Seavo gets repaired and we ride to Torroella de Montgri
Llanca to Torroella de Montgri
It may sound strange, but we are grateful that Diego could not get the brake pads for the rear disk delivered until today as it had forced us to have a short day of riding yesterday. Also, checking in early and resting in the comfort of Hotel Beri with its big tub for soaking were both just what Mary Ellen needed.
We are not camping as it just wouldn’t work for Mary Ellen right now. Plus, as much as we love Spain...and we do!....the camping we have seen so far is not what we enjoy. Campgrounds are like mega cities with huge amusement parks, 100’s of mobile homes for rent, very expensive for tenting - hotels are a better bargain for us here.
Riding is OK if Barry warns me of each bump on the road (and there are MANY speed bumps etc.). The problem is in moving, getting on and off the bike and walking. How can one simple fall make such a difference? Oh well, each day will be better.
Llanca is not a town that sees a lot of tourists as most people flock to the beach towns down the coast. We found Llançà to be charming with much history and friendly people. Staying here gave us a unique and genuine ”Catalonian” experience. However, the highlight remains meeting Diego. What a sweet man with boundless energy. His expertise with our bike and his engaging personality left us with wonderful memories (and a safe bike for the hills ahead!) Gracias Diego!
Finding Barry in this photo reminds me of the picture books of the Find Waldo series. Having breakfast at the Beri Hotel - 3.50€ for a buffet Wow! Clearly this hotel caters to weddings and community events, but they treated us like we were equally important.
What to do on a hot day eating lunch on a bench? Watch the ants of course! We dropped a large crumb and watched the work begin. One ant was the foreman and the rest cooperated to carry this treasure to their home. The real fun was watching a mass of ants push it in to the crack in the sidewalk where their colony lives.
We have been following trails that meander around the nature reserve and parks, but the surface for riding is not so great for our loaded bike. Often there is too much sand and the bumps are not working for Mary Ellen’s sore bottom. Following our map we found secondary roads with pavement. Much better.
Met this British couple out for a ride with their dog. At this point, the bike route followed the beach on sand and we gave up on the trail.
When travelling in the region of Catalonia, there is no mistaking the passion that locals feel about their identity. A tip if you are travelling here and need to translate. The language spoken is Catalonian, not Spanish.
Catalonians are passionate about their independence and very unhappy that the Spanish government overruled the referendum last year which had an overwhelming majority in favour of independence.
Dolores, a local teacher, is also an elected member of the Catalonian party. She and her colleagues were imprisoned for their separatist stance. We have seen many banners like this supporting their liberation and dropping their charges. We are lucky to be here for a festival and that Dolores is here. Much excitement.
