"The Taxi Riot Tour" former knows as "The Tour of the Pyrenees" PYT 1401

Last arrival day for the clients always have surprises...this time half of the tour members faced the wold wide taxi riot when trying to leave the airport of Barcelona. No way of getting a cap there and a rough number of 100000 passengers need to sneak their way thought the public transport system of Catalonia....hours later at the pool bar we decided to re-name the “Edelweiss Bike Travel Tour of the Pyrenees” in “The Barcelona Taxi Riot Tour”

1st Riding Day PYT1401

After roit-recovering process all tour members are ready to leave the clutch at 09.00 a.m. for the first riding day. Leaving Castelldefels by passing the Olimpc Pool of 1982 we went on the tiny little curvy road hoping to escape the 38°C marking thermometer. Heading south-east over Begues we climbed some smaller hills to the highway entry to get to the holy mountain of the Montserrat. The over 1200m high peak is the most famous place in hole Catalonia. Passing by several churches of miner importance the group arrives at the Monetary of the Black Madonna. As this on is not giving a free gig today we decided to visit the 988 build areal for 30min and catch up more curves. Rounding the Montserrat on even more twisty tarmac we made our way to the lunch stop on the Castle of Cardona. Breathtaking scenery made us almost forget to order food in the Tower Bar. The Cardona landlords we in the tines one of the riches rules in Spain. Even Kings need to knock the doors asking for hospitality. The castle it self is located on top of a natural stone mountain with an amazing overview of the country surrounding. In all the medieval wars the pace was never concurred by enemies, but definitely often tried as the destroyed wall speak. First question always asked is where all the wealth came from to build structures like this. Answers is from “the gold of the medieval” - SALT. Next to the town of Cardona you can find various natural salt mines and if it would be visible the hills are more looking like Swiss Cheese the solid as a rock.

In Cardona we split the riders in to groups, one going the short cut to the Hotel others decided to give it a longer day making rout number two. First group found their way toughing the city of Solsona and the motorcycle museum of Bassela to reach the fantastic Hotel CAN BOIX not far away from the town of Peramola. Second group got some extra hours leaving Cardona north on a very tiny canyon track to meet with a high mountain pass named “Col de Jou”. After a long riding days everyone was in a deep need of beer at the hotel bar.

DAY 2

On our first rest day, we did a great tour to get used to the passes for the next days. From our beautifull hotel in the middle of the mountains we startet for a short route throug 2 passes. At the top of the last pass we had had a tytical spanish bocadillo for lunch.  When we down and headet back to the Hotel we stopt for a litte race on the go kart track an did some hard fights. In the evening we rearranged the dinner tabel we had some great spanisch food and the last night at this wonderfull place.

DAY 3

Al lot of curvs, verry verry nice landscape, a little bit fog: that was our third day. We headet north, did a short shopping stop in Andorra and then the fun starts. The first pass at this day luckily had width good streets, because we couldnt see al lot becaus of all the fog and it was a little bit cold. Then we got into France, hat some Pizza and whent on the next adventure: a lovely small street up the mountains, where we allmost reached our driving skills.  After this hard rinding we reachts our vineyard the old Hotel  Château de Cavanac, next to Carcassonne.

DAY 4

As always the so called rest day is not only for resting. On every Edelweiss Tour the tour guides provide a shorter route looping back to the hotel. From our nice Chateau de Cavanac we passed on a 10 km ride the "Site de Carcassone" - one if the famous mid aged castles in France. Winding our qua along the "Canal de Midi" we headed forward to Minerve a half ruin half picturesque town. By best riding condition with blue sky and light side wind we passed by moved more to the north and winding roads took us to Lespinassiere. From there we turned the compass back south for a coffee stop in Cauries Minervois, where we visited the local stone sculpture market. A countless number of fine artist showed their art works on the street fair while folk bands and dances took place...then we went back to Carcassonne for sightseeing the Castle, then back to the hotel...what a day!

DAY5

On the way back to spain, we rode throuhg a greate canyon, where Mirko was waiting for us with a verry good Picni. The never ending curve were a lot of fun to ride. After a longer brake we finally all got to the hotel in the spanisch mountains.

DAY6

Our last riding day started, of course, with a lot of curves through nice small roads. Then we headed to the sea, where a great curvy road with a wonderfull view was waiting for us. And becaus of the bad weather forcast, we took the fast way back to our start and end hotel in Castelldefels, where we all had a nice last evening together.

DAY 1

Monestir de Montserrat:

DAY 2 "Restday"

DAY 3 Spain-Andorra-France

DAY 4 Restday Carcassonne

DAY 5 back to Spain

DAY 6 last riding Day

some more pics from Andrew: