left – last view of the mountains.  Right – Open road.

We leave the hotel a little after 9:00 and arrive at out destination at 1:00, with only one stop for coffee.  But we’re hungry and deserve a good meal.  We’ve heard there is a shopping center past the hotel and we find an outdoor restaurant advertising pizza. I have a good pizza but Brenda’s grilled squid was the winner. Note that this blog is published a day late.

Spain 5/05

The past couple of days have been a single climb followed by a single descent.  Today, we had a lot of climbs and more elevation gain then on any day so far. See the ride.

We were on small roads much of the time.  But the thousands of cyclists here know these roads.  On several 5 to 10 km stretches, we might be going downhill and meet a hundred cyclists coming uphill   ‘Seems everyone was going a different direction from us. Photo on left is Brenda and Alison (tour leader) on the climb to Puigppunyent.  On the descent most of the switchbacks were so steep and tight they were not fun.  In fact they were scary.

Because of the long ride, not many pictures – and not much time to write a blog!

 

 

Spain 5/04

Last night was a “perfect night” on the Mediterranean.  The temperature was in the 70’s and there was no wind.  After a “plentiful” happy hour, we lingered with Glenn and Patrice. Then we walked along the shore looking for a restaurant which neither of us could describe. We found the restaurant with a landscaped patio and a diverse menu. It was obviously popular which resulted in an 1:45 “light dinner”.  But the environment was great and we didn’t mind.  Well we didn’t mind the environment or the wine.  We selected a reasonably priced Pinot blend for this second happy hour.  It was excellent, the second outstanding Mallorcan wine we’re found. 

Before leaving today, we had to take the obligatory group photo.  Remember, the average age is 66.8.

 

Today's ride (click to see it) was similar to yesterday’s both started at sea level, went over a mountain and 22 miles later brought us back to sea level. Yesterday we climbed 3,411 feet; today 2,595.

I thought today’s route was more scenic.  Yesterday we saw no manmade items other than the road in the mountains, an impressive engineering fete by itself.  Today we saw more towns and villas, often across the valley.  We also saw much more to the indescribable blue Mediterranean.  See photo below, taken from the balcony of our hotel, Mar I Vent, in Banyalbufar.  We’re here for two nights and, for the first time, we have a king bed. (The “normal” is two twin beds pusher together.)

Spain 5/03

Again we have an optional ride, Sa Calobra.  I fear this is more challenging than I want but my California friend Bob says this is a "Must Do" ride.   He says “it is something you’ll never forget” – and then assures me that he only remembers the good rides.  If you’re riding from Sa Calobra to Port de Seller, you start with a ferry ride down the Mediterranean coast.

 

 

 

 

The Sa Calobra climb itself (or descent if you go in the other direction) is a 10 km climb with an average grade of 7%.  So it is doable, although somewhat a challenge to someone my age.  Thank goodness for low gears. The ride has incredible switchbacks and incredible vistas which are difficult to show in a photograph.

Photo below is from top of Sa Colaba, but our ride goes on up before the descent.  Note photo shoot going on at left.  I rode most of the day riding with Beany and Alison, or at least within site of them.

Spain 5/02

We’re spending three nights in Port de Soller.   We arrived yesterday in ideal weather.  Brenda and I walked for an hour in the evening and took the photos below.  Forecast for today is rain and we heard showers through the open balcony door at 6:00 am.

By the time of our late breakfast the rain had stopped but it was very windy.  Not a day on the bike if there’s a choice. In fact, I only know of one rider from our group of 20 who rode today.  We went to the dock to catch the ferry around the harbor bur were advised that the sea was very rough. Next we went to catch the tram to the town of Soller.  This was a Keystone Cops operation which eventually left 20 minutes late.  We knew we weren’t in Germany or Switzerland.  Also the tram was very slow. In Soller we visited the cathedral, walked a bit and had lunch with Jackie and Perry. We found a better way home. The one way tram ride had been 4 Euros per person, 8 per couple. On the return we took a taxi – 8 Euros for two couples, and in one fourth the time.

 

Spain 5/01

We anticipate a tough day, two climbs and a total of 3,300 feet climbing. We’re actually going over these mountains to the coast so expect a long downhill at the end.  The climbs turn out much easier than we’d feared.  In fact it was a very pleasant riding day.  The temperature was in the 70’s, no wind, sunny but much of the ride was shaded.  Mainly the grade was an easy 5% and as mentioned the roads were exceptionally smooth.  We met many from our group at the top of the first climb, stopped for coffee and part of an energy bar.  We completed the 50 km by 1:30 and had lunch at the hotel in Port de Soller.

See the route and the elevation profile here.

Two pictures above are from the ride. Picture below is at Port de Soller

Spain 4/30

Photos from our farm motel, Monnaber Nou.  The hotel property dates to Arab times (VII – VIII century).  Records show the property was purchased by a well known family in 1250.  In 1888 the property was divided into the two farms in existence today. (Picture on left is our patio.)

Yesterday on the decent many of us thought “I’m glad we went in this direction – it would be much more difficult the other way.”  At breakfast this morning we learned that we’ll climb that descent tomorrow and then have another 1,200 foot climb!  Not looking forward to that. 

Today we stay off the bike. ‘Take a two hour walk and visit a cave which looked as big as Carlsbad Caverns.  I’ve had major computer problems today – fortunately my son is in Dallas and could give me tech support.  Not sure it’s all working – but if you read this, then it’s been fixed.

Spain 4/29

The documentation on today’s ride was misleading.  It looked like we had a gentle 22 km climb followed by a gentle 22 km descent.  But instead we found 14 km of mostly flat riding and followed by an 8 km climb of 1,800 feet. Then a 8 km descent which was great, especially with the silky smooth road.  Some of the switchbacks were tight but they were not steep so it was easy to control the bike. See the ride here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In photo above Robert and Marjorie lead two Germans up the second switchback.  They will soon be passed. Beany is chasing.  In photo at right, Jan and Brenda celebrate the top of the climb. But no, we weren’t at the top yet – very deceiving.  Below is the view from the coll.

 

We still see cyclists everywhere, at every intersection and on every road.  Jan, Brenda and I stop for coffee at an intersection and probably 50 cyclists arrive and leave while we are there.  Then on the descent, Jan estimates we pass a hundred cyclists who are climbing the hill from the opposite direction.

Tonight’s stay, and tomorrow’s, is  a “farm stay” (agritourismo) way out in the country. The last 10 km on the way to the farm were on a one-lane road through the vineyards, orchards (pistachio?) and uncultivated fields which remind you of the Texas Hill Country.  The picture below doesn’t show how elegant accommodations are. I’ll try to have better photos tomorrow.

Spain 4/28

For two nights we’re at a very nice hotel on the Mediterranean, in the town of Porte de Pollensa. Photo on left is from our patio. We had an extraordinary happy hour yesterday evening (photo at right), so much to eat and drink that we skipped dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had the choice of two rides today.  I took the more difficult one and never regretted it.  Although there was a lot of climbing (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/385809) the scenery was stunning.  My photos don’t do it justice.  The ride was to the lighthouse and back.

  

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow we leave the coast and ride inland.  Wonder is there will be any mountains to climb?

Spain 4/27

Today we rode across the island from south to north.  We kept an inland route,staying east of the mountains. Click on this to see our route.  Then change map to terrain to see the mountains.

It was a perfect day weather wise and also the roads were a cyclist’s dream.  We were mostly on quiet country roads with just enough hills to make it fun – not steep, long difficult hills.  And, so far, the road surfaces in Mallorca are better than most anywhere  else in the world.  They reminded me of Texas roads 30 years ago, before the (Republican) legislature cut taxes on the oil industry and before some jerk invented chip-seal. In fact the overall terrain and vegetation remind me somewhat of the Texas Hill Country.

We rode with two other couples today which limited my photography.  Brenda will stop so I can take a picture but a cycle group will only stop for coffee, lunch or a flat tire.  We continued to see many, many pelotons but no large ones like yesterday.  Mostly they were under 20 riders. This photo shows a group of Germans passing us.

Alison told me that 70,000 cyclists visit Mallorca during the months of February through April and in October.  There are also many hikers during these months, mostly in the mountains.  During the hot summer season, sunbathers take over the island. 

We saw potatoes, artichokes, varieties of lettuces, lemons and oranges growing in the fields.  The lemons and oranges could be determined by their fragrances – something you’d never experience in a car.

 

Left –Montuiri

Right – walking into Sineu to see the Wednesday market, which has been in operation since 1306!  There were hundreds and hundreds of people at the market, which spread across many plazas. We were there right at noon and got a table at a restaurant – excellent pizzas.  So far, our experience with restaurants has been excellent – good food and good service. Below, left, the market. Below, right, leaving Sineu.

 

 

 

 

We arrive at Port de Pollensa on the Mediterranean.  Photos on tomorrow’s blog.

Spain 4/26

At 10:00 last night, I was finishing yesterday’s blog and somehow managed to delete the entire thing. So no one will ever read 4/25 blog. But you haven’t really missed anything.

I’ve always heard that Mallorca is a favorite place for cycling but I had no idea the extent of it.  The first indication was at the airport when I saw instructions to cyclist in four languages.  Then, on the 10 km taxi ride to our remote hotel, we saw cyclists everywhere.  Cyclists by themselves or in small groups of 2 or 4 or 6 – and pelotons of 20, 40, 60. Cyclists of all interests – very casual, families, serious recreational cyclists and of course the hard-core cyclists who are here to train.  Apparently most are from Europe and so far German is the most often heard language.

Our tour leader Alison told us that the European cyclists don’t share the road with the drivers but tend to “take it over”.  But the local drivers put up with this because they need the cycle tourists’ dollars (Euros).

Above: 1. Bike garage at our hotel. 2. Cycle route signs on the roads. 3. Cycle path, 40 km speed limit and indication that you are on the green route.  Below, a couple of photos from today’s ride.