Adios Spain, Bonjour France

Monday 13th April

Brrrr, bloody cold night in the tent last night, on the Gulf of Roses. Everything was damp with dew, and we were slow to get up. Will got the stove cranking for coffee, and we sat in the warming sun and had cereal and hot drinks. I put all our clothes we had hand washed last night, in the drier, and we took our coffees down the beach for a looksie.

Beautiful,  cold, morning on the Golf of Roses. 

Dismantling the tent, we had to spread over the vegetation to try and dry it out before packing it, but it was getting late so the fly is still a little damp. We'll sort that out tomorrow in Collioure. Will serviced the deadlies, and we loaded them up and off to France we went.

Bit wet, but we'll dry it later,  we've got to go.

Yellow Dawg and Black Betty waiting for us again.

Nice cruisie ride for just over 20kms to Vilajuiga, where we stopped for our last Boccodillo and to prepare ourselves for the Pyrenees mountains. Mountains! Oh dear, we were surrounded by them, and some even had snow on them. Hopefully not the ones we needed to get over.

Little beer and coke and last Boccodillo.

Straight after lunch, we went straight up a steep incline, and I thought this was it. Up from here. But no sooner had we got that sorted and we were hooning down this awesome, long, decent! Noooo, it's too early. It means there will be even more up now......ugh! But it was fun.

Who thinks to build all these forts on top of these hills?

Zipping down hill checking out the future mountains.

So it went, that we came to the beach again, then started to go up and around/over the Pyrenees mountains. Around a mountainous point, then down around a Village, then back up the other side to do it again. Man was it tough! Me and first gear have become best of friends again, and luckily there were plenty of excuses to stop and rest....I mean take photos.

The Med looks amazing today,  even though these hills hurt.

Yes,  I am in passion,  but I'm still breathing and pedalling.

Made it to yet another Top and awesome view.

At last we came to Portbou, the last town in Spain. Down a most terrifying, but super fun, descent and into town. Some Cyclists past us just before the descent, but just as we came to some cool tunnels. This gave Will a burst of power (bloody competitive men), and he put his foot down (Great pun there) . I couldn't stop laughing, because the poor guy kept looking back and seeing Will right on his tail....he forgets that we are heavier which helps going down. So funny to watch.

One last big UP, then France. We need the super juice.

At the bottom they were all stopped and waved us through. We went into the town centre and just had to stop for second lunch. The next and last climb would be the worst. So we sat and ate the best meal we have had in Spain. 5 star, A La Carte. It was sensational.

Brief stop, photo op and oxygen intake. 

Last look back at Spain and what a view. 

Then we tackled that mountain. 4kms up to the boarder. It took us over half an hour. Almost all the way in first gear. I looked up and could see the boarder sign, and I almost cried. I was not ever really sure if we could get here, but we have done it. 

Oh my god,  1 bloody steep kilometer. 

Your almost there Will, come on.

We actually made it. Down there is our first night in France. 

See,  we're here. Amazing. 

Our first view of Cerbere. Wow. 

We zoomed down into France, to the boarder town of Cerbere. Stunning little cove, and lots of hills. We located a hotel, which are not common, and lots still closed until July. Laurence is the owner, and she is lovely. She has sorted our bikes, given us two free beers (early birthday present for Will), and speaks wonderful English with a lovely French accent. 

Down in the town of Cerbere. 

View from the beach below our hotel.

This is France.

Wow, we're in France.