Summer of 2004
It is July and we still have not seen much of a summer in Holland. It took me 15hrs by car to kickstart my summer. I stayed with good friends in Playa Pals on the Costa Brava coast just south of the Bay of Rosas. The view from the balcony shows the Islas Medas, the scubadiving hotspot in that bay. The only swimming I've done was in the pool in the garden around the back.
The chef for the week ;-) preparing a proper breakfast. Not very spanish maybe, but what the heck. It is a good start of the day before going to the market in the nearby village Toroëlla de Montgri.
The nicest thing about the market is that people sell their own produce on that market as well, like this old lady with her figs. Toroëlla has some of these typical spanish 'ramblas'-streets.
In Playa Pals they have really made an effort to make even roundabouts look good. With lavender, olive trees and so on. Pretty. As is the village of Pals. Grapes growing everywhere. The blue vehicle in the picture is my car. Even in a comfortable car 950 miles one way is a long long haul though.
The Lady of Catalunya is well known. 'She' can be seen when you look at the profile of the mountains in the distance. She was about to be rained on as well as you can tell by the black clouds. For the first time after my knee surgery I was out on a golfcourse again. Don't ask me the name of the course, but I enjoyed it like nothing else.
With Barcelona just 90 miles away I was bound to pay it a visit. Fantastic weather means a crowded beach. I did go to the entrance of the Forum but by the time I got there I couldn't be bothered to actually pay it a visit. A good meal and back to the beach it was!
Barcelona has some stunning architecture. Not surprising when you look at the work that the plumbers do there. They must have been high on something. Back in Playa Pals there was a nice view over sea with sunrays coming through the clouds. It was a pity that I was there for just a week, but I'll be back for more.
A short holiday in Spain meant that I could visit the UK as well. And despite the poor weather forecast I've only had a little bit of rain. A very good thing as I was on the bike. I started of in Manchester where amongst others I met Mandy and her infamous (but very sweet) english bulldog Nelly. She won't bite you but will headbut you to death with her boisterous welcoming jumps. After visiting Barbara who'll be back home by the time you read this and Ian and Theresa in their new dwellings it was time to move north towards Berwickshire. Where I was so 'lucky' as to experience the fairground at Eyemouth. Here's Tom and Liam taking aim.
Eyemouth is a small seaside town with a fishing harbour where more often than not you'll be able to see seals swimming in the harbour. These are some views of the rugged coastline.
This time I stayed with Kim's neighbour, who has a lively home with 5 dogs a couple of cats and a load of chickens. Here are the 3 old english sheepdogs that are the most dominant of the lot. Not counting Audrey herself that is. On one of the rideouts I followed the b6355. A twisting B-road with litle traffic and great views. Not a road to ride with much ambition as there is quite a bit of loose surface and mud from farm traffic. But there are lots of A-roads where you can burn rubber so this is for the scenic touch.
Another view from that road and a view of Bass Rock just east of North Berwick also showing a nice links golf course that I'll try next time around.
From the same spot when you look west you have this view over the coastline towards North-Berwick. Anyone who has seen Braveheart with Mel Gibson knows who William Wallace is. From the Wallace monument this is the view of the Three Sisters hills near Gallashiels. With me to prove I was there.
I spent an afternoon hunting the trout on fly fishing gear with Tom at a reservoir in the moors. Thrilling but no fish on the hook. Better luck next time. Next time won't be on the bike as I'll be needing my golfing gear again then plus the flyfishing gear. And as you can see I am not good at travelling light. This is without any camping gear. Hmmm... I'll have to rethink my packing next time around..
