Bike Trip Day 2 - Puigcerdà

Biking Options:

Eyne Route: 17 Miles* (3,370’ elevation gain) 
Odeillo Loop: 38 Miles (4,010’) 
Mont-Louis Route: 41 Miles (4,570’) 
Matemale Loop: 60 miles (7,200’) 


We started to climb from the Cerdanya plateau into the French Pyrénées, where  the professionals prep for the Tour de France.  Romanesque churches line the Saint James Trail.  After a rigorous climb to the village of Eyne, we break for lunch at a local crêperie in Mont-Louis, famous for its Vauban citadel, a World Heritage site.  Right after lunch, we head toward the mountain town of Odeillo, which has the 

world’s largest solar furnace.   Richard was one of the few who were up for the challenge of taking the heart-pounding detour loop to Matemale.  We checked into the Hotel del Lago in Puigcerdà - and sat out in chairs in a circle on the lawn to introduce ourselves to each other and get to know the leaders, Eva and Danny, and David Green from N. Carolina who lives locally now.  We were on our own tonight for dinner - we checked out some of the authentic Pyrénées restaurants in town. 

The world's largest solar furnace
with panel of giant mirrors
in the town of Odeillo

Puigcerda

After our first day's ride, we hang out by the lake.  I brought my sketchbook:

Sketch - from the lake across from the hotel

Sketch from the opposite side of the lake

Dinner on our own in the town of Puigcerda.   After much wandering around, we settled in at an interesting cafe with friends on the trip.  The waiter spoke almost no English, but one of us spoke a small amount of Spanish.  We all asked whether the canelloni was vegetarian.  The waiter assured that it was.  After an interminable wait, he brought out the canelloni - and all had beef.  I guess it was vegetarian beef.  We all ordered other dishes, but the canelloni was still on our bill.  Yay!   All of us ordered a "green salad" which turned out to be a Nicoise salad - in every restaurant - complete with the tuna on top.