R&D Weinapple's 2012 Trip to Spain and Israel: Bike Trip Day 5

Shuttle to Camallera 1½ Hours
Biking Options:

Monells Route: 18 Miles* (660’ elevation gain)
Hotel Trias Route: 35 miles (2,200’)
Hotel Trias Extended Route: 43 Miles* (3,180’)
*with shuttle

We got into the van for a lift into the Alt Empordà (or “Upper Empordà”), and the rural northern section of the Costa Brava. Surrealist Salvador Dalí was born and buried here, and it’s this country landscape that inspired him in his early years. We started riding in Camallera on rolling terrain, passing through small villages featuring Baroque-style churches, town squares and ancient fortresses.

The landscape is much more open fields and olive groves of the Mediterranean coast.
Some of us stopped at the Gala Dalí Castle, a testament to the artist’s adoration for Gala, his
wife and muse. Salvador Dalí spent a good part of his life restoring this medieval palace, decorating the rooms with his Magritte-like hyper-surrealism. The castle would be his last workshop and a burial place for Gala.

Lunch in the town of Monells. We also stop in the towns of Baix Empordà, Cruïlles and La Bisbal - which are known as Catalonia’s pottery-making capital. After a hefty climb to a pass in Les Gavarres nature reserve, we finally smell the Mediterranean air of Costa Brava. On a fabulously long and graceful descent to the coast, it reminded me of the 17-mile drive in Pacific Grove, CA. We found a spectacularly un-Catalonian pizza place at Tamariu Beach (finally no ham in sight!), and hung out at the very popular beach that featured nude sunbathers.

Some of us tired ones shuttled to the final and most beautiful (IMHO) inn of the trip, Hotel Trias. The less tired ones pedaled back up the hill to yet another longer ride option. Just before dinner, we gathered in the hotel bar to toast our adventures over mint mojitos (yummmmmy!) and a farewell dinner of fresh seafood and (oh well) traditional Catalan recipes.