In Calella: Day 2

November 19, 2024

Taking it relatively easy yesterday had the desired effect, and this morning both of us feel more or less normal again and ready for greater challenges. Fortunately the weather is working with us and we’ve been served up another fine day - clear skies, no wind, pretty much perfect.

Feeling better though doesn’t translate into having much more motivation with the blog though. To be honest, we’ve both got short timer’s attitude syndrome and are just going through the motions a bit. Really, after nine straight months on task we’re ready for some time off from posting about our insignificant lives every day.

For Rachael, this translates into a slideshow and a map. The only words she cares to add are that she found an effective solution to the perforated sole of her hiking shoe - she plugged it with a patch of some sticky material that she happened to have squirreled away, and it worked fine - no sand, no discomfort!

Oh, and she also wants to remember the enjoyable encounter she had with a local guy hiking with his dog. The dog was good sized, energetic, but under total control so she wasn’t worried about it. They chatted as they walked together, as well as they could with his limited English skills that he picked up as a taxi driver in Florida and Michigan. He was careful to make sure she knew where she was going and suggested the best route for her. A very nice encounter.

And in case you miss it the first time I’m including the video twice because there’s no way for me to delete the accidentally inserted second copy.

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Karen PoretEnjoyed your “shadow selfies”, Rachael :)
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1 month ago

I can give you a little more information about my day, but it’s admittedly just a cut above a photo dump. I took another loop to the east, but this time went inland to check the hills out and get close to a couple of features marked on the map: Torre de Montagut and Palafolls Castle. They’re both hilltop ruins crowning adjacent hills, so naturally there are two climbs involved. First though I’ve got a few miles that are more or less a repeat of the start of yesterday’s ride - biking through the nearest villages and crossing a corner of the agricultural belt. As usual, even though I was just here yesterday I find a few reasons to stop for a quick look.

How nice of them to put up such an elaborate roost for the magpies!

First up is the climb to Torre de Montafur. And it is a climb, a painful one that starts with a 17% grade that I essentially make it up without walking. After I’ve been softened up though second, third and fourth 17 percenters all get pushed - especially the one that’s up a rocky dirt path; and the final one, topping out at 20%, definitely gets pushed too. It’s a warm day, and I’m not even tempted by the challenge.

It’s all enough that I decide to rechristen my goal from Torre de Montegut to Torre de Bustagut. And when I get up there, the heavily tagged tower isn’t really interesting enough to have been worth all that work. Its the high point of the ride though, and the views from the top are phenomenal.

At the top of the first 17% climb I stop to admire the view and let my heart rate return to normal. Here we’re looking west toward Calella and its neighbors.

An excellent spot for a short, slow walk.

That’s the goal up there, Torre de Bustagut. It does look impressive alright.

Not even tempted by this one. Even if I had the legs and will for it, I’m worried that I’ll blow my rear tire. I just noticed a few days ago that the green casing is starting to show through.

I’m on a streak. Why not push this one too?

I’m moving slowly anyway, may as well stop for a shot.

As I suspected, Torre de Bustagut doesn’t quite justify the effort. There’s probably a reason I haven’t seen a single other biker since leaving the flats.

Pretty awesome setting though. Here we’re looking up coast to the east.

A closer look, to try to sort out what we’re seeing here. I think the nearest town is Blanes, behind the next headland is hidden Lloret de Mar, and behind the next one is Tossa de Mar.

And here we’re looking straight down on Malgrat de Mar, the town we saw yesterday.

And straight east on the next ridge is the second goal of the day, Palafolls Castle.

Definitely seems more worthy of a visit than Old Bustagut.

The second hill, the climb to Palafolls Castle, seems almost insignificant compared to the first climb of the day. It’s only half as high and half as steep, and even its 10% final push at the top isn’t really concerning. And when I get there, it’s definitely worth the effort.

Another reason for a quick stop. Romanesque Sant Genís de Palafolls Church put down routes in the 10th century, but a lot has happened to it since then.

I think we can all agree that Palafolls Castle has more going for it than Bustagut.

Among its other fine qualities, Palafolls Castle is the home to a colony of crag-martins. They were too far off and in constant motion so there’s no close up shot of them, but there are a few in the sky here if you look closely enough.

I climbed up these rocks for a better view of the castle, but I liked the live oak also.

And a view down into the agricultural flats. If you’re wondering what those red spots in the field are, they’re crates filled with squash.

So that’s the work. I’m still 13 miles from home and I’m due to meet Rachael at a restaurant for lunch in 90 minutes so I stay on task. The first half goes quite fast because it’s all downhill, except for right at first because I’m dropping down another 17-20 percenter so I’m cautious. After that it’s all flat and I mostly just ride, confident that I’ll get to the restaurant at the same time as or even before Rachael because I’m tracking her position on the Garmin. I’m wrong though, because my route includes an undeclared road closure - the road is more or less missing due to a construction project - so I have to backtrack a half mile to the first spot where I can cross the tracks and ride home along the sea.

Dropping from the castle. I turn right at the bottom, but if I was feeling frisky I could just head on up the next hill.

I thought I’d be able to figure out this formation to the northeast, but I was wrong. It’s in the general direction of Girona though.

Looking back at the castle from the flats.

Thinking back, I’m not sure I remember ever seeing someone scattering seed like this. Big field, it will take a while.

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Today's ride: 24 miles (39 km)
Total: 4,881 miles (7,855 km)

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Patrick O'HaraThanks for all your excellent writing and images as usual. I can appreciate how much work it is. Nine months of posting is a long time. You both deserve a break.
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1 month ago

Suzanne GibsonLove the walking shadow pictures!

Hope you have a good trip home! Thinking of you.
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1 month ago

Scott AndersonTo Suzanne GibsonThanks, Suzanne. We leave for the airport shortly and fly home tomorrow. Hopefully it all goes smoothly.
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1 month ago

Scott AndersonTo Patrick O'HaraThanks, Patrick. A break will be nice, but I suspect it won’t be long before I’ve got something I feel the need to blab about.
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1 month ago

Carolyn van HoeveHope the flight goes well and it does sound like you need a break. I’m missing you already! All your hard work is so appreciated and enjoyed.
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1 month ago

Rich FrasierTo Scott AndersonWe love your blabbing. So don't hold back! :)
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1 month ago

Janice BranhamAnd it took 'only' 9 months to grow weary of the daily journal? Much respect here for your perseverance. Thanks for sharing your journey, always entertaining.
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3 weeks ago

Scott AndersonTo Janice BranhamI thought I’d be good for more than that, but then that was right about when my sickness began.
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3 weeks ago