Hi all and FYYFF's!! this is our RideReport # 19 and it is about Andorra, Pyrenees and Catalunya. And we nearly start all our reports with a picture like this. The 950 is packed and ready to go. Making this pic is like a ritual to me - It's a "ok - lets go" thing. So day 1 and we took highway to Garmisch, Fernpass, Reschenpass and then this one. No, not the one you see in the Background - na? Jep - now you got it - Umbrail - not Stelvio. Umbrail, the one with the gravel section. A lot of snow - it is 3rd June - normaly we expeced less snow here. Ortler Group Next day - no pics. First we went to Lago di Como, then Milano to Torino. Wanted to go into the alps again, but weather looked real bad. So went down to Nice and took a Hotel a few km later. Next day - Rain until Spain. So we reached our Base Camp in Castellbo quiet wet. First ride - St. Joan de L'Erm. For a few Cafe con Leche more. green roads old villages great views. Cool Start Next Day -- Sierra del Cadi Planet Claire (B52's) the way to Tuixen Tuixen - to have a Cafe con Leche and a Bocadillo. Next little town, nearby Park natural Sierra del Cadi Impressive views. Here at Coll de la Trapa 1321 m Tunnels (good for parking) mucho aqua - and very impressive - it's high in the montains, not in a valley A bit later we dived into the Cadi Tunnel and took the main road from Puigcerda back to La Seu. A good day. The 1st Andorra day normaly you hate to drive into Andorra. nu - but sometimes .... Overview Ordino - a quiter place Andorra la Vella - main city Pyrenees - Shopping more shopping you need money So - you have a first impression? The tour to Tremp So this is the correct opposite to Andorra - at Coll de Boixols (1380 m). more down there is Tremp Up to Sort and here at Coll de Canto. Great view again. Zoom to Sierra del Cadi. the 100 - 400 brings far things near. the day ended wet - very wet but the night was ok. to be continued ....
uff - back home from work - so lets go on with the RR. So -- next stage in our Ride Report -- St. Joan de L'Erm - Eremita - Tavascan and back In this mountains you often see Horses. The old ones know where and how to block a road to ask for sweets. The very young ones are running like crazy when a big bike comes. This is a easy track from L'Erm to Roni. uff - Terraforming - years ago it looks like this a pic from 06/ 2007 from the other side. walls still easy off-road Tina still loves to be creative - (or still is a Terraformer) and on we go - to reach the tarmac before Roni have to pass "huge" waterfalls. End of the road above Tavascan. On the other side of the hills is France. leo.org gives me "broom", "furze", "gorse" and "whin". One of them might be correct for german word "Ginster" (this yellow plants). way down the same way to Tavascan i had to stop here What a nice garden. Time for -- yes - Cafe con leche and Bocadillo. Here in DownTown Tavascan The old road (typical bridge) Looks like the little cat want to join us on the bike - but she didn't. So back to our Base Camp and join the excellent Food we get there every day. The LLES - Days next area - Lles - is La Seu - Martinet and then up. But before you must stop in Martinet. Why - because there is a chocolate factory. You can buy Croissants, Bread, and kg's of chocolate - with milk, without milk, brown, white, with nuts, with whatever. Fantastic. first - learn the name of the Pics of Sierra del Cadi then - explore the mountain finally - escape the rain. Next day Lles again - but fantastic weather conditions water the way we like have some chocolate Following the track for a while -- a nice lake (even with min. 2 fish inside) what you not see on that pic -- the cars and the picknick-area. next Waterfall Horses - of course the highest point for us - and Sierra del Cadi - Horses Tina and the Horses who finds the cow in that pic? 98 Horses the way down to some more cows and cool views and Bescaran. Where we get more ... Yes - Cafe con Leche and Bocadillo. Next day -- La Seu - close to Coll de Nargo then left - up to Coll de Jou and Berga -- That means -- Curves, curves, curves, curves, curves, curves, curves, curves and not much pics. at Coll de Jou Berga Next day - on and off road -- St. Joan de L'Erm - Rubio - Sort - Gerri de la Sal - up to Els Castells - Taus - Noves de Segre - Castellbo On the way to Rubio Terraformers playground TIA - Tina in Action The way up to Els Castells. the way we came up a few km to go up Cordero - Sheeps -- Jam, jam (when grilled) Still not reached the end of gravel Vulture (capitallist? ) At the top - a "high valley" and a gravel highway the way down to Noves de Segre - the last sun in Cadi - the rain catched us again. Still more to tell - to be continued...
last part - let's see the rest of the story the "uphill - downhill" Day -- St. Joan l'Erm - Pic l'Orri - Rialp - Espui From Castellbo 25 km up to St. Joan - from here you can choose 5 differend gravel roads. Today we want to reach the highest point - Pic l'Orri. It's still wet on the tracks. Still a lot to do for Tina The top of the hill. (2 437m) First view down view down part 2 Clouds come close The hills we ride around view dirct. Andorra So now down to Roni and Rialp, and up the next hill to Llesui. Crossing the next ski area. Top of the hill - Down in the valley the next target -- Espui. Normaly we take the 30 km track to Espot - but this time we wanted to go down because we never did before. Parking at top l'Orri in Background - the one we've been before. the way we came up on the way down half the way down last section (like Col de Tende). You cross this part 5 times Some km more down at L Pobleta de Bellvei we take a small road to Gerri de la Sal and get some more fantastic views. - Here we look down the first part. nice lake is next Montcortes Desfiladero de Collegats (the main road takes you through this valley) Bretui The last Andorra Day So - time is running out - we won't ride much today - so we decide to visit Andorra one more time. of course - this is Andorra - our style. -- the way up to Canolic from St. Julia de Loria view down After an Cafe ... and a B... in Os de Civis we entered the next valley and reached this church. view down to Andorra la Vella Closer look to the Jungle The way home La Seu - Puigcerda - Prades - Perpignan - Highway - Orange - first day Next day arround Mt. Ventoux to find this and the pics i wanted to take Lavender - Lavande - Lavanda - лаванда - <big>薰衣草</big> and Poppy playing with perspectives which one is better? Lines Next we reached a nice valley close to Gap impressive rock near the End of the valley. Rain again Heavy rain until Briancon. We decide to do one more pass - Col de Galibier - 2645m Rain stopped but it's cold our last stay - Hotel in St. Michel. Next day - still rain - we took Frejus-Tunnel to escape to Torino. At Torino sun - Highway to Milano and on to Lago di Garda. (33° C) Then the rain comes back. At Lago di Garda At Sterzing it is raining like hell. And windy. Took Passo Brennero in 2nd gear very slow - saw nearly nothing - 6°C - fresh snow on the mountains. Rain until Mittenwald - Last km in Sun at Kochel and than back home. Hope you liked this report - CU at # 20. have fun Bettina and Andreas
Very nice report!I explore this area a couple of times and i love it!Do u know why are there so many horses everywhere?
No No No. You got me wrong. I meant the location, that's the ruin near Joan de l'Erm or whatever it's called. That's not even me on the picture. Here's another one:
Hi franken, Typical... I get on ADVrider as a break from travelling the trails in the Pyrenees, (I've only been home about 5 days in the past month) and hey, what do I find... your superbly photographed ride report on the Pyrenees..... I have lived/worked in the Pyrenees for 7 years now, but have never seen it captured so well, despite not having the best weather, (I know as I was camping in it, including snow at one point), your photos are fantastic, I assume you are a professional photographer, if not then I think you should be . Actually, I was on the trail between Llessui & Espui yesterday afternoon... we were exploring the old ski station of course Nice work... Cheers Potski
Thank u all for your kind comments!! @bavarian: i know what u meant the location, but .... the wheelie .. @potski: u are so lucky to live in this beautyful place, and no - i'm not a professional. Just luck - sometimes i get very good pics, sometimes a lot of none goods. @christian: The BWM pic belongs to bavarian - he also traveled several times in that area. (This time we made an "Africa Twin Meeting", with only one AT. Rest of bikes was KTM, BMW and Yamaha). This ride report is just the story of my ride with Tina in this area. regards Andreas
I am frustrated, I,ll never take photographs again after i have seen your pictures. nice report, great locations....and the best of all...that pictures
