Biking in and around Barcelona

I wandered lonely as a cloud or is it bike?

Sunflowers and snack stop.

Our first canny vista ( said with a northern accent by wor lad) as we cycled in to the first town and got our first flat tyre more yet to come!

Perfectly parked during a pit stop. The shade rapidly disappearing.

Team US and team UK and not a uniform in sight nor a professional!

Which way is north and how do you say it in Catalan?

So we 9 intrepid adventurers set off on our "Contrasts of Catalonia " tour or to put it more realistically I should say a couple of fit young uns, some moody teenagers and 2 sets of parents who were not entirely sure if their fitness levels were up to par.

This tour was planned months in advance and our friends roped in with the assurance that cycling was but a minor part of the holiday. Food, wine and culture were the high lights and the biking a means to an end. Think Rioja, salchicha, manchego, flan and you'll be there before you can say Salvador Dali!

Contrasts of Catalonia was it's grand title staying in seaside hotels, a farm house, a renovated castle and ending in the lively city of Barcelona.

Much to my daughters' annoyance I end each holiday with a highlights low lights summary. I won't mention their list but mine would be this.

The sunshine, sea, laughter, camaraderie, food and Gala's Castle.

Low light, no contest, the smell of porcine poop. I suppose it figures that an area known for its jamon y salchica has to have a few piggies on hand to produce said delicacies. It has to be noted that the putrid air that assailed our nostrils on many occasions also gave us the added incentive to peddle faster to escape the foetid air.

The title of our tour was fairly apt, contrasts in the terrain, scenery, accommodation and cuisine but always the same odour.
We certainly gave the locals plenty to muse and laugh over as we trail blazed through sleepy villages the modern day version of the Von Trapp family on wheels. Not a matching headscarf insight but we did burst into song on some occasions.

This is not everyones idea of a summer holiday (including my recalcitrant daughters) but we enjoyed ourselves despite all the daily exercise, more hills than we bargained for, a few little detours, three flat tyres, heat rash, sore buttocks and one vegetarian.

Would we do it again? Yes and no. Probably in a year or too with more willing participants and less daughters!