XIV. Rollercoaster

Captain’s Log: Wednesday, 26 June 2019 Distance: Sant Pere Pescador (09:30) – Sant Antoni de Calonge (17:00), 61km Accommodation: Camping Costa Brava Weather: I need to put on suncream three times a day now and I’m sweating without bicycling. Today’s note to myself: For every up there is a down and for every down there is an up.

---

The bed was very comfy in the morning, and also the WiFi worked pretty well, so I started a bit later than usual. But that was not problem, since the distance to Barcelona is not that much anymore. I would have been able to make it in two days, but I am not in a hurry anymore, so I can take three days for it. Anyway, I did find the signs for the Eurovelo 8 again, even though I am not sure if following them was such a good idea. The signs never vanished, they were always there, but they often led on many detours, sometimes in a circle, and very, very often over gravel roads, of which some I could not always called roads at all. It was very hot, and I was very slow due all the gravel roads, and it was noon when I had my very first real flat tire. I made two big tours already, and I never had a flat tire, but these gravel roads gave my front wheel the rest. So, I had to change my tire in the middle of nowhere, around noon, with no shadow, on the side of some road between some farms. But there have been some other cyclists passing by, and one of them asked if I needed help and if I knew how to change a tire. I felt a bit offended in the beginning, like, would I really go alone on a tour with my bicycle if I didn’t know how to change a tire? But after all, she just wanted to make sure I’m okay, I guess. Anyway, I hope, I don’t forget to get a new spare tire tomorrow. Due to that incident and due to all the gravel roads I decided that I really do not want to go any further than necessary today. And by necessary I mean, I wanted to reach the coast and find a nice camping ground there. Because of some reasons, every time my way heads away from the ocean, my mood goes down, and every time I reach it again, my mood just skyrocketed? Maybe I get some strength from all the water.

At the coast I had a break, and then I headed to the next camping ground. This one had at least normal prices for poor people like me, and it was quite close to the beach. After putting up my tent I packed my things and enjoyed the rest of the day at the beach and in the ocean.

Funny side story, there was a group of three beside me, and one of them kept looking at me. Anyway, they left at some point. Later, after I returned to the camping ground to get my Ukulele, I sat down at the beach again, and two of those three were sitting on a different spot, and the same one waved at me. He did not dare to come to me until I waved back, but it was quite difficult to talk since he did not speak English and my French and Spanish is very bad. But we somehow had a conversation in those three languages mixed up all together. I declined his request of getting my number though, even if it would have been a good chance of improving my French and/or Spanish.

And I am quite happy that the bicycle route is supposed to go alongside the coast from now on, at least until Barcelona.