We’ve got beautiful fair conditions for our ride to Céret this morning. Were packed up and on the street by ten, and after a few miles escaping Perpignan and its suburbs we enjoy excellent cycling nearly the entire way to Céret. Excellent except for a tense mile on the surprisingly busy D115, a stretch that if I had to do over we’d avoid by adding a mile or two and diverted through Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts as the recommended bike route does; and except for a couple of short, steep drops and climbs in the 10-15% range where the bike path cuts across a pair of steep-sided stream beds; and except for the crazy traffic on the arterial leading into Céret right when we enter town. That stretch is also avoidable now that I know better, so if we had this ride to do over it would be pleasant nearly all the way, an enjoyable cruise through the vineyards and villages with the dramatic backdrop of the eastern Pyrenees pulling us on.
We’ve got a clearer view of those mountains this morning. I’m pretty sure I’ve identified them too: the one on the left is Roc del Comptador and the other is Roc de la Campana, both on the international border. If so, Céret must be straight in that direction, down in the Tech valley beyond the nearest ridge.
Once we escaped Perpignan and its suburbs, much of the day’s ride was on pleasant roads like this, gradually trending upwards. Nothing significant, but it’s the most climbing the team has seen for awhile. We’re not in the Camargue any more!
Sound track: Through the Woods, by Yasmin Williams
We arrive in Céret not long after noon and head straight to Can Jordi, the lunch spot we picked for ourselves. It’s obviously a popular spot and packed already, and we’re lucky to score one of the last free tables - unfortunately around the corner in the shade where it’s breezy and chilly. Later we head straight for our apartment a few blocks away, pleased that our host tells us that the self-entry unit is ready whenever we arrive.
The view from our table at lunch. I love Céret for its plane trees, among other things. It’s one of our favorite small towns in France.
It’s a very nice, spacious place with only two negatives. First, there’s the narrow single flight of stairs we’ll have to wrestle the bikes up and down. More importantly though, it’s cold! It’s dark and feels like no one has been in it for awhile when we arrive, so one of the first things I do is contact the host to ask where the remote is for the heating unit up near the ceiling. He’s responsive and is quick to let us know that there’s no remote because unfortunately the unit is broken; but there is a portable heating unit in the closet that might help. And it does help, a teeny tiny bit. We spend a lot of time huddled close to it and under a blanket until the place finally warms up.
Perhaps surprisingly, this is our fourth time to Ceret, a town at the base of the Pyrenees that works well as a stop after crossing over from Spain. We’ll be here four nights this time, so we might as well hold off on showing you the town; which after all we’ve already done threetimesbefore.
Steve Miller/GrampiesWe actually like that kind. Gentle heat rather than blasting. Dodie especially hates a hot room. Lttle hint:It works better if you plug it in. Reply to this comment 3 weeks ago
Jacquie GaudetWe stayed in a yurt once, in Pender Harbour, not that far from home. It was in the second half of May, and the weather was cool and wet. The only heat source was one of these and it had no discernable effect on the temperature in the yurt. I hope this one works better! Reply to this comment 3 weeks ago
