Pyrenees 2006

Thursday - Mini Coll's

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"You have options today", I said. "You can lie by the pool or take a ride with me to look at the Salvador Dali Museum in Figueres..."

Passing up on the grand opportunity for a lazy day, Dave S and Gee agreed to come for the ride...

Here's Gee creeping up on his bike, It isn't quite awake yet, so if we keep quiet he has a very good chance of catching it (actually he was checking wheel alignment after adjusting the chain, sorry Gee :)

It's only 56 miles from Tossa to Figueres, and after a lazy start we finally arrived there around 12:15. A shortage of parking space was solved by going 'off road' in the middle of the car park, finally the GS is in its element!

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The amazing exterior of the Salvador Dali Museum.

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As soon as I got in the museum, I lost the other two completely, but still had a good look around, this image of President Lincoln really caught my eye.

Dave and Dali, a brilliant portrait of Dave by Gee

Another picture by Gee

Last picture...

Well OK, just one more...

What a fantastic ceiling, but he really should wash his feet!.

Having found Dave and Gee again, we had a coffee then went back to the bikes for part two of today's treat, a ride over the little Coll's around the Spanish/French border less than 25 miles away.

Taken  from Coll de Frare, Portbou, the last Spanish town on the way to the border. On the left of the picture is the rail terminal and goods yard, years ago I remember changing trains here when heading South in to Spain for a holiday. Its a great windy road going down, but they're building a new section of road with a tunnel, so it might be quite different if you go there.

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After passing thorough Portbou you immediately start to climb Col des Balitres and very soon after the peak we came across the now forgotten customs post on the French side. Remember the N260 from a few days back? well this is where it ends after becoming the (French) N114

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Another picture of the old customs buildings with Dave & Gee posing, these buildings would make an excellent biker cafe :)

Taken from the North side of Col des Balitres this is the first French town after the border called Cerbere.

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After the very briefest of stops in Cerbere we turned around and headed for a cafe I'd spotted in Portbou, Dave Ebbo & Gee.

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If you're confused about the locations (and I don't blame you) this map should sort it out.

This elevation graph just covers the Spanish/French border, hover your mouse over the peaks and valleys. 

We left Portbou at 15:37 and it took us nearly 3hrs to ride the 77miles back to Tossa, we must have had a break somewhere? After a shower and change we went for a meal and drink in the town...

Tonight Barcelona was playing Arsenal, every bar in the town was tuned in for the match, to say the atmosphere was electric would be an understatement. Though not wishing to be unpatriotic, I could only hope Barcelona would win. And thank god they did (2/1), Tossa went berserk! (and we got very drunk) All around the town, groups were marching around banging drums and setting off fireworks, I have never heard bangs so loud! Dave S, Dave J & John.

And so to bed after an interesting day, tomorrow we would be riding back West toward Andorra, if we can get out of bed!

Today route in yellow, Tossa to Cerbere via the Dali museum in Figueres - 165miles

Today's temperature graph, hitting 30C/86F in Figueres.

Garmin trail and waypoints download for today

Tomorrow we'll ride back in to the Pyrenees heading for Andorra.

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