Again Pyrenees and again with Marcellus and Extreme Tours
This time we are four: Marcellus, Achim, Beat and myself.
We know where we go and we look forward to nice fall weather, great empty roads and good food.
We get surprised by a lovely hotel in France and get pampered by a very good Spanish Paella later on.
I ride 2300 miles, thereof 1500 in the Pyrenees.
1
All pictures
I have compiled a video with all 1.500 pictures taken by Marcellus and myself during the tour.
2
The journey to the Pyrenees
There is to conquer quite a distance. First I ride to Ammersee lake close to Munich to Marcellus. There the bikes get on a trailer and we proceed into Switzerland to pick up Beat and his bike and to change cars. We ride through the night to our starting point in Ille-sur-Têt in France
I start in the morning in the rain during Berlin rush hour
The bikes are on the trailer
Beat's bike came to the others
Arrival in the morning at Hotel Le Buis
Room and hotel are decorated quite nicely
Ille-sur-Têt is a little French city meeting all clichés
I have never seen a an age group parade before
The oldest parade participant
Achim has arrived and we have a bottle of wine before dinner
We find this message from the hotel in the room
3
Ille-sur-Têt-La Molina
We start with the coast line of the Mediterranean Sea before we turn into the mountains.
Click here for a map with the route of the day
Brilliant breakfast in the hotel. Even the bread is home-baked.
Hotel Chambre d'Hôtes les Buis - Getting ready
Cap de Cervera de la Marenda
A classic car parade passes by
The 240 feet motor yacht Excellence passes by
Cap de Cervera de la Marenda
View at the coastal road GI-682 at Salonic
A diving station next door
Independence signs everywhere
Southern ramp of Alt de la Trona
Hotel Solineu - Arrival beer
4
La Molina-Benasque
The first highlight in the morning. We watch the sunrise on Coll de la Creueta. After breakfast we ride very nice roads through France and Andorra back to Spain.
Click here for a map with the route of the day
7.40 am - it gets brighter
7.46 am - just before sunrise
7.58 am - first sun beams on the other side of the pass
We pass a solar power plant
Main reflector - the world is upside dowm
Port de Pailhères: Fall colors glow
Port de Pailhères: Eastern ramp
La Noguera Pallaresa valley
5
Benasque-Western loop to Tourmalet
We get on the passes of Tour de France. And there are plenty of them: Col du Pourtalet, Col d'Aubisque, Col du Tourmalet, Col d'Aspin, Col du Peyresourde and Col du Portillon. It is quite foggy in France and on Col du Tourmalet we have to find our way downhill through 2.400 feet of elevation in less than 60 feet visibility
Click here for a map with the route of the day
Marcellus has a walk in the morning through Benasque
Hotel Ciria in the morning
Heavy fog on Col du Tourmalet
6
Benasque-Seu d'Urgell
We stay in Spain and move on to Seu d'Urgell. We see a new pass Coll de Montilobar and we get homemade Paella for lunch.
Click here for a map with the route of the day
I have to have a flight here
Lunch in Cantina de Llinars
Mirador de la Trava - View to Seu d'Urgell
We have Tapas for dinner and get a local herb
liqueur with a chestnut base
7
Seu d'Urgell-Southern loop
We stay in Seu d'Urgell and have a southern loop on very empty roads. I have my flight day and will be in the air in three different locations.
Click here for a map with the route of the day
Col de Bóixols - Eastern ramp
Col de Faidella/Col de Bóixols - Western ramp
Coffee break at Cal Petit
Hotel owner is race driver Isidre Esteve Pujol
C-26 and Alt de les Llosses
We try another local herb liqueur
8
Seu d'Urgell-Ille-sur-Têt
The last day in Spain. We return via Andorra, France and Spain back to Ille-sur-Têt in France, the starting point of our tour.
Click here for a map with the route of the day
Marcellus explores Seu d'Urgell in the morning
We look around and I have to fly
The spectacular outlook Mirador Roc del Quer
We have our morning coffee on Port d'Envalira
Solar thermal power plant Thémis Solaire
Col d'Ares - The last pass in Spain
Back to Ille-sur-Têt we need to load the trailer
9
The journey back
The journey back is also quite long. We start in the morning and are back to Ammersee lake in the late evening. The next day I ride home in very cold but dry weather.
Breakfast in Hotel Le Buis