Heading home - Catalonia

The return was never planned in as much detail as outward; mostly a practical route back splitting the journey as evenly as possible, and to my taste, not returning the same way but heading further east and then north of Paris back to the boat.

The first leg out of Barcelona then a scenic route towards my overnight stop still in Spain. Rather Catalonia - everywhere along the route are Catalonian and independence flags...

Google Maps Link

Travelled across Barcelona to pick up the car for the final time, and then along the coast to just past Mataro before heading north for the hills. The coast road gives glimpses of the sea, but because the railway takes the on-coast position, mostly the sea view is not great.

More good driving and smooth Catalonian roads, a short stop at the Church of Sant Marti del Brull. Only the flag in the carpark giving away I'm not back in a Leone Spaghetti Western. No one here, notwithstanding a few cars around, the place is deserted.

My parking is not that bad, I just needed to get a shot of the car and the flag!

More cross country driving on the C-153: Vic, Rupit then Olot for a spot of lunch and to stretch my legs. The vistas still huge, but the mountains still way north.

Next pause around mid afternoon at Banyoles, and a chance to pickup a Separatist Catalonian flag;  They generally adorned many windows & balconies so I just had to have one. I did stop short of attaching it to the car though - possibly disrespectful.

Another wander through the old town to cool off...

Then on to my overnight stop near Verges, another reasonably cheap and cheerful bar come hotel. No english spoken so had to practice my smiles and sign language. Friendly people though and a good mixture in the bar of locals and workmen on their way home. 

Amusingly they did have an english version of the evening menu - but of course couldn't read it themselves so worked by matching the paragraphs I chose with their own Catalonian one - and thus I still got something I didn't order to eat. No-matter - well fed and watered on Estrella turned in for the night.

Montserrat excursion

Midweek and some timeout from work; 

It was either to be a Barcelona bus tour or as an alternative I suggested a run up to Monserrat monastery in the mountains with a colleague.

A good excuse to see if my cross town garage was looking after the car. 

Every traffic light in Barcelona seemed to be red, on the plus side almost every stop at a light got another acknowledgment/wave/smile from a passer by. Good drive to/up the mountain, its pot luck getting a clear run - up was mostly clear, down stuck behind a coach, when that happens its just time to relax and take in the view a little more.

Found a parking spot. Spot the difference...

A little cooler at the top and a wander to take in the views.

Panorama

The place is like a 007 villain hideout, 60s architecture for the restaurant, funicular railway, cable car - the works! I have been here once before, while the restaurant is brutal and in sharp contrast to the monastery buildings I like it's honest style, so of its time inside and out - very cool.

(Video of some of the drive up to follow)

Le Grande Descent

You could spend a month of Sundays exploring the various roads in the area, I have to move on though - this is a road trip with a destination, I need to be in Barcelona by the evening and be ready for work next morning. This still isn't a straight route - still seeking out some windy roads or things that just looked worth visiting...

Google Maps Link

This is a day of surprises, first - the mountains are as much fun going down as up, and second, Catalonia and the changing landscape to wide open spaces with the heat just blows you away.

Early up to check the car before breakfast, the sun still isn't over the distant peaks yet.

Oil is fine, only drunk a sip so far, coolant good too; so we are all set.

Plenty of driving before I stopped for this picture at the top of a section of hairpins down to Genos Loudervielle on the D25; The cyclists I was sharing the road with stopped at the top, this hairpin just sums up the mornings drive:

The view of Bossost in the valley, just over the border into Spain.

An interesting place, a large river through the centre of the single street town and industrial, either water pumping or sawmills on the edge of town. 10:00 woke up a coffee shop so I could partake of second breakfast. My Spanish is worse than my french, pre-looked up a couple of phrases for bathroom, and of course coffee is universal.

The road after Bossost is the most awesome experience, running down through deserted ski centres and whole towns it spends a good 20 minutes of reasonably fast, made up roads, hairpins and straight stretches, I couldn't believe it just kept going!

I needed to stop at the bottom, driving through unavoidable cows muck the front wheels flicked it over the back wheel arches. Again my Spanish put to the test working out how to use the Jetwash.

Ever onwards a pause near Talarn for lunch on the edge of a reservoir, the heat now amazing; France was nothing, Spain is like being in a sauna, driving at 60mph is like being in a windy mobile sauna! The roads are good though, very smooth, few potholes, very little traffic too.

Panorama

Find the shade when you can, packed lunch again...

Looking back west from near Benavent, huge space, the pictures unfortunately cannot really do it justice. At times I actually felt I was driving through a Leone Western.

Then at the end of a long run south, I was getting tired, and expected Barcelona to be closer than it was, SatNav never failed me though - I just diligently followed it right into the centre of town and to my reserved underground parking.

Packed up the car, tonneau and roof on to deter anyone taking too close a look and then a taxi across town to the hotel. I was cooked by the sun, notwithstanding regular sun-tan lotion top ups, very tired, but... well actually just VERY hot, tired and thankful of the taxi aircon  :) 

We did it!

Half way point - GN13 and me in one piece after approx. 1000 miles driving.

The whole experience so far incredible, the easy start with northern France then the two stunning days up, over and down from the Pyrenees.

I know plenty of people drive to the south of France on Holiday and probably make regular longer trips than this one - I suspect the number reduces who have done it in an open car, and reduces a little more for a self built car. This drive in any vehicle is amazing! Can recommend!

Now to change mindset: think about work for three days, and hope the parking I had booked was as secure as advertised!

(Video footage to follow once edited)

Now THAT is a drive - cold start, then... then, the Pyrenees!

Start before Dawn

Sunday - this is why I'm here, the two days drive over the mountains and down to Barcelona, first more miles heading south, then past Pau it starts getting more interesting:

Google Maps Link

Left the hotel early before 07:00 and headed south on the D19, early morning fuel stop on the automatic/unmanned pumps, then into vinyards, and a breif stop near Peyrine to warm up & manually de-mist the windscreen and mirrors.

It may look stunning, but until the sun is fully up its absolutely freezing, I also was a little unsure of the grip level, with limited light and damp/low cloud/mist conditions. Winding roads around the vineyards, no traffic to speak off but alternating between pitch dark, mist in the valleys and biting cold..

...as I crossed the bridge, in the background, at Langon I could see the cobbled area next to the river so hunted down the route to it for this picture...

Panorama

What followed was long, mile after mile of straight forest lined avenues, still cold the sun couldn't warm the road, except for the welcome rare field that leat its rays heat me a little...

Elevenses

Over the next bridge at Aire-sur-l'Adour just had elevenses written all over it, another stunning river side stop to relax for a while. Again a few locals walking dogs etc wanting to chat about the car, one only noticing mid conversation it was from the UK and driving position on the other side. One chap was trying to describe a local racetrack, or classic car meet and, I think, his previous driving career - but my French is very poor so mostly the conversation was through smiles and pointing...

You could tell this was France just from the pictures, no one else does scenery like this:

Mountains!

Now it begins, after driving through Pau, mountains in the distance, roads becoming more interesting.

Coffee and pint of lemonade, I was parched, stop at a Cafe in Eaux-Bonnes. 

Hot again, shirtsleeves now even at speed. 

The "Casino" label usually means a supermarket, but this place feels more like a gambling centre nestled in the foothills.

...and a peek of the next peak...

Nope, These are Mountains...

Out of Eaux-Bonnes the road meanders like a gooden through Gourette to the final peak of Col D'Aubisque at 1,709 metres.

Half way, it just keeps going...

Not fantastically fast, I was too busy concentrating on avoiding cyclists and taking in the amazing views. That peak in the distance is massive, my picture looks a little washed out - thats what you see with your eyes - the light is so bright and clear.

Panorama

 Cow bells the only sound (when I shut the motor off):

 Surveying the route down, with a well earned ice-cream in hand.

The next few dont need words; except to say you can't get the concept of size and vista in a snapshot, the whole thing is awe inspiring... lots of ways to get here in normal cars/motorhomes etc, even motorbikes are close - but I suspect nothing quite like a low slung open top sports-car!

 This is the D918 near Super Barages; zoom in and look closely to see it wind up the side of the mountain...

... and too my hotel still high in the hills near Cadeac.

Yes, I cheated again; looked for a nice quiet place for dinner, not too many guests. An English pub themed bar! No English spoken though, all French as expected - good food and Rugby world cup on the telly (also in French of course)

Final challenge for the day, returning to the hotel, tried the combination they gave me for the front door... nothing... tried again,  nothing...   hmmm. Worked it out - they had transposed two numbers on the paper, didn't fancy sleeping outside!

(I do have video footage of this entire day, will edit and post in due course)