2023,  June  23rd,  Cycling and cycling.

Finally got our act together after looking continually looking at internet weather sites--at breaks in the the stormy weather, we set off for Girona, just over the border in Spain ( 2 hours drive).  Max's new bike rack bringing a whole new experience for biking from the boat.

Girona is the cycling centre of the region- lycra everywhere- just didn't quite manage to persuade Max

 into a brightly coloured skin- tight suit...😢😢 

An amazing hotel with a view over the old city and full of weekend cyclists( --sort of like oursleves-- not!!.)

Lovely old city - Girona, in the northeastern Catalonia region, and known for its medeival architecture, and still partly walled old quarter .

                                                            

Very bland and sparse inside this church compared with others we have seen.  Tiny allys and streets.

Anyone who has watched the series of GAME OF THRONES  will recognise this place as it was used in the filming ( not that Max and I have a clue - we were told!!)

CYCLING.     The cycling route from Olot to Girona was about 60kms-- part of it following an old train track, other bits just cycle paths through woods, fields and little towns.  We caught the 10am bike-bus up to Olot that took 50 mins and cycled back over 4 hours, as planned .👍👍 

    You pass though lots of old bridges and a few tunnels- it was a narrow gauge railway so paths nice and narrow.

Spied a nice watering hole for some on the way.

Managed to miss most of this black cloud with thunder that chased us for the last 10kms and got us 15 mins from the hotel.   Our clothes got so wet that the planned cycle the next day did not happen- soggy shoes just  aren't our thing.

I have to say Max cycled in front of me as we were continually passed by speeding men and women in lycra and we, well...

Max did comment that I was the only one he saw riding a sit-up-and -beg  electric towny bike ,, with a basket on the front!!!.

In my defence I do have padded cycling shorts on underneath my shirt.  (and did have gloves and a helmet for that ride ( not in that picture.))

Quick stop driving back to Beziers in a Spanish supermarket on the boarder, to buy 2 x 1.5l bottles Grants whiskey for 17 euros.

Here are the recipiants, Alan and Shelia, with the 12 packets of rich tea bisciuts and 2  boxes of PG tips brought over from UK and the whisky.....( Heinz salad cream still in the car)

The following weekend was a car trip to the Lot Valley, about 3.5 hrs inland for my Scottish cousin, Callum Macrae's 70th birthday and house warming in Touzac,

Such a different landscape to the south -- greener, less vines but loads of maize growing. Did a cycle ride alot the river Lot ( 30KMs) on the sat - then back for a sleep and then the party.

This is our booking.com hotel- amazing old renovated building in the middle of Fumel, quirky inside but worked well.

The special event for us was that my brother Billy, who is a professional harmonica player, was asked by Callum to join a group of his friends in a band and play on the sat night.

Some of the band were total strangers to each other and after one night of dubious practice- they emerged victorious on the night-- a few clips follow.

Sound check early in the evening of party..

Party time.

Managed to catch Billy on a high!!!!

Rory Macrae( another cousin) and wife Catherine,  SiL Pippa, and of course Max surrounded by faithful dogs again.....

💙💚💛💜

Lastly but not least --- for those Kwiws out there-- I am onto my last box ( best ever cling wrap)--- 200m to go!!! 

                                                                          Till next time.💓