Cycling into the Abyss


Absolutely fantastic route today. We jump on the train for a 20 minute ride north, to Figures, our route starting point and head towards Port de la Selva and Roses, sitting on the edge of the Mediterrean sea, surrounded by the mountains of Cap de Creus National Park.  

To get to the NP, we have a flat 20km ride through old villages and farmlands, the first livestock we have encountered on this trip, jersey cows and horses.  Lots of them, so it is quite unpleasant on the nose, I mean really, really smelly.  So fertile.

Before long, we enter the NP and the road heads upwards.  Our climb to the top is 7km's long with an average of 6.1% and it's hot.  Jersey unzipped to keep the bod cooler, road surface is excellent with an even gradient, so rhythm is easily set. No traffic.  Before too long, we start seeing wonderful views, looking down onto the patchwork of farmlands, we have left behind.



It's beautiful and amazing to see how far we have climbed. As we rise to almost the top, we get our first glimpse of the Mediterrean sea. The road meanders through the NP, winding its way to the top where we stop for a break at the glorious views.  Lunch is down on the sea level, so yes, we have a stunning, glorious downhill to ride.  We stop several times, just amazed, Dave says 'where the sky meets the sea' and so true it is. We don out jackets as its a long downhill, the breeze of the sea quite cool.



I drop over the abyss.  Just amazing, we are in awe of the area, mountains right to waters edge, little pockets of 'all white' villages squeezed into very small spaces.  We have the road to ourselves, no cars but we did meet 3 riders coming up from the sea.  Phew tuff climb.  



After a lunch of pasta and Fanta down by the water, we have to climb out of the town, yep all the way up again.  But, fuelled up with good food, feeling the euphoria of our location and what we have just ridden, we power on as our route heads towards the small town of Roses, down the other side of the ranges. 


There are mountains as far as the eye can see, an incredible area, loved it.













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