So, today we started at 1007 metres height. That would give us lots of down hill, as Barcelona is close to sea level!
We continued along the way to Spain, and soon crossed the border.
After a while, we went by a karting place, and decided to drive some!
It was really awesome and much fun! Also, the guy working at the place were nice, and got a Swedish krona as he was collecting coins.
It was much more difference biking behind someone than I though it would be, and as I had the most luggage and they use SPD, I got to go last as much as I wanted. It was really easy compared to bike alone!
On the way we went by really nice roads and cool tunnels. It really was mountains everywhere, but the main way were pretty flat, compared.
We came to the place where we wanted to camp, and after a climb of one hundred metres from 425 to 511, we could pitch our tents and relax. The climate really felt different on this side of the mountains, more dry and hot. Also, no clouds to be seen anywhere!
After watching Gravity on my iPhone I went to sleep. The Germans planned to take it easy, and as I did not have any special place to be at until the 30th, I just went by their time schedule.
…because today I have been climbing!
I woke up a little after seven, and actually felt well, so I went up, started packing and made breakfast. I took it really easy, mentally preparing, and also waiting for a little more warmth in the valley, as it was pretty cold outside.
A little after ten, I started climbing.
For some time, I went with two guys going on road bikes.
The first 14 kilometres were easy, and I made one pause, and one really quick stop on the way, taking 623 height metres. It started getting steeper, so I lost the two guys (who had 7-kg bikes and a small backpack each), taking a break every second kilometre. I took both three-minute-pauses and 15-minute-pauses, as I got really tired in the muscles.
While I was only climbing, my emotions were going in a roller coaster. In just seconds, I could change from being happy, to almost crying, to laughing by myself, to thinking of trying to hitch hike. Mainly, the moral were good, but sometimes, it really sucked.
On the way up, a man riding a racer bike reached out with his hand to make a high five. Also, in Pas de la Casa, a hitch-hiker standing by the side starter applauding, and I have him a high five too. That, and many cars honking and cheering, really helped me get up that hill!
With five kilometres, and 320 height metres, the rise were 6.4%. It continued like that, with the highest rise average being 6.8%.
After a total of 26.32 kilometres, and 1320 height metres, I was finally at the top.
I did not really care for the view at the moment, but instead went into the restaurant (that were not that expensive with the place to accordance; 9 euros for a pizza, and 2,5 for desert. I really felt dead.
After eating one pizza and two deserts, I was preparing for going down. Then, two guys I met at the camping yesterday, appeared, as one of them recognised my bike outside. I decided to wait for them and follow them to the camping in Andorra la Valle, instead of riding alone.
And now, while I wasn’t half dead, I could take pictures (and get help by those guys). The view were nice the whole way down!
I got some nice pictures on the way down, and also, for the first time I got pictures of me in action!
I present to you: The way down!
We shopped in Andorra la Valle before going to the camping in the town. While looking for food I also found a new towel, this one red!
We made rice with some vegetables and cheese and stuff. It was nice, and really much!
But I did not manage to eat it all.
It was already pretty late when we went to sleep, but now I had people to test to ride with, which will be interesting!
Jackiie Gone Biking 