Figueres to Girona

October 21, 2023

Limping Into Girona

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Good grief, as Charlie Brown would say. What was to be a straightforward day became complicated and we live under a lucky star, meeting the best of trail angels yet again. We are feeling so blessed. This will be a short and incoherent post though. It has been quite a day.

We began the day in Figueres by visiting the Salvador Dali museum. It was fascinating. The pictures won’t do it justice. If you have a chance, go.

Then the ride, which started so well, the kilometres clicking by on the NII. Big wide shoulder, light traffic, everything was going well. We could have carried on, but we chose to move to a deserted road which was brilliant for a good while.

The quiet country road provided nice little rollers compared to the beast we were on yesterday.

A successful hunt. The dogs are in the back of the truck. .

Then some routing confusion which had us stopped at a cattle guard, contemplating the Komoot route which wasn’t looking promising, and the beware of bull sign. Hmmmmmm.

This is when a wonderful man from Barcelona, Ramon, who was staying at an adjacent agro turismo took the time to let us know that the route ended in a field and there was no way through. Thanks, Komoot. A huge thank you to Ramon.

That should have been the end of it BUT this is also where I found my chain wrapped around my cassette. How the heck does that spontaneously happen? I am starting to feel like calamity Kathleen. Both Ramon and Keith got their hands dirty figuring that one out, and we finally left, feeling like we had new friends, and things were fine, until it happened again.

There was also an adorable and incredibly dirty puppy.

The third time it happened and the CN and Chief Mechanic straightened it out we decided I needed to make it to Girona without changing gears. Yikes! We managed though, and I walked when I had to. Acutely aware that tomorrow is Sunday, we reached Girona after 5 PM with fingers crossed. Sure enough, Eat Sleep Cycle was open until 7 PM and by 6:30 PM my bike was repaired, and we were very relieved.

We had a dinner date! We met our friends John and Darlene who are travelling on their e-bikes through France to Barcelona. You can bet there was lots to talk about! It was a terrific evening. So much fun. After a wonderful bottle of red wine, I will leave the journal here, with one last mention of Ramon and Sarah. They were the best. I know for sure that had we not been able to limp into Girona I would have had a ride.

Tapas! The restaurants name was Txalaka. It was recommended by Antonio at the front desk. He knows his stuff.

Here is the Relive:

https://www.relive.cc/view/vLqeeMEdydq

Today's ride: 50 km (31 miles)
Total: 1,491 km (926 miles)

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Rachael AndersonI’m so glad you had a happy ending.
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1 year ago

Kathleen ClassenIt was stressful for both of us wondering about whether we would be able to ride out of Girona. We have a flight deadline now of course. Now that we are here and the bike is repaired we are relaxing over coffee and contemplating just taking the train from Girona to Barcelona. We can do some loop rides blessedly unloaded here. No decision yet!
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1 year ago