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| Grey Spanish morning |
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| Plenty of water in the stream |
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| Rain jackets de-rigeur |
We awake to a grey and overcast day that is threatening rain but it is still relatively warm. We meet up at 0930 and form two groups our group doing the longer faster ride and led by Ralph. We leave the hotel and head out on the back lanes for Can Picafort for coffee. The route is very picturesque with the mountains topped with cloud as a backdrop. We ride at an easy pace enjoying the scenery and conversation as we pass through rich farmland and orange groves. Just as we enter Can Picafort we pass a very Spanish riding stable where Kathy had to stop to admire the horses. From here its down the main drag past the Max Hurtzler cycling franchises and several German pelotons, before stopping at a beach side cafe for coffee and cake!
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| Our first windmill |
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| Riding school |
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| Spanish horses |
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| Cafe at the beach |
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| Sheltering indoors |
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| Getting ready to leave |
After coffee the groups split again we head for Llubi and lunch. The route once again takes us on the back roads where we can drink in the scenery as we roll through. We briefly stop to look down into a now disused limestone quarry, an impressive sight. From here it's on through Santa Margalida with its impressive hilltop church and windmill. There are lots of windmills in this part of Majorca, so swop bicycles for donkeys and you could easily become Don Quixote!
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Runners and cyclists share
the seafront |
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| Disused quarry |
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| Descending into the fertile valley |
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| Santa Margalida |
Its now a quick push on to Llubi where we stop in the town square to eat lunch, tuna baguettes bought this morning from the local supermarket. It's here that we get the first real heavy shower of the day which had us all running for cover. Dennis offers his personal valet service ensuring we all leave sat on dry saddles and while modelling his new range of headwear!
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| Pausing to take photos |
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.......... with the group
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| Square at a damp Llubi |
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| Always hills! |
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| Lunch |
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| Taking shelter |
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| Rain jackets on ...... |
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| ....... and headgear!! |
We head for sa Pobla which is not the prettiest of places and quite industrialised with a large power station on the outskirts of town. We soon leave sa Pobla behind as we have a strong tail wind speeding us towards Port d'Alcudia and the final stop of the day.
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| Rain clouds gathering |
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| sa Pobla |
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| Port d'Alcudia and coffee |
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| Passing the power station |
It is here that we suffer our first puncture of the day just as the heavens open sending us all diving for cover and fixing Den's puncture in the shelter of Spanish retail giant Mango!! At this point Keith and Jim decide to show off their sartorial elegance and style by modelling this years rainwear fashions!
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| The rain in Spain ....... |
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| .... searching for shelter |
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| Captions please! |
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| Am I warm yet? |
Kathy, Keith and I decide not to wait for the rain to stop and head for home, the final few kilometres being into a headwind as if to add insult to injury.
Once we have put the bikes to bed we get out of more than just slightly damp gear which is then used to test out the efficiency of the hotels tumble dryer! Another great ride and thanks Ralph for leading.
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