#Coll d'Ares

[pedalplaces]

The problem with long, steep descents; the problem with smooth, signed routes; the problem with early morning tailwinds. The route de Coll d'Ares was signed every few KM with distance to summit, elevation, section incline. A minor summit at Molló then a final summit at the Spain-France border. A nearly perfect riding morning, cool to begin but calm and mild throughout. A headwind slowed my descent out of the mountain valley but for that I might be grateful. I passed another team of pro cyclists, again heading opposite my course. Girona's cycling reputation deserved. Really striking terrain, low traffic road routes and not boring cycle paths. The coastal route, beautiful and usually 10 degrees warmer at night, pales in comparison.

Two happy French cats greeted me at the base of Coll d'Ares. Many dedicated cycle paths in France. Occasionally they require a long way around or leave you to figure it out on your own. I repeatedly got turned around crossing major waterways, which usually required entering a cycleway well before the bridge. I finally camped on the beach, Narbonne Plage, which like most of the French coast is deserted this time of year. It was also the first time in three weeks it rained. I packed off the beach before sunrise. A very windy day, blew my bread across the grocery store parking lot. It mostly aided my eastward journey, arriving in Montpellier around 4pm.

[raiding]

This morning was cool: we were glad of gilets and arm-warmers for the fast run back down the Ter valley to Camprodon. The sun began to warm us as we turned onto the Col d'Ares: a lovely climb to the French border. I took a photo of the disused border post; but not of the gendarmes loitering menacingly a few metres into France.

I chatted to an English couple who've been coming to these parts for years on walking holidays. They're pleased with the new bus services up and down the passes, which allow them to extend their range. They asked what we were doing, so I explained. The idea that we had chosen to ride all the way up the col just to turn and ride down again left them politely puzzled. I'm not sure why: it's no more baffling than getting the bus to the top of a pass and spending the next four hours walking home, as they intended; and we get to do our version sitting down.

Then the day got complicated. Christel had discovered that our intended route over the Coll de la Buixeda, the Coll de Pera, and theCol de Camporiol was closed for logging operations. She devised an alternative, and there was much rapid activity trying to get it onto everyone's phons and gps devices. Rob and I set off together from the van, still not quite confident that the electronics had worked. The suspicion was confirmed when we found ourselves at the mouth of the mile-long tunnel that keeps the traffic off the Coll de Capsacosta: short tunnels are okay on a bike, but long ones, not so much.

I reverted to old-school paper-map navigation, which proved much more reliable. We retraced our detour to the turn for the Coll de Capsacosta. It is is only a tiny climb from that direction, for which we were rewarded with a lovely descent to Sant Salvador de Bianya, the reverse of yesterday's blue route. Then we pulled down the valley to Olot and rejoined the original day two route there.

Despite our detour, we were on the Coll de Canes before most of the others. This turned out to be because many had stopped to eat in Olot: a "six course meal," according to Jo, who was watching Ali and John eat it.

The Coll de Canes felt like a transit col: you go that way to get to somewhere else, rather than for the limited pleasure of the climb: mostly dead-straight, no views to speak of, and up a south-facing slope, so very hot. But the descent from the top to Ripoll was much better; and the route-change gave us a shorter day, so we are in Ripoll with time to relax before dinner.

[joanotbellver]

8102 - Ares del Maestrat - IX by Joanot Via Flickr: Ares del Maestrat (Alt Maestrat) País Valencià //// View Alt Maestrat album

[explosiodecolor]

Aquest matí , Coll d'Ares. La boira per mi té un encant especial . Orquídies silvestres , fràgils i delicades Reflexes, colors , textures . Reflexes , colors ,textures #gfabadesses #explore_dof #santjoanabadesses #nature #jasomduesassociacionsalacomarca #macro #flowers #flowersinstagram #raconsde_catalunya https://www.instagram.com/p/CPLyoRmhhan/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tiolule]

#cami de la #retirada #coll #frontera #montaña #nieve #descobreixcatalunya #clickcat #catalunyaexperience #catalunya #pirineos #pirineuscatalans #païssoscatalans (en Col d'Ares)

[raiding]

Day two's red route is the blue route plus an early excursion up the Col d'Ares (1,513 m), to the French border. Once back on the blue route, we roll over the Coll de la Buixeda (1,092 m), the Coll de Pera (790 m) and the Coll de Camporiol (510 m) to Olot, reversing yesterday's route, then turn west to Ripoll by way of the Coll de Canes (1,121 m). It's a longer day, at 126 km, but the gradients are (mostly) less severe.

Despite the billing, yesterday’s route appeared green and volcano-free, even the roundabouts. We’re going back to the roundabout in question today, so I shall try to be more attentive.

[joanotbellver]

Joanot by Joanot Via Flickr: Ares del Maestrat (Alt Maestrat) País Valencià ////

[joanotbellver]

8102 - Ares del Maestrat - VII by Joanot Via Flickr: 8102 - Ares del Maestrat - VI

[joanotbellver]

8102 - Ares del Maestrat - XIV by Joanot Via Flickr: Ares del Maestrat (Alt Maestrat), País Valencià //// ************ Ares del Maestrat Album ► - Recent ► - Facebook ► - Flickr ► - 500px ► - Google+ ► - Pinterest ► - Show ► - Portfotolio ► - Fluidr ► - Flickriver ► - Tumblr ► Picssr ► - Twitter ►

[joanotbellver]

8102 - Ares del Maestrat - XII by Joanot Via Flickr: Ares del Maestrat (Alt Maestrat), País Valencià //// ************ Ares del Maestrat Album ► - Recent ► - Facebook ► - Flickr ► - 500px ► - Google+ ► - Pinterest ► - Show ► - Portfotolio ► - Fluidr ► - Flickriver ► - Tumblr ► Picssr ► - Twitter ►

[joanotbellver]

8102 - Ares del Maestrat - VI by Joanot Via Flickr: Ares del Maestrat (Alt Maestrat) País Valencià //// - En Catal��/Valencià aquí ! - In English here ! - En Español aquí

[joanotbellver]

8102 - Ares del Maestrat - II by Joanot Via Flickr: Ares del Maestrat (Alt Maestrat) País Valencià ////