Epic!

Just as pretty in pink as the flamingos! :)

WOW look at that shade of blue!

A 6 jammer!

Good perspective on the climb! Looks like punchy gradients to me.

Epic day! One for the sweet memory banks, for sure. We're the cows hanging around near the summit?

Isn’t this the most spectacular country though? If you ever make it back you should head east out the south side of the peninsula to Cadaques. It’s mind-blowing in that direction too.

It’s not often that I exclaim out loud when I see a photo.

I agree with Steve. What a great photo!

Hi Rich - we always welcome your opinion. Local knowledge is hard to beat. We decided last night to go up the coast as far as El Port de la Selva and then over Sant Pere de Rodes on our way to Figueres. We were intrigued after watching a utube video produced by a roadie riding this route. So we pieced the first half of his ride from Figueres to El Port de la Selva and did it in reverse. We heard from our friend Dave Mathers that El Port de la Selva was worth a visit and I would agree. It was a challenging climb being fully loaded but well worth it. The weather was perfect. We are now chilling in Figueres.

I was going to suggest this route when you were debating which way to cross into Spain. I didn't know what variables were most important to you, so I abstained. But I think you chose well.

The Col de Banyuls is a nicer ride, but you had already done that in the other direction and the climb from Banyuls, as you've noted, is pretty dang steep. You can go inland but unless you're prepared to go quite a ways, it's tough. The route up from Ceret (that the Grampies just did) is super-steep. I would recommend crossing at Coustouges as the most reasonable and closest pass. But that's a long ways inland and you're still going to climb. A lot.

I rode the same route as you, along the Med, in June and the traffic wasn't too bad then, either. I wouldn't try it in high season (July/August), but your experience mirrors mine.

One point for others who go this way. I didn't go through the tunnels. I rode the roads over the top and the surfaces seemed fine to me. I was on an unloaded road bike with skinny tires.

We love it there, too. So picturesque!

Same same. It was an okay wind until lunch and then it was a bit crazy.

The highway was smooth and almost deserted. It doesn’t make any sense unless you are on an electric mountain bike I suppose.

Thanks Bill. I have never heard of them. He had an impressive set of whiskers.