Pyrenees Power Rangers: Day 8 - Sunday 2nd September

Puigcerda – L’Escala

Distance – 167km

Overview. A wonderful ride ‘down’ the hill to the coast . . . and where the young Spaniard came to grief on a tight bend right in front of John and Liz!

L’Escala Snapshot

History – It is an important fishing port and tourist centre, and has a festival dedicated to its famous anchovies. The Alfolí de la Sal is a seventeenth century warehouse formerly used to store the salt necessary to preserve fish landed at the port. The ruins of Empúries are located on the territory of the municipality, with Phoenician and Roman remains dating from 580 BC.

Elevation – 14m

Population – 10,000

Absolute Luxury! The hotel in Puigcerda was wonderful as it was nice to be in a 'luxury' place again - even though it is only 3 star - and lovely gardens and surrounds. We all met up at the 'official' time of 8:30am and went off in search of food and sustenance. Puigcerda is a lovely town and apparently was where wealthy Barcelonians had holiday houses - and it shows.

We found a nice place just off the main square where a market was being set up - and the proprietor was a woman about our age with 'attitude' . . . she made us laugh on many occasions. So we had our standard croissant and coffee/chocolate and bought our 'on the road' lunch. We also bought some fruit while we were walking back to the hotel.

John wasn't feeling 100% so we all took a walk around the lake, which someone said had been there since the 1400s. It was a bit strange having a lake on top of a hill in the high country, but there you go. And given the altitude, it remained quite cold - especially in the shade when the wind was blowing.

Getting Under Way. We decided to depart at around 11:30am - although we met up in the lobby at about 11:10am and sorted out the bikes and then made a hotel booking in L'Escala. So it was just before midday when we finally got 'on the road'.

Today it was about 10 minutes of getting out of town and then straight into another mountain climb on fabulous roads. We were heading SW on the continuing N-240 through some lovely little towns and looking at others perched high up on the nearby hills, which were probably strategic.

The Power Ranger theme continues . . . and Chris seeking divine guidance from Garmin!

The Young and Invincible. It was about half way up the Est Ja Molina somewhere near Ribes (B) when we saw a young bloke come to grief. We were busily carving up yet another high mountain pass out of Puigcerda when a young Danny Pedrosa type blasted up behind on a Speed Triple. Given I am well used to 'seeing the lights' in my mirrors, I kept over to the right just after a corner and didn't accelerate to let him through.

John and Liz were just in front and he 'attacked' them on the inside of the entry of the next left-hand hair pin and luckily just got through before he locked the front wheel and dropped the bike - which slammed into and then under the Armco railing. Our young friend also sailed feet first straight under the railing until his head also slammed into the metal. Still, he was 'lucky' the Armco railing was in place otherwise he may well still be falling down a seemingly 30,000' vertical drop!

Being young and invincible he quickly got himself up and about and back on his bike to ride down the mountain . . . sans a front brake lever, badly damaged tank, stuffed handle bars, bent foot brake pedal and messed up mirrors!

It’s only a flesh wound . . .

As always, things like this are a reality check and slowed us down for a while. Still, we continued to enjoy the ride down the mountain to Ripoll (C) where we got fuel and then headed up into another 'mountain' and stopped at a little grassed area to have our picnic lunch. This arrangement is working very well as we don't need to find a place, 'park up' and then wait to be served - and it is also a lot cheaper!

What a great road

Don’t go over the edge!

Even more mountains

Garmin leading us to the end of the road

Carving it Up! Chris was feeling a little bit woozy so he dropped back a bit while John and I did some more 'carving' of the mountain on our way to Olot (D). From there it was a bit of a drag across to Figueres (E) and then L'Escala via some old camping sites where John and Liz have stayed in the past.

We eventually found the l’Hotel Nieves Mar and its sensational views over the Mediterranean and back over towards Roses and Cadaques . . . it certainly made a lovely contrast to all the mountains we have seen in the last little while.

Humanoid Again. Once were dressed in 'human clothes' again we headed off for a walk north along the coast - past the old town and eventually the Roman ruins all the way up to Sant Marti d’Empúries where John had a 'secret' to share . . . some lovely restaurants tucked away in what seemed to be an old fort or castle.

The place was 'heaving' and we had a delightful meal! Taking the 'train' home was an option, but instead we chose to walk the 4+km back 'home' where we all crashed - except me when I did most of this!