Magic Canillo

... having a beer and watching a man try to dig his van out of the snow. To my knowledge his van is to this moment where it was when I left the bar. <br><br> I just wanted to take this opportunity to post some pictures of Canillo when it's snowy and the sun comes out. Don't have too many, but figured it was worth a post.<br><br>

... at 7:30am. But it wasn't too long before all my amusement was replaced with respect. As we started up the mountains, it was easy to see that the nearly 2000m climb up to Canillo isn't a laughing matter. Turn after turn we zig-zagged up intensely steep grade in a 15 ton death trap, and our driver just bounced along as if it was nothing. I'm sure it really is nothing to someone who does that kind of thing everyday, because when we got to the first stop at ...

... village et quand on est arrivé, il avait le marché du matin. On a acheter du vin à environ 1 euro le litre (vin de pays) et du bon fromage bleu pour le déjeuner.<br><br>On avait pas le droit de prendre des photos dans la grotte pour pas faire de la pollution lumineuse (il y avait déja des ptites pousses de plante pres des lanternes...ils veulent pas en rajouté non plus). Aussi il faut pas déranger les chauve souris...pauve cocottes...<br>

... What it does mean, we're not quite sure of yet. Still dealing with the shock and going over a few different options. All while kicking myself for not realizing this sooner. Only one thing is for certain - I'm not going to let this spoil our trip, and we're going to have to get cycling! (o.k., two things). <br>

... over and over. With an abundance of Butternut Squash I&#8217;ve been having my creativity stretched to the limit. So far we&#8217;ve had: roasted squash, mashed squash, bacon fried squash, roasted with apple and chestnut, squash soup, stuffed squash, roasted with pumpkin, and battered and fried with dip.<br><br>How to Pen a Porker<br><br>As with all farming, there comes a time to &#8216;process&#8217; your food. This applies to both animal ...

... and make 2.5kg of minced pork while I pureed the liver to make pate. Fat was rendered down to a beautiful smooth lard, and sausage meat was seasoned. It was a shame that we had no sausage skins to stuff, but the meat is still great to use in patties, balls or loaves. <br> <br>For a special treat for working through all the meat, Justin saved a special piece for Brian and I: the brain. Fried up with sage and butter and ...

... of apprehension before starting. Like attempting to figure out which way was up on the harness. Or when Donna wanted me to tie my security knot (walking me through of course). Then there&#8217;s the whole &#8216;where to start?&#8217; when staring straight up at this seemingly flat face of rock. <br><br> Watching others you wonder &#8216;how on earth?&#8217;, but then it&#8217;s your turn and you preserve, slowly going up and up with each little ...

A side trip with the truck enabled us to get to areas we couldn&#8217;t normally access. Not that we would even attempt it on bicycles - vehicles are bad enough. Windy roads where motion sickness is a given, &#8216;oh ****&#8217; handles are coming loose from repetitive strain, and a straight section of road lasts about 20m. <br><br>Our goal was a little damned in lake almost on the ...

... returned to year after year to seek shelter from the harsh weather outside. When inside the cave, they would dwell fairly close to the entrance to take advantage of the natural light, but these paintings are deep in the cavern - some almost 3 km in!<br><br>So why did these people venture all that way with only little lamps and torches to paint pictures? Who knows! Walls lined with images of bison, ibex and horses (which are found in caves all ...

... sack not much later. I speak for myself here as I have no idea when everyone else stopped, but I do know I was thankful not to have to share a double bed with 2 other people. The morning brings me little hope. I am hitch hiking with a German guy dressed as a Rastafarian. Great, we are never going to get a ride. We have to leave Andorra and then still have 130km to Perpignan. It takes 4 rides and 4km walk to get past the border, as well as a the ...