Day 8 (Down The Hill to Girona)

I woke up naturally after a wonderful nights sleep and for the first time in a week I had no urgency to get up and out as my trip today was going to be mostly downhill to Girona, around 60 miles.

The breakfast was an all you can eat buffet. Which was a bit of an error on the hotels part given my appetite.  Good luck making a profit today fellas.

It was stunning, loads of choice, big plates, nice table right next to the window but not too far from the buffet tables filled with food for quick repeat trips back and to !!!  After I'd finished off I felt like one of those people who get out of the jungle on "I'm a celebrity get me out of here". I was so full I could not move for ages and had a massive stomach ache later.

I also had my recently planned exit strategy which I only really finalised the day before yesterday whilst on my way between Beziers and Narbonne !!!  This last minute plan meant I had to get to the bike shop at 5 pm in the centre of Girona and then relax and chill until the B&B was ready later.  I had also booked a flight home from Girona to Manchester. And a last minute airbnb which was very cheap and grim !!!

However, I had a very good reason to get going as I had some stunning scenery and some beautiful villages and towns to visit on the way to Girona as well as this city too of course. I was also really looking forward to free wheeling down this gorgeous mountain for 35 miles !!!!

Outside in the street there were hundreds of spent firework carcasses all over the streets.  What a night it must have been.  I wish I had stayed up for it now. 

First town down the hill was Camprodon, which was lovely and they had had a great St Johns Eve too as there were loads of dead fireworks scattered all over the floor.

The yellow ribbons are everywhere....

I had a wonderful time riding fast downhill at 30-35 mph through about 4 of these huge tunnels,  this one was over a mile long...

Eventually I got to the most amazing town called Castellfollit de la Roca.  This was without doubt the most incredible town I have ever visited.  It sits on a thin ledge of rock which spits out of the valley floor with deep sheers cliffs on either side....

The Catalonian flag sits proudly on the cliff edge...

website is here....     http://www.castellfollitdelaroca.org/

Stunning part of the world.  I have to say that I very quickly fell in love with North Eastern Spain

Just when I thought I had seen all the best and beautiful places in this area I rode into Besalu...  just another example of stunning Spanish architecture....

There was a demonstration for the Catalan politicians who were imprisoned for their beliefs...

I stopped here for some food and drink. The bar owner spotted me parking my bike up by the ice cream fridges.  He was about 6 feet 6 inches tall and massive and had a large long scar down his face.  He was the scariest man I had ever seen.  He was of course as gentle as a baby lamb.  He simply walked straight over to me, didn't say a word but picked up my 32 kilo bike with one hand and put it safely behind the bar whilst giving me a wink and a thumbs up.  What a cool guy !!!

One thing I suddenly noticed whilst sat there eating my baguette and slurping

away on my 2 coffees was that I discovered that I was aware of flies for the very first time this week!  There were a few annoying flies buzzing around and landing on the table and around not only me but everywhere.  Is it possible that flies do not exist in France. Maybe they cannot fly over the Pyrenees so are locked in Spain for their whole lives.  It seems crazy but I honestly cannot remember seeing a single fly whilst cycling the whole length of the France !!!  I actually think the French population of flies were in this dudes cafe.  I would not have told him this though !!! Gentle giant or not !!

On the way down into Girona I passed by the HQ of the famous cyclists pocket filler treat - Haribo !

I nearly popped in for a packet or two...    

Girona.  What more can I say except....WOW !!!!!!

As you can see I could not stop taking photos of this place.  It is beautiful. Apparently it is home to the best restaurant in the world.  El Celler de Can Roca .    https://cellercanroca.com/index.htm

Placa de la independencia

This city is a huge favourite of cyclists throughout the world.  They hold a cycling festival here every June. Consequently I had dozens of cycling cafes to choose from and I think I attempted to get a few ticked off.

Swap maybe...

I was about 3 hours early for my bike shop but I passed by to see the place anyway...

The best coffee in town....

Henry posing and looking very pleased with himself.

By the way, if you wondered why I call him Henry, well being an 80's kid I was a big fan of Neighbours the aussie soap and I have another bike made by the firm called Scott which I call Charlene and in the show Henry is the stocky hunk brother for Charlene (Kylie Minogue).   I know how weird this sounds but it is all part of this mid-life crisis so let it go.
Don't worry I am getting therapy !!!  haha

I shot to the southern part of town to check into the airbnb.  I am not going to go into detail but at £20 a night let me just say it was priced a bit on the high side for what it was like if I am honest.

Anyway, it was a great excuse to get out and stay out as long as I could in this beautiful city.

At 5 pm I returned to the shop to hand over Henry after stripping it down to it's bare necessities.

It felt as light as a feather riding it back into the centre of Girona without any bags, bottles, lights, etc all over it.

I had 5 sets of rear lights on there which I used all the time but I also had loads of inner tubes, CO2, spare batteries, chain repair and general maintenance bits and pieces stored in various bags/bottle pods and never ever used a single one of them.

Au revoir Henri, you have served me well and sleep well in your box on the way home to Shropshire.  See you soon XXX

Great store, lots of famous shirts signed by the multitude of pro cyclists who have been in here..

Now back out onto the streets of Girona for a walk and more food and maybe a little celebratory drink !!!!

Found a great bar with tapas and Sangria.  This was the first alcoholic drink I think I had drank in months as I just don't bother.  I have no idea what is in Sangria but I am sure it was more than just red wine and fruit.  After half a glass I was sloshed. Maybe I shouldn't have bought a second glass !!!  I was messaging my family and wife back home and I think I made a bit of a fool of myself.  I was EMOTIONAL to say the least.

Watched a bit of the World Cup on the telly too....  I think I stayed here for about 2-3 hours.

I stumbled out and felt drunk for the first time in years after 2 glasses of Sangria and did a bit more wandering around the streets taking in the atmosphere and what was left of the early evening sunshine.

I felt on top of the world. Absolutely completely full of inner joy and just like my large glass of Sangria.... my cup runneth over !!!!!

I nearly hired a city bike but thought better of it after the booze !!

Last few pictures of the city....

At the time of writing this blog 6 months later on the 15th January 2019 I have a very large cardboard bike box in my garage from the lovely people at Bike Breaks, the Girona Cycle Centre and Henri as I now call him, my TT bike is set up on my turbo trainer in the spare room and I plan to get the box and this bike back to them this summer for Phase 2 of the journey !!!!

Well, why not, I have after all already started my Spanish trip south. Shame to stop there... hehehe !!

I will let you know if the plan turns into reality !!!

Love and peace !!

Thank you for reading !!

XXXX