Back to the Coast

We headed south from the Pyrenees after visiting in Andorra. The first day we stopped at a camp and paid for a night without riding through. It was so empty and sketchy that we bailed and took the loss. Hard but probably smart. Preceded on to Salou on the coast and were the only campers in the tent area. Ellie stayed in the car. I slept in the tent with 'knife in my teeth'.

Not all camps are inviting 

Th next day we returned to Sitges and had a nice evening with Charlyn's friend Jedd who lives there. Basque tapas. Wish I had a picture... it was quite a bar full. We walked back along the beach. Quite a beautiful place.

Sitges

The next day we grabbed a bus into Barcelona, walked the Ramblas and climbed Montjuic to the Miro Museum. When we returned to catch the bus back, the street in front of the stop was packed with students protesting tuition hikes and austerity. Nothing but to find the train to Sitges and a taxi to the camp. It was good to see the activism...

Market off the Ramblas

Segrada Familia towering over the Barcelona skyline

Resting on the Montjuic climb

Remnant of the Olympics

At the Miro Museum

Bari Gotic

Guadi in the Eixample

Unrest

Today is a special Mother's Day. Chloe arrived at the airport for two weeks. Yippee!

Up to the Pyrenees

Leaving the lake at Banjoles

Bellver de Cerdanya

Serra del Cadi range

The mountain farming village of Prullans

A symphony of bells echoing off the hills

Barn door

Our favorite trailer in the camp

Narrow road to the church, Prullans

Banyoles

Seeing that our MO is not making plans sometimes things go well, others, not so well. We have been quite lucky so far. I got the driving down pretty quick and we have found good camping for the most part. We did get into a tight spot after leaving Figueres. Decided to go into Girona... Ellie is a Lance Armstrong fan... and found ourselves in a very tight underground private parking garage. No ticket, no password just a wire gate and the thought of spending the night down there. An old couple happened by going out and let us follow. Tip: Must say Publico!

On the way out of town a Catalan fellow said to try camping in the small town of Banyoles. We found it and the lake- Estany in Catalan- that bordered it to the west. We decided to get a bungalow for three nights to get organized and explore. Environmental restoration and interpretative trails were recently added to the entire lake and we were impressed as we hiked around its 8 km shore.

Crystal clear

The Pyrenees beyond

 One day we followed signs up a mountain to a sculpture garden- Bosc de Can Ginebreda- like we had never seen. Hidden all through the woods were giant abstract works that grabbed you around every corner. Mostly wood, limestone, concrete and erotic in nature. A high point.

The bar at Ginebreda

Portion of the entrance gate

We have taken to giving away drawings. With the country economically depressed even trading will be difficult. It has 'broken the ice' and we find the people very appreciative.

Ellie sketching

... her new friend Monica (in stripes)

Our bungalow

Reunion at Sitges

We woke early, packed up, grabbed some food, hit the ATM and headed for Sitges on the coast SW of Barcelona. Found the campground and staked our place before heading downtown to pick up brother Chris and Julie at the train station. They were coming in from Barcelona where they had been with friends. We walked the beach catching up and after enjoying the nice day we returned to the camp where they got a bungalow. The next morning we all headed north to Figueres to the Dali Museum.  Later Chris and Julie caught the train back south and we headed toward the Pyrenees. We wish they could have gone with us... our time together was much too short.

La Englesia

Julie and Ellie

Down to the Mediterranen

At the Dali

Bros

Dali's tears 

The Road to Barcelona

We decided that since we would be lagging that we should stop early. Just east of Madrid we found a hotel in the university town of Alcala de Henares. Just happened to be May 1- a national holiday- and the birthplace of Cervantes so we strolled the streets is somewhat of a daze. After a good nights sleep we went down for a big (included in the 49 euro price) breakfast. Jamon, queso, croissant, fresh juego de naranja, yogurt, and cafe con leche. I cleaned my plate.

After getting beeped in a few crowded traffic circles, we headed toward Zaragoza and beyond. A smooth 4-lane wound through the dry plain and occasional broad mesa. Windmill farms spread out as far as you could see. These huge, white, slow-turning energizers made me feel hopeful about the future. After about 5.5 hours we stopped in Montblanc, a small medieval village rimmed by a protective wall. It was virtually empty in the late afternoon as we explored the ancient streets.

We also found a nearly empty campground just outside of town. It was exceptional clean and well designed by US campground standards. Bungalows, facilities and sites... all quite modern. We pitched the tent, got organized, and had a comfortable night. A bit cold in the morning- frost on the windshield- but just fine for the first night out. Up early, grabbed cafe and ATM in town and set out for Sitges, south of Barcelona on the coast.

Wind energy

Montblanc

Happy girl sporting her 21 pocket Scottevest jacket

Camping with marble?

Setting up

NC.RVA.NYC.MADRID

We are sitting at a table outside a bar at a campground near the Spannish Pyrenees. The whirlwind of our life continues. 

After arriving at my father's we enjoyed his company and card playing, his friends and busied ourselves stowing our possessions, readying our traveling kits and helping around the house. We decided at the last minute to drive up to Richmond- 6 hrs - to see the last dance performance of the year. Chloe was featured in a piece and we saw her elegant and thoughtful interpretation of the choreography. It was inspiring. We had a late dinner and an early breakfast together. We set off back to NC and she to class.

Knocking down some clover at Dad's house... where I grew up

VCU theater for dance

'my girls'

The next day we flew to NYC and were met by my childhood friend Guy. He took us to his apartment on Roosevelt Island where he and Mary live on the 17th floor overlooking the East River. Mary had plans for us to see museums so we set out. We picked up our friend Charlyn from St. Augustine who has an apartment in the city and jumped hard into the fast pace for three days. It was a lot of fun to be with friends and experience the city again. 

Mary & Guy's apartment view

Dropping into Manhattan on the Roosevelt Island tram

Ellie, Mary, Charlyn and Guy

Contemplating sculpture at the Guggenheim

We arrived at JFK at April 30, 1900 and after a bit (!) of a delay took off around 0100 in the morning. Popped some pills and got through the cattle car experience of 'crossing the pond'. We arrived in Madrid about 1400 (their time) and were picked up by the leasing company. Packed in our Peugeot we headed out into a maze of highways heading east to Barcelona. Catch you up later... internet access is proving to be more of a challenge that I thought.

It is always a relief to see baggage coming your way

Outside Baranjas terminal. The large bag hold our camping equipment.