Thu 12th Nov

Fly to Girona. Thu, 12/11/2009 Flight 7354 Depart EDI at 1830 and arrive GRO 30 minutes early at 2150. Found Tapas bar roudn the corner for an evening meal.

Stay in Youth Hostel in centre of old town for €18 each which includes breakfast!

Friday 13th Nov -20 miles and up a mountain

Got hire bikes. €55 each from Cicloturisme Medi Ambient round corner from Station. Took 9.41 train to Flaca for €2 then followed the cycle route signs to visit Dali's Pubol residence. Planned to have lunch in medieval village of Madremanya but everything closed. Had to walk up mountain road hungry and thirsty - the mountain was unexpected and at the top there was a church at els Angles. Luckily there was a monastry type building attached to the church which sold lunch and wine for €6. Superb home cooking. Then it was downhill for 5 mile into Girona. Apparently Lance Armstrong cycled this route every morning when he lived in Girona. In the evening time we visited the Girona food festival before retiring to the Youth Hostel canteen for cards and an early night.

Sat 14th November - 45 miles and cyling in dark

Cycled old railway line greenway to Mediterranean Sea. Then North along coast to Palamos. Lots of para surfers out today as very windy. After cycling through a few cycle resorts we pick up the new green cycleway to Palafrugall where we stop for a late lunch. The cycle route winds a lot so route longer than crow flies estimate. Lunch is quite poor just off the main square in palafrugall. Like many towns in thsi region there are narrow streets wide enough for one car only and there is not much to see. We then head for Peratallada in a race against the darkness as we have no lights. We do a detour after pals to get a supermarket and ned up cyling against the wind as darkness falls. The accommodation is Peratalla is faboulous and something out a book. We are staying in a 17th century farmhouse clled the Ca l'Aliu  for €80. The house is actually part of the town wall and the town is carved out of rock and very very old. We relax in the garden drinking wine and eating cheese and bread from the supermarket. The owner has a fridge full of beers for €1 each so we play cards until late.

Sun 15th November - 25 miles

Cycle north to l'Escala where Greek and Roman city ruins are. We stop for beers in Saint Marti, a wonderful little spot with a square a church and overlooks a cove on the Mediterranean. We then head west towards Figueres and after asking a local find a restaurant in Rumoirs hidden behind a cafe. Figueres has the Dali museum but €11 is too steep. We stay in Hotel Trave for €80. Have beers in the very Spanish Cafe Royal on Ramblas where we are served by the elderly owner in his slippers and old baggy jumper. The CafeParis on Ramblas is very good value and we head back to Travehotel for cards.

Mon 16th November - 20 miles and more hills

We cycle south on minor roads heading to Flaca. Very hilly here and lots of ups and downs whcih are quite exhausting. Evrything closed.  After asking a local we find a village with a Tabac bar in Carmarella that is open. Decide to take train from here to Girona when we find out they are every two hours. Return bikes, buy wine and cheese and play cards in Youth Hostel.

Tue 17th November

From Barcelona Girona(GRO) to Edinburgh(EDI)

Tue, 17/11/2009 Flight 7355 Depart GRO at 1540 and arrive EDI at 1730