In Ceret: the countryside

December 3, 2018

On the first day of my 73rd year, we biked along the Cote Vermeille from Collioure to Port Bou and back. It was an outstanding ride, and one we thought was one of the most scenic of the tour.

On the second day of my 73rd year, we biked from Collioure to Ceret, following the EV8 along the Tech River, with Caginou looming larger and more awesome with each mile we rode. It was an outstanding ride, and one we felt might be the most scenic of the tour so far.

On the third day of my 73rd year, we took a loop ride into the hills east of Ceret. This wasn’t just an outstanding ride - it was almost overwhelmingly beautiful. We both feel sure it was the most beautiful ride of the tour.

So what the hell is going on here? Three days, three phenomenal rides. Is this really what being 73 is going to be like? This can’t just continue like this, can it?

Leaving Ceret, we cross the Pont du Diable. Just one more thing to love about this town.

The first half of the ride is generally uphill, climbing to an elevation of 2,500’. We start getting fine views of the mountain almost immediately. The road constantly twists and turns, exposing us in turn with the mountain, views south to the coast, or to the predominantly oak forest.

The ridges are predominantly covered in oak, but there are scattered small vinyards here and there.

Note that the distance markers here sport the Catalan colors.

I’m not that up on Mediterranean fish varieties, so help me out here. Is this a Catalan Carp, or a Fueltank Flounder?

The higher we climb, the better the views become as we move in on the mountain.

Oms, the first of the few small villages we pass through today.

So this has my vote for best horse photo of the tour. What do you think?

I was surprised that cork oaks are harvested here.

Astounding. After weaving through the oaks for a ways, you round a bend to a view like this that stops you in your tracks.

It feels like we’re at the top of the world here, but we’re still climbing

First summit, and I think the highest point we’ve been since entering France a month ago.

The XIX century Chapel of the Trinity, Prunet-et-Belpuig. I think this is the most scenic church setting we’ve seen on this tour. What do you think?

Our plane tree photo for the day, in case you were thinking I’d forgotten.

Topped out, finally. We’ve got a few rollers still ahead, but it’s mainly downhill from here on out.

First though, we should do something with the ham, cheese and bread we hauled all the way up here. I think this is the most scenic lunch spot of the tour. What do you think?

One thing I was excited about in taking such a late season tour was the fall colors. I didn’t expect though that the best would come in December, after the woods elsewhere are mostly brown and bare. I think, blah, blah, blah.

This gal just wants her picture taken, I think. She stood statue still for almost a full minute, staring back at me. Personally, I find it hard to rate cow photos, but I think this is a pretty great cow portrait.

We thought the best of the ride was behind us when we lost our view of the mountain, but five or ten miles of this changed our minds.

So bright. It almost looked like a ginkgo when I first saw this tree.

This would not look out of place in southern Utah.

And don’t forget to check out the video. You can imagine what I think of it.

Not a bad looking wall, not at all. The waterfall just adds a splash of color.

It’s not just the foliage that is so colorful.

Amelie-Les-Bains, from just below Montbolo

The crazy descent to Amelie-Les-Bains looks like the tangle below for about two miles - one crazy serpentine after another.

So what kind of cat is this? I’ve never seen its like - it looks like a toy ocelot. And it looks a bit menacing, and on the hunt.

Not so menacing, after all. Just on the hunt for some love. I think this is my favorite cat of the tour.

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Ride stats today: 38 miles, 3,100’; for the tour: 3,094 miles, 158,300’

Today's ride: 38 miles (61 km)
Total: 3,094 miles (4,979 km)

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Comment on this entry	Comment	6

Andrea BrownI love all the joy that you share in this trip. Your birthday is every day from here on out.
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5 years ago

Scott AndersonTo Andrea BrownOh, thanks, Andrea. At that rate I’ll be 130 before we meet again!
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5 years ago

Bruce LellmanIt's been a very Vermillion year for you too.
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5 years ago

Rich HarrellThe cat resembles a Savanna Cat -- might search for that breed and look at the photos and see what you think.

Great tour, enjoying following along!
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5 years ago

Rich HarrellMaybe a Bengal -- just chatting with a Cat Expert :)
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5 years ago

Scott AndersonTo Rich HarrellThat was Andrea’s take also, that she’s a Bengal. I stared at a gallery of photos of both the Bengal and Savannah and couldn’t decide, until I read about the Savannah, a hybrid bred with a serval - half wild, half domestic. The looks are there, but it’s not large enough. It must be a Bengal.
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5 years ago