Barcalona!
Hola!
So weve finally reached Barcalona! And in only about 2 weeks! We took ages to get to Santiago! Anyway! Back to where we kicked off! Tarrega....
We left Tarrega After fixing another puncture! in my front wheel (I pulled a thorn out of my tire as well so hopefully that wont happen again!) And we started to make our way, once, again oward Barcalona! It was quite easy going till we got to Igualda! There we stopped to have lunch an figure out what to do next! In the tourist office (which was actually closed but let us in) they said there wasnt another albergue for another 30k and that was up a mountain! So we dicided to stay in igualda... That was a bad choice! There were only three hotels (and nothing else) in the whole place! The cheapest was 60 and the most expensive was 94 euros! By the time we figured this out it was getting to late to ride on and hope we found a place in time so we went back to the hotel that cost 60. It was such a rip off! There was no heating! It was on a roundabout so traffic noises went on all night and the shower leaked when you used it (and was very small) and ended up soaking the freezing floor in water! It sucked! And (ive racked my brains about this and it the only possibility) I lost my cash card in the hotel! Though i didnt know til 2 days later!
After leaving Igualda as fast as we could we followed the road for a while but it once again turned into a motorway and we had to find another road! This other road happened to take us up a mountain! Monserrat!
The "Serrated Mountain"! This made me happy asi kinda wanted to go there anyway and by the time we had a choice to get back on track toward Barcalona we were halfway up anyway so i talked bethan nto riding the further 11k to the town of Monserrat!
It really is a beautiful town! And an amazing mountain!
The "town" Is set 700m up the mountain. Almost dug out of the side of this really steep mountain- And what isnt dug out is supported by huge girders! The town is really pretty with a lot of amazing views! But it turns out the town is there only as a stopping point for a train that goas almost vertical up the mountain! There is a tourist office, hotel, resturant and cafe- and an albergue! Oh an a couple of musems. There is not even a shop!
Anyway! I talked bethan into climbing the mountain an leaving later in the day! Once we got up there we realised how big it was an decided to explore everything and get a train later! So we did! We climbed right to the top! I could see the white peaks of the pyrnees and turn around and see the sea! It was awsome! And! As we were sitting at the top, looking around, we heard a scratching noise so i walked to the edge of the viewing platform (there was a big compass with places and arrows pointing the direction to the view) I looked down a sheer drop (the kind where your stomach drops and your hands tingle) And see a mountain climber with ropes and everything making his way toward me! Thats absolutely crazy! He climbed all the way to the top-it took him four hours of climbing!
Anyway once we got back down the mountain i went to get some money an realised id lost my card! *****! Anyway panicked a bit but its all sorted now. I just have to borrow money off bethan til i get a new card for christmas! Anyway after all the panick and spending lots of time on the phone (It sucks being on hold, when your in spain and you know its costing you loads!) we stayed another day in Monserrat And cought the train this morning! But the train station was about 7k away- down the mountain! That was ****cold! Didnt go down anywhere near as fast as i have other mountains- my brakes were nearly frozen an werent working at their best, And after i hit the first patch of ice on a corner (A corner that led to drop where the cars at the bottom looked like ants) I took a bit more care! And i couldn feel my hands or my face! But we stopped halfway in a monostery where they let us sit on a radiator whilst we waited to get a pilgrim stamp!
Anyway got to Barcalona on the train and came in thrugh the tube system so didnt get to see the city till we were in it (I was looking forward to getting to the top of a hill and seeing it before me and then speeding down- Just like Santiago with mont de gozo!)
Anyway! Got alright price for the night (16 each) And went to the cathederal (the wrong one- why didnt anybody tell me there were 2?! An the one we saw was rubbish!) And to an aquarium like proper tourists! We are gonna try an sort everything else out (and hopefully go see the good cathederal) tomorrow! Anyway! Ill be home soon! 5 days? Speak to you/ See you soon! I cant wait!
Deri
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