NOW BACK TO THE FUN AND ANALYSIS

July 28, 2013July 30, 2013 ~ jeffsbiketour ~ Leave a comment

I camped in CANNES, I wanted to arrive in Antibes earlier the next day. I camped at LES PRUNIERS Bungalows & Camping. Best WIFI in France and its free! The swimming pool was right next to the river the bathrooms were super clean and best of all? EVERYONE spoke great English. The host told me how to bike to the Decathalon store using the safe bike path. It took me 2 attempts but I finally got the new sleeping pad I so desperately needed.

MY 20 YEAR OLD THERMAREST GOT A TUMOR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY A FULL SIZE MODEL
I’m staying at Corey’s place in Antibes, France. Not as well known as St. Tropez or Cannes, but just as upper class as them. Plenty of expensive boats in the harbor, shopping, fancy cars, gated and walled compounds.

YOU CANNOT SEE INTO OR OVER ANY FENCE OR GATE, VERY PRIVATE.
ANTIBES sits out somewhat from the mainland. They have a
PICCASO MUSEUM, its the 4th Piccaso Museum that I know about. I saw a painting in a gallery across the way from the museum, I’m thinking about buying. (thinking).
Corey’s apartment couldn’t have come at a better time. The bike needed work, the trailer was broken and stuff was falling out, my shoe inserts came unglued, the laundry was due to be done, I needed to go food shopping.
I bought the parts for the trailer at a boat shop (my first mistake) cost? over $40 for 2 latches and some screws yikes! So all I need is a drill. Mark who had Corey’s keys for me suggested his dad might be able to help.

JEAN-MICHEL WAS THE BRAINS BEHIND THE OPERATION.
Without his input we wouldn’t have accomplished what we did. They live at the top of a hill over looking Antibes with swimming pool. WOW!
I went shpping at a store called CARREFOUR its somewhere between a Fred Meyer and Costco. The place was an uncontrolled mad house. The French drive their shopping carts like they drive their cars, aggressively. I saw people opening jars of spaghetti sauce and smelling them to see which one they wanted. They sell 6-1 liter bottles of water wrapped in cellophane.
I witnessed someone stuffing candy in between the bottles, basically stealing the candy. There were shoppers everywhere who could see what was going on. Nobody said or did anything.
Again having a good bike with me really opens up opportunities to do some exploring (by bike). I thought I would ride around Cap Antibes.

IT STARTED OUT AS A BIKE-ABLE PATH.

BEFORE LONG I WAS CARRYING MY BIKE UP AND DOWN THESE STONE STEPS.

FINALLY AN ESCAPE ROUTE OFF THE TRAIL AND STAIRS. Lots of security cameras and listening devices while walking up.

THESE GUYS WERE PRACTICING TIGHT ROPE WALKING.

THE LANDSCAPING COMPANY WAS WORKING ON THIS HOUSE SO ITWAS A RARE CHANCE TO SEE THE HOUSE WITH THE GATE OPEN.
Corey’s has views of both the pool and the ocean. I get up early and caught this

BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE
Every beach is crowded here, Its the peak season here, Northern France is closed they’re all at the beach.

IVE SEEN SO MANY TOPLESS BEACH GOERS, ITS USUALLY GRANDMA
TAKE CARE JEFF
WHATS NEXT? I SPEND THE DAY IN MONTE CARLO MONACO

RANDOM THOUGHTS WHILE PEDALING

July 28, 2013July 30, 2013 ~ jeffsbiketour ~ 1 Comment

I see on facebook where some people think Apple is full of itself or that the I-Phone sucks. Apple products are widely respected and used by many people around the world. If you were Apple and your product was used by millions of people, you might be a little full of yourself too. To be inside the circle (living IN America) and complaining about anything is ridiculous. Sure we want it our way, but come on. For those of us that live in America, were in the eyes of the world. We are still the envy for many people around the world (not everyone but a lot) . I have both young and old people tell me almost daily, their dream is to come to America, for a visit or to live.
Audrey who I camped next to, spent a year in Los Angeles. She comes to America every chance she can get. Her email is AudreyLAWomen@….. They struggle here in France her husband, has been to Afghanistan several times, as a soldier. Most of us are so far removed from the conflicts our country is involved in. Just living in America.

FABIEN AND AUDREY WERE COOKING DINNER, SCALLOPS/PASTA AND FRESH TOMATOES WITH BASIL AND MOZZARELLA.
Their little boy Theodore is 20 months old and super fun(ny).

NOTICE THE FLOATING DEVICE IS AN AMERICAN CAR, SO NAMED.
Before I met Audrey’s parents (they were camping too), they heard I was from Portland so they went to the Internet (from America) to learn something about Portland. When they walked up he said ™CITY OF THE ROSES™ I about fell over, laughing. He didn’t speak very much English, so that made it very funny, too.
The grocery stores in America have a selection of coffee thats unimaginable and a grinder so you can have your making preference. I`ve never seen that option here, anywhere. You can buy food in every form, frozen, fresh, canned, cooked, ready to eat meals, fresh blueberries in January.
But all of this comes at a price~Climate Change is for real, the U.S. the worlds leading producer of CO2 on a per person basis, is doing nothing. Its all about the economy (MONEY) , it is so short sighted. The extra dollar you make short changing the environment will be spent mitigating the effects of climate change. Mother Earth isn`t going to put up with it.. Something as simple as lowering the speed limit could cut CO2, 20%, but you can`t step on our freedoms. Our privileged attitudes is killing OUR home, planet earth. Just ask the people of ALASKA
Yet the economy is proving to be sacrificed for just the top 1% of the population according to Obama. If all of society benefited from the environmental consequences, maybe you could understand this pro-economy attitude, but it`s not trickling down. 57% of soon to retire Americans have $25,000 saved for retirement. Your estimated to live another 20 years after you retire. $25,000 might last one year, if your lucky. So a chosen few are really the winners in all this. I`ve only been to 3 countries on this trip, so far. I have not seen nearly the homeless problem that is happening in my city, Portland.
This part of Europe is world renowned for it`s economic problems. But again, I don`t see the homeless problems like in the U.S. Spain may be having economic problems, but some of their investments have been good for the general population. You can take reliable public transportation to anywhere in the country. I took the train to Colera, Spain and its just a town of less than 600 people. The U.S. hasn`t invested in public transportation like Europe has, which is an investment in the average person and the environment.
Americans have one of the lowest percentage of passport holders in the world. Our perspective of how the rest of the world lives is far removed from our eyes. I offered my brother a ticket to Costa Rica to stay at a house I had for a week on the beach. His response, Americas the best why would I want to leave? He’s not alone.
I’ve had pizza out several times, the olives still had the pits in them, there are so many small things in America we take for granted.
The bar code is used around the world, invented in America. When I went snorkeling in Spain I heard the rip of velcro-invented in America. We have touched so many lives around the world with our inventions.
If your handicapped in France your moving to America. I was on the sidewalk at a train station in front of 3 handicapped parking spots, not one ramp to get up or down, with my bike or wheelchair for that matter. I rarely see anyone out and about in a wheelchair, there are curbs EVERYWHERE.
When I was in St. Tropez, the Porsches, Lamborghini, Masserati and all the huge and expensive boats, are some of what the 1% are buying. The fancy cars passed me on the highway but when I got to town, I passed them in some of the most chaotic traffic Ive seen.
I’m not sure what all this means. Wait, it means we cant allow this economic disparity to continue. Sacrificing the environment for the 1% is bad for everyone, including you, me and Mother Earth . Higher Taxes on the rich not lower taxes and a carbon tax on fossil fuels are a start.
I think about lots of subjects while biking, this is just the most important topic facing ALL of us.

SOME OF THE TRAIN INFRASTRUCTURE IN FRANCE.

Bless the human race (not just America)
Jeff

TRAIN NIMES TO TOULON, BIKING UP THE COAST

July 22, 2013July 22, 2013 ~ jeffsbiketour ~ Leave a comment

I spent the day after the show riding to PONT DA GARD. The tourist office gave me a map and showed me the backroads way there.

I TOOK A FEW SHORT CUTS THROUGH SOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY GAVE ME AN AMAZING ROUTE.

I took one photo of the ancient aqueduct

I was whipped, so I tried to get the bus to stop and give me a ride, Nope. So I had to ride back 50km round trip, not that far but somewhat hilly. I rode the whole thing. Of course I went back to the tourist office to thank them and let them know I did the whole thing.
I’m taking the train to Toulon, on the coast, I’m giving riding in France one more attempt. I want to ride but I was pretty scared earlier.
Getting the bike on the crowded trains can be encumbering at times

STANDING ROOM ONLY
The further down you get on the train line the less people,

Had my own seat even, with real bike compartment.
I get off the train wearing my Levis and its HOT. I try to ride, but no, swap to cycle shorts and I’m off. At first the road is narrow and I’m leaning towards getting back on the train. My old friend Corey is letting me stay at his place in ANTIBES while he visits Portland. I tried to get there before he left, but no. I told him at the pace I’m going I see him when he gets back.

THE BEACHES ARE BEAUTIFUL
I camp at CAMPING DU PIN DE GALLE its affordable camping. camping can cost as much as $40 a night, its the French coast and its all of Europe’s rich playground. As I’m typing this a german tourist showed me a picture of Jack Nickelson he took 3 days ago in St. Tropez.
I decide to get up early, before the heat and ride. I cant believe it BIKE LANES EVERYWHERE, I’m in heaven. I meet some cyclist going south that said there are bike almost all the way. Finally. I meet these 2 Italian cyclist we ride together for awhile, their riding (touring) with fixes. I ask if they want to share some Moroccan treats, YES they do.

MIRCO, ME and ALESSANDRO
I stopped and talked with Kyungmin Jang from Korea.

HE HAS BEEN TRAVELING FOR 10 MONTHS, JUST SWITCHED TO BICYCLE 6 WEEKS AGO.

WHEN THERE WAS NO BIKE LANE THERE WERE FEW CARS

THE BIKE LANES ARE GREAT

BIKE LANE TUNNEL
I’m staying at a SUPER campground PARC CAMPING DE PRAMOUSQUIER. I had lunch here yesterday, probably the best meal I’ve had in France so far. A huge salad with Jumbo Prawns with tiny bay shrimp, egg, tomato, lettuce. I’m staying today until lunch then heading to St. Tropez.
The owner of the campground has this awesome MOTOCONFORT motorcycle that was built the same year the campground was opened, 1952. It has been totally rebuilt and not been ridden yet.

YEP, I HAD TO GET A PHOTO ON IT, WITH MY OTHER NEIL YOUNG SHIRT

I spent the day at the beach with Jens,who’s tent could sleep ten. We laughed all day at the beach and into the night. We should have been arrested.

HE HAS A REFRIGERATOR AND 2 BURNER STOVE TOO.
The French breakfast is terrible biking or energy food si I showed Jens how to make oatmeal with fruit for breakfast

BY CUTTING UP APRICOTS AND CHERRIES.
The campground was well staffed and well dressed for the task at hand

HERES FANNY HARD AT WORK
MORE PHOTOS HERE
IM OFF TO ST TROPEZ TO MEET UP WITH JACK
SEE YOU ALL LATER
JEFF

NEIL YOUNG ROCKS NIMES, FRANCE

July 22, 2013July 22, 2013 ~ jeffsbiketour ~ 3 Comments

JULY 22, 6,30AM
I saw Neil Young was going to being touring in Europe at the same time I was. I put several of the tour dates for France and Italy on my Google calendar. So Google reminded me 2 weeks before the show in Nimes, I was still in Spain, I looked on the map and figured I could ride there in time for the show.
I rode from Colera, Spain to Sete, France. I rode some of the most beautiful roads and mistakenly rode some of the most dangerous roads Ive EVER ridden. I stayed in a Hostel in Sete a couple days then took the train to Nimes a few days before the show. I went to the box office and secured one of the last 100 tickets that were left.
I was walking to the show (long way from Hostel) tried to hitchhike, Nope. Met a women, Jo who lived in France near the border by Colera. She traded her ticket for a standing floor ticket so we could see the show together.

THE STADUIM IS AMAZING

INSIDE THE STADIUM
Patty Smith was the opening band.

SHE WAS GOOD BUT IT WAS ALL ABOUT NEIL YOUNG

I suggested to the guy in front of me to take a photo like this one, he took one without his hat, but the hat worked better.

BEFORE NEIL CAME ON

NEIL THROWING WATER ON THE CROWD
I recorded part of this song THERES A HOLE IN THE SKY HERE

MORNING AFTER
We shared a Taxi after the concert back to the Hostal

Laurence, Me, Gaelle and Jo (american version of her french name).
NEIL YOUNG ISA GREAT AMERICAN (CANADIAN) ARTIST I FELT SO LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE SHOW
MORE PHOTOS HERE

ALL THOSE CRAZY FRENCH DRIVERS

July 21, 2013July 21, 2013 ~ jeffsbiketour ~ Leave a comment

July 17, 2013
Tonight is Neil Young in NIMES,France. I posted several concert dates in my google calendar 6 months agp and to be reminded 2 weeks before the show. So Nimes popped up and I was still in Spain with 2 weeks to get here. Well, after some horrific and awesome riding (and a train), I made it.
The show is in a Roman AMPHITHEATER Built in the first century A.D.
Crossing into France was exciting, new foods and language (barriers) to work with.

THIS WAS A VERY POPULAR PHOTO OP
I was getting hungry for some lunch, the road was super narrow. I spotted 2 cyclisteating lunch at a roadside picnic spot (France has alot of these). It*s 2 Hungarian cyclist , who spoke 2 words of english. I whipped out my I-translate switched to Hungarian and we talked through the I-phone. Then an english guy rides up

AND ITS PHOTO OP TIMETHEIR WERE SOME .

WHEN ON A BIKE LANE, IT WAS AMAZING.
JULY 21, 2013
The reason I haven’t posted to the blog has been the lack of reliable internet. I got internet service in our van in Morocco while we were in the middle of nowhere. One hostel the internet stopped at 10pm? I have no idea why? Its so hot during the day that the evening is the best time to write. All that said I have good internet right now at 6~30 in the morning.
Those Crazy French drivers are so impatient. The Tour da France may give you the image of France as a safe cycling country,no way. The tour has police escort and thats what I feel I would need to feel safe out here. I’ve been flipping off and yelling at these crazy drivers. I`m in a harbor city this lady is honking at me, I let her by, she turns right-right in front of me and heads in to park, were talking about 5 or 10 seconds saved. Then I gave a 1 minute sign (for about a 10 second delay) so I could get up on the sidewalk, their honking. I flip them off, before I know theres vegetables flying out the car window at me, I got hit in the chest with a baseball size garlic. Then the guy (who is driving, his girlfriend threw the produce) is waving a knife at me. I had zero encounters in Portugal or Spain like this.
An interesting solution to prevent being doored by a parked car.
.

WHEN THE RIDING WAS GOOD IT WAS THE BEST.

THIS WAS AN AWESOME ROUTE

THAT INCLUDED SOME FREE (AND SOME OF THE BEST) (SLEATH) CAMPING.
There were some great bike images

LIKE THIS MURAL IN FRONT OF A BAKERY
In Oregon people put the antlers of deer on their garage.

IN FRANCE THEY PUT THE DEERS FEET ON THE GARAGE.
The weather has been spectacular so far, while riding some horrific (dangerous) roads I stopped to gather my courage and tried to hitchhike (waste of time).

WHILE RESTING I COULD SEE LIGHTENING IN THE DISTANCE, NEVER RAINED ON ME THOUGH
I started this thing of taking pictures with policemen in every country. First they said no, then I showed them the Spain and Portugal police pictures, then they said OK.

YEP THESE ARE FRENCH POLICEMEN AT THE FARMERS MARKET.

THIS ISNT THE EXACT ROUTE, BUT CLOSE
The strip of land from Agde to Sete was 20km of bike path. Im meeting more local cycling tourist

THESE WERE FRIENDS FROM TOULOUSE THAT I ROAD WITH, THEY HAD AN 11 YEAR OLD WHO SET THE PACE FOR THEM!

NICE TILED BIKE LOGOON BIKE PATH, THERE WERE SEVERAL ABOUT 18 INCHES ACROSS
Who reads my Blog?

LOTS DO HERES A LIST OF THE COUNTRIES.
What to do with old appliances?

PUT THEM IN A PARK AND TURN THEM INTO FLOWER POTS
I took some video of boat jousting in Sete, France
BOAT JOUSTING
PHOTOS HERE TOO
sorry it took so long yes im having too much fun!
jeff

FINAL THOUGHTS OF SPAIN and ALL THE SPAIN PHOTOS

July 10, 2013July 17, 2013 ~ jeffsbiketour ~ Leave a comment

I have friends, in the U.S., that seemed in love with Spain. I didn’t understand their fascination with Spain and honestly didn’t know much about this country. Ive spent a little over a month here and feel knowledgeable enough to say, its AWESOME!
The history, arts, climate, food, nature and most of all the people.. Ive never felt in danger or threatened in any way, they didn’t even try to pick pocket me in Barcelona (I almost avoided Barcelona because of the stories Ive heard). When their was a language barrier people always stuck with me until the situation was resolved.
Biking showed me parts of Spain I would have never seen if I were busing or riding the train across the country. I feel that biking allowed me access to a part of Spain that could only be accessed by biking. I had people stop me on the street and want to take a photo with me.

MANUEL (the pharmacist) STOPPED AND TALKED THEN TOOK THIS PHOTO AND SENT IT TO ME
There are days on this Blog where I have more readers from Spain than the U.S.
The economic troubles of Spain (and many Mediterranean countries) are world renowned. The unemployment rate is 25% in Spain. For the youth of Spain the unemployment rate is 50%. The governments solution is to have the young people leave the country and work overseas. The other proposal is to lower the minimum wage, The minimum wage is currently about $30 a day, My travel budget is nearly 3 times that and I’m living in a tent and riding a bike. I haven’t a clue on how you can survive on that little amount of money.I don’t see much of a plan to truly solve their problems.
Spain has placed a lot of emphasis on growing and exporting food. They are the worlds 3rd largest exporter of food around the world. They have the opportunity to grow 4 crops a year on the same plot of land. I saw the use of water saving drip irrigation everywhere, hillsides where you could hardly standup planted with fruit trees.

NEWLY PLANTED AVOCADO TREES ON A STEP SLOPE IN ROCK! AMAZING
Biking and camping in GRAZALEMA PARK was a truly extraordinary experience. It was my first uphill bike walk, with many more to come. Riding through SiERRA DA LAS NIEVES was as beautiful as Yosemite Park in California.
I stayed in hostels, hotels and campgrounds, all were in working order, clean, safe and very affordable.

SIERRA DA LAS NIEVES

AMAZING TILE WORK AT ALHAMBRA IN GRANADA

THE SAGRADA FAMILIA was a truly amazing architectural feat.
All the sun combined with the agricultural demands and tourism have made it necessary to build Europe’s largest desalination plant. It provides 20% of Barcelona’s fresh water. It is equipped with solar power too.
When I looked on the map on which countries bordered the Mediteraean Sea I thought , How clean is it?

AMAZINGLY CLEAN
You could see deep into the water, the shoreline EVERYWHERE was pristine. I was pleasantly surprised and happy from an environmentalist perspective.
I cant talk about Spain without mentioning Colera, my favorite! I met a super artist Nuria, who’s work is genius.

I GOT MY OWN ANT TO BRING HOME. I didn’t really like ants before, but since being in Spain (and Portugal) Ive learned to live with them and basically ignore them. I had hundreds of ants around my tent and just kept it zipped up. I also learned to keep my campsite clean.
I got to do a little gardening in Colera too, that was fun.

THERE WERE EXERCISE STATIONS IN EVEN THE SMALLEST TOWNS.
Its great that the government encouraged people to be healthy. But If they want a healthy population, QUIT SMOKING SPAIN! It seemed like 1/2 the people smoked, its actually only 27%.its 17% in the US.
I went kayaking in the bay in Colera my last night. I went for a sunset cruise. I didn’t go to far just followed the shoreline.
So Ill be back sooner than later.
ALL THE SPAIN PHOTOS ARE HERE

SEE YOIU

SANT MIQUEL CAMP CELEBRITY, BBQ AND NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT

July 6, 2013July 9, 2013 ~ jeffsbiketour ~ 3 Comments

I`ve had my tent set up in the exclusive neighborhood of Homair Village in the Sant Miquel Campground.
Quiet, clean, electricity, near the pool, every morning greetings from Gloria, Richard & Saloma.

GLORIA IS FROM ZIMBABWE, SHE RUNS EVERY MORNING, TOTALLY IMPRESSIVE.
She wants to turn her home into a bed and breakfast back in Zimbabwe. Her boyfriend came from the U.K. and visited her while I was here. She was so dressed up in a colorful dress, I wish I had the photo to show, she was gorgeous.
I was talking on facetime one evening when a inebriated camper stopped by and invited me to dinner. The next day I figured he wouldn`t remember, I was wrong. They were two families from Belgium with 7 kids together, they almost had their own soccer team. Just as the BBQ was starting the rain clouds were forming. Just after I took this photo, the rain poured down. We moved dinner to an empty cabins deck that had a canopy. I`ve never seen so many great salads at one meal that wasn`t at a buffet restaurant. All the kids seemed to get along really well, it was an awesome family experience for me. Thank you so much,I will never forget.
.

GEERTJE, LOUISE, LICILE, CELINE, SERGE, JULIE, KRISTOF, MICKAEL,WALDO, CECILE, PASCAL
I`ve been getting invited to dinner with different cabin campers. We had chicken curry with rice, below.

ALEXANDRE, SEGOLENE, CHRISTIAN & AARON were from Paris.

I`ve been watching Alexandre and Aaron play ping pong, they`re good. As a former ping pong table owner, I think I`m good too. We played some after dinner, I sliced the ball into the hedge and it was lost. I did go back in the morning and find it. I`m waiting for the rematch, after they return from Barcelona.
REMATCH~I beat Aaron but Alexandre beat me twice, I knew they were good.
I can`t stop applauding Sant Miquel Camping, nearly every night there`s an event.

FLAMINGO NIGHT.
Lots of people there knew the songs they were playing, everyone had a great time. If the restaurant isn’t having entertainment, the COLERA DIVE CENTER (also on FACEBOOK) has a meet & greet for divers and campers.
On BBQ night they had an entertainer, Steffi, who sang and danced for hours. She worked the crowd into a frenzy of dance and celebration.

STEFFI, SINGING HER HEART OUT
She asked if there were any Americans here? One, me. I was wearing my Trail Blazers Jersey that has PORTLAND across the chest. I got a big round of applause, representing. There were a few Spaniards, but mostly French.

TETE AND VALENTINO BBQ THE THICK BACON.
They slipped me a few pieces, WOW. The restaurant does a great job with the food here, everything I`ve eaten has been great.
But what makes Sant Miquel Camping special are all the people.

BOTH SALOMA AND RICHARD WORK AND LIVE HERE.

GLORIA, DOLORES, MARIA AND ANTONIO
Gloria put together an awesome American breakfast, eggs, cheese, BACON, tomato, bread, orange juice and coffee. Maria made me these sandwiches Ham, cheese and Tomato on french bread, then toasted. I ate one nearly everyday.

DAMIA POOL LIFEGUARD AND ICE CREAM SALESMAN

CAMERA SHY SUSANA THE SUPERMERCADO BAKER AND CHOCOLATE CROISSANT SUPPLIER.

IF THIS WAS ME I WOULD BE SMILING, TONI?

LIKE THIS=MELISSA, ME (smiling), MARGOT

RUMBA NIGHT AT THE CAMPGROUND
I got a farewell photo from Susana the supermercado baker and more

THANKS FOR THE PHOTO SUSANA
My offer of 20 euro still stands if you ride our bike to work
Im off to France today and my box still hasn’t arrived WTF?

COLERA, THE BOX & THE FIRST CRASH

July 6, 2013July 6, 2013 ~ jeffsbiketour ~ 2 Comments

Im still in Colera, waiting for my box from Seville. 2 weeks here? Filled with adventure, not for a lifetime? but for now. I tried to send my Moroccan daggers (knives) to the U.S., NOT ALLOWED! I can buy a semi-automatic gun in the U.S. that can be far more destructive than a dagger. So I wait 5 days, then bike to post office, box is still in Seville. They wont send with the daggers. So I sign a paper giving them permission to open box and remove daggers. Thats all that a really want that is in the box, the other stuff is T-shirts and rocks. So another 5 days? Who F__ing knows? Again Im not suffering in Colera, it has been my favorite stop of ALL. But Neil Young is playing in Nimes, France July 17 and I plan on being there box or no box. I bought and was given some ART from Nuria, so the new Box will be BIG.
The north, east, south and west locations have been a mystery to me. I know the sun rises in the east, but where? So I got up before the sunrise, rode my bike to the dock that sits in Colera Bay and waited.

HERE IT COMES

AND HERE IT IS, (from the east)
LLANCA is a fishing village down the road. If you look closely (enlarge), you can see a small fleet of fishing boats commuting to work.
With all these added days here, I`m going down the list of things to do. There are trails through the mountains and along the beach. So I hiked to Llanca, to check on the box and visit the town.

WALKING THE SHORE WAS AWESOME
I know where every hidden cove and nude beach is along this part of the coast.

THERE ARE SO MANY PRIVATE HIDDEN BEACH COVES
Like I`ve said before, I like to give back to the places I visit, not just visit and take. I carry plastic bags with me to recycle for shopping. So I decided to use one for picking up garbage along the beach. I`ve heard about the environmental impact of plastic on MARINE LIFE.

THIS IS WHAT I FOUND DURING MY 2 HOUR HIKE.
I put it in the garbage can in the photo. There was lots of plastics, the planet needs all of us to protect the planet for us and future generations.
So in case your not aware of Siesta? Shops close for 2 to 4 hours in the middle of the day. So basically Llanca was a ghost town.

I decide to hitchhike back to Colera. I`m wearing my TOUR DA FRANCE t-shirt, hoping that helps. 30 minutes and no ride, locals tell me hitchhiking is something that is not practiced here, it`s pretty obvious. Finally a car pulls over I tell them I`m going to Colera, I get in. They were from Paris, maybe 25 years old, they said they saw my shirt and thought I was from Paris, score. The shirt worked, when I told them I was from America I got a ride right to the camground.

THIS WAS A SIGN/LOGO AT A FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SHOP IN LLANCA

THE SHOP SELLS BULK OLIVE OIL TOO!
One of the best things about bike touring is having a bicycle to explore the local areas. I asked the people who work here and live in Llanca if they had ever biked to work?, none had. I decided to bike, it took 20 minutes. They told me it took 10 minutes to drive. Again, I showed up in Llanca during siesta, everything was closed, again. I wanted to try the train to go back to Colera. They basically have a MAX (my home town commuter train name) that serves a community of less than 600 people. (more about this later in my Spain summary post).
So I bike to Llanca, EARLY, I want to visit the shops, when their OPEN! My front wheel is shaking, I don`t know what is causing it?
I`m getting frustrated about this box thing. I decide to bike to PORTBOU because when I finally leave here I intend to ride straight to France. I`m climbing a hill and my tire comes off the rim, the tube wraps around the quick release and I go down flipping over the handle bars. Thankfully I wasn`t going downhill, fast, it would have been ugly. But as I lay on the pavement in a heap the reality of traveling alone, comes to light. I have to be so careful, it could get ugly in a split second. While trying to repair the problem, 3 sets of touring cyclist came by.

SHE OWNS GEPETTO VELOS IN PARIS

THIS COUPLE WAS FROM SCOTLAND

It is so great to see other cyclist enjoying some of the most beautiful riding I`ve ever done.
Back to the tire repair~so I spent an hour and a half messing around with the tire. I`m half way to Portbou, so I decide to walk the rest of the way to town. I photographed the train schedule and have used it several times. I decide to take the train to FIGUERES since google maps says there are 4 bike shops there. Guess what? Yep It`s siesta time, the town is half closed and so are all 4 bike shops. I`ve got 3 hours to kill, so I look for the SALVADOR DALI MUSEUM.

The egg is a Dalinian image that symbolises hope and love. Holding an egg (a favourite Dalinian symbol representing duality of hard exterior and soft interior, and links with pre-natal imagery) that here could represent reproduction, the sexual drive, or life instinct.”
There was a long line to get in so I just visited the many souvenir shops. I think one of the most interesting aspects of Dali`s art is his PHILOSOPHICAL thoughts on life and art.
I head back to the train station and retrieve my bike. The bike shop tries to tell me it just needs some air. I explain that the tire won`t seat properly and comes off the rim. He tries ro fill the tire with air and sees what I`m trying to tell him. New Shwalbe tire, AWESOME. I swap my front and back tires so they wear evenly, I just did it. So back at camp I swap my new tire to the back, so now the tires should wear out at the same time. That helps maximize your tires potential longevity. I cleaned my chain using my old tooth brush and camp suds soap then hosed it off.
I ran into this French traveller who was doing a similar trip to mine, but with a scooter.

THIS IS NICKOLIS (check out the Bob Marley sticker)
Till next time, be sure to ride your bike as much as you can (while you can!)
Jeff

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