The wonder of travelling is that it brings new and unexpected experiences, challenges and adventures. We have the world at our fingertips to look at google and scour through photos and realise how spoilt for choice we are. This year I was excited to be able to combine a trip to visit friends and family with a Pyrenean adventure in Northern Spain and Andorra.
The loss of Sharon Laws, professional cyclist and a dear friend in late 2017 to cancer was heartbreaking. Exploring her home and favourite stomping ground she always spoke so fondly of would be my way to personally celebrate the amazing life she lived, even if I couldn't share it with her. Seeing where she spent many happy days riding, hiking and enjoying the Catalonian culture sparked the idea to take this trip. Sharon was always an inspiration to me with her endless happy spirit, will and determination with everything in life.
The loss of Sharon Laws, professional cyclist and a dear friend in late 2017 to cancer was heartbreaking. Exploring her home and favourite stomping ground she always spoke so fondly of would be my way to personally celebrate the amazing life she lived, even if I couldn't share it with her. Seeing where she spent many happy days riding, hiking and enjoying the Catalonian culture sparked the idea to take this trip. Sharon was always an inspiration to me with her endless happy spirit, will and determination with everything in life.
We had many special days during our trip in Europe, and here I will tell the story of some of my favourite parts. After leaving Andorra we based ourselves in Banyoles, a small town just 30 minutes West of Girona. Built around a lake this peaceful town is a hub of sporting activity with swimmers, kayakers and rowers out on the lake and runners and cyclists surrounding it at all times of the day. There is always a buzzing albeit relaxed atmosphere with people sipping on coffee in the mornings or enjoying a beer under the fairy lights with some tapas in the evening. The foothills of the pyrenees are in clear view beyond the lake, and ready to be explored.
The first port of call was bike breaks Girona, to find out where to ride the trails around Girona. I was greeted with the super friendly shop owner Dave Walsh. The bustling shop was outstanding, a goldmine for any avid cycling fan with a vast array of bikes, maps and signed rider jerseys hanging on every wall. Dave and his staff love everything to do with bikes. I left the shop full of excitement to know that the following day we would meet to explore the mountain bike trails surrounding Girona.
Four of us set off on our bikes winding through the streets of Girona and quickly were out of town and climbing up a fire road into the beautiful mountains of the Las Gaverres nature reserve. We hit the trails with a mixture of exciting rocky singletrack and fire road. At the top we were rewarded with bright blue skies, and a magnificent panoramic view of Girona, the Empordà plain, the Gavarres massif and the valleys of the Onyar and Ter rivers. We enjoyed a fabulous afternoon exploring. It seems we had only scratched the surface of the possibility of trails to explore. Trails are everywhere, and even with a lifetime in Girona you would still find a new route if you keep looking.
Bike breaks rents road bikes, offers tours, and is generally your one stop shop for cycling in Girona, I highly recommend a visit if you're in town!
The streets of old town Girona are a feast for the eyes, with beautiful old buildings, narrow streets and bustling squares full of happy people and restaurants everywhere. You can't help just wander around, get lost and follow your senses. The Catalan cuisine is delicious and restaurateurs are so enthusiastic proud of their offerings each meal is full of new and interesting flavours. The locals tend to eat a large three course lunch, the standard is 12 euros for an amazing meal like this! There are always festivals and markets on around this region.
The first port of call was bike breaks Girona, to find out where to ride the trails around Girona. I was greeted with the super friendly shop owner Dave Walsh. The bustling shop was outstanding, a goldmine for any avid cycling fan with a vast array of bikes, maps and signed rider jerseys hanging on every wall. Dave and his staff love everything to do with bikes. I left the shop full of excitement to know that the following day we would meet to explore the mountain bike trails surrounding Girona.
Four of us set off on our bikes winding through the streets of Girona and quickly were out of town and climbing up a fire road into the beautiful mountains of the Las Gaverres nature reserve. We hit the trails with a mixture of exciting rocky singletrack and fire road. At the top we were rewarded with bright blue skies, and a magnificent panoramic view of Girona, the Empordà plain, the Gavarres massif and the valleys of the Onyar and Ter rivers. We enjoyed a fabulous afternoon exploring. It seems we had only scratched the surface of the possibility of trails to explore. Trails are everywhere, and even with a lifetime in Girona you would still find a new route if you keep looking.
Bike breaks rents road bikes, offers tours, and is generally your one stop shop for cycling in Girona, I highly recommend a visit if you're in town!
The streets of old town Girona are a feast for the eyes, with beautiful old buildings, narrow streets and bustling squares full of happy people and restaurants everywhere. You can't help just wander around, get lost and follow your senses. The Catalan cuisine is delicious and restaurateurs are so enthusiastic proud of their offerings each meal is full of new and interesting flavours. The locals tend to eat a large three course lunch, the standard is 12 euros for an amazing meal like this! There are always festivals and markets on around this region.
La Garroxta
After spending a fabulous day driving to pretty towns, remote swimming holes, jumping off little cliffsides and dipping into freezing waterfalls in the Volcanic national Park of La Garroxta with my friend Nikki it was time for me to find my way home on two wheels. Of course I could have taken the easy route along the road, however exploring trails was mush more fun! It really didn't look too far to set off over the hills via a hiking track to head back to Banyoles from our picturesque waterfall spot.
"Half the fun of travel is the esthetic of lostness" - Ray Bradbury
In the middle of the mountains heading towards Volca Fontpobra all I had to do was climb up and over one peak, descend down towards the town of Santa Pau, and meander back home. Simple, so it seemed, with initial enthusiasm and excitement I set off uphill. Quickly I realised I may be doing quite a bit of hike a biking up rocky faces before reaching the summit. Once I made it to the top of the hill the views were spectacular and certainly the arduous climb was worth every minute. To my amazement while admiring the view the clatter of hooves trundled towards me and suddenly a group of inquisitive horses, and two donkeys standing further up the hill were staring down at me. Such a surreal experience!
However despite having a birds eye view I wasn't exactly sure where I was or which direction I was supposed to be heading from here. The initial hiking trail signposts had multiplied, and there were way markers everywhere, but my final destination had now disappeared from the options. having set off well after 4pm daylight hours were fading fast and I realised soon I would be chasing the sunset or even camping in the hills for the night.
I followed my nose and began to descend down some rocky trail that scared the hell out of me...but no way better to improve your skills than have a sense of urgency and danger! At this time of year the spikey bushes are rather overgrown and at one stage I was hurtling down a descent, and got caught in a bush which jolted my bars sidewards, and I came tumbling down to add some new scrapes and bruises to the collection!
After some time I began to see some remote little stone cottages and the trail became a rocky fire road, relief! I was getting closer to civilisation and hopefully the road from Santa Pau. Darkness was creeping in, and I felt a huge surge of elation as the road surface changed into tar. I sped downhill admiring the cattle grazing in the fields with an air of relief, excitement and satisfaction to relay my adventure story over dinner. Finally I could call my SOS to Nikki with a destination to rescue me from, rather than, ummmm, somewhere up on the hill.....
Pizza and wine that night tasted soooo good!
After spending a fabulous day driving to pretty towns, remote swimming holes, jumping off little cliffsides and dipping into freezing waterfalls in the Volcanic national Park of La Garroxta with my friend Nikki it was time for me to find my way home on two wheels. Of course I could have taken the easy route along the road, however exploring trails was mush more fun! It really didn't look too far to set off over the hills via a hiking track to head back to Banyoles from our picturesque waterfall spot.
"Half the fun of travel is the esthetic of lostness" - Ray Bradbury
In the middle of the mountains heading towards Volca Fontpobra all I had to do was climb up and over one peak, descend down towards the town of Santa Pau, and meander back home. Simple, so it seemed, with initial enthusiasm and excitement I set off uphill. Quickly I realised I may be doing quite a bit of hike a biking up rocky faces before reaching the summit. Once I made it to the top of the hill the views were spectacular and certainly the arduous climb was worth every minute. To my amazement while admiring the view the clatter of hooves trundled towards me and suddenly a group of inquisitive horses, and two donkeys standing further up the hill were staring down at me. Such a surreal experience!
However despite having a birds eye view I wasn't exactly sure where I was or which direction I was supposed to be heading from here. The initial hiking trail signposts had multiplied, and there were way markers everywhere, but my final destination had now disappeared from the options. having set off well after 4pm daylight hours were fading fast and I realised soon I would be chasing the sunset or even camping in the hills for the night.
I followed my nose and began to descend down some rocky trail that scared the hell out of me...but no way better to improve your skills than have a sense of urgency and danger! At this time of year the spikey bushes are rather overgrown and at one stage I was hurtling down a descent, and got caught in a bush which jolted my bars sidewards, and I came tumbling down to add some new scrapes and bruises to the collection!
After some time I began to see some remote little stone cottages and the trail became a rocky fire road, relief! I was getting closer to civilisation and hopefully the road from Santa Pau. Darkness was creeping in, and I felt a huge surge of elation as the road surface changed into tar. I sped downhill admiring the cattle grazing in the fields with an air of relief, excitement and satisfaction to relay my adventure story over dinner. Finally I could call my SOS to Nikki with a destination to rescue me from, rather than, ummmm, somewhere up on the hill.....
Pizza and wine that night tasted soooo good!
Cadaques, a beautiful seaside village, was a favourite haunt for Salvador Dali. When we arrived in town, it was easy to see why! Surrounded by the Cap De Creus National park to the north with secluded coves and glistening blue sea, this place is another of the Costa Bravas many wonders! Spending a day exploring, lazing on secluded beaches, and swimming in crystal clear waters with fish everywhere, washed down with a meal of fresh octopus and wine on the beach was heavenly!