Residencia Riu Blanc Les Escaldes

Today was my last full day in Andorra. There wasn't a huge amount to do. It wasn't snowing, but the wind was so fierce that it seemed like a sand storm made out of snow. I had a great time watching a group of cows grazing in snow up to their stomachs. Other than that I had a walk around town and spent about an hour at a ...

... top of the first mountain, he took a little nap while the bus waited for whoever might want to get on before the departure time. As we praddled along towards Canillo I mused about our heroic bus driver, and what he might be like. I supposed his salsa music puts him in the zone in the same was as listening to “Highway to the Danger Zone” made the guys from Top Gun fly well. Maybe when he got done with his route there were women in bikinis with ...

Le plan original était d'aller à Cahors visiter un vignoble, mais puisque l'on n'a pas de voiture (considérant que les vignes sont dans des champs et non au centre ville) on n'a pas pu y aller. J'ai trouvé sur internet qu'il y avait plusieurs grotte dans le sud donc on en a choisi une pas trop trop loin et on a acheté nos billet de train.

Tarascon sur Ariege est à environ 1h15 de toulouse donc ca se fait quand meme bien. C'est un ...

... 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).

... inside the house and made a bee-line for the electric fence. Don’t mess with a 600lb new mother of 11!

Chicken for Dinner

We’ve had quite the remarkable vegetarian staying at the farm - one who eats meat. I must say, all of us carnavors are quite in awe of her. Not wanting to raise issues, or cause the family to change the way that they eat, she quietly tried everything that was served. Most everything was ok except ...

... 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.

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’s the whole ‘where to start?’ when staring straight up at this seemingly flat face of rock.

Watching others you wonder ‘how on earth?’, but then it’s your turn and you preserve, slowly going up and up with each little ...

... between France, Spain and Andorra with 3000m peaks rising up all around. Up past charming little villages where all the little homes are made of stone stacked upon one another with only the slate rooves peeking through.

We drove the truck as far up the road as possible, and then even a little farther than we should have. Feels like complete mountain wilderness, but there are ...

... names accompanied by dates. Locals exploring the area long ago and the first few archaeologists to grace the entrance marked their territory with the addition of a slightly more distinguished ‘so-in-so was here’. Dates of 1655 and 1848, with the earliest being 1602. Of course no one is allowed to do this anymore since the cave has been open to the public, but I think that my name and date would be very interesting in 300 years time!

... to be having great difficulty with cycling. No sure what was wrong, I racked it up to being tired and plodded along (with only the odd remark about speed from Brian). Progress was so slow, and we weren’t even going through hilly terrain! After a good hour, Brian noticed that my front tire was flat! He then had the gaul to lecture me about how I have to be more careful. This from the guy who has replaced 3 tubes, patched one, as well ...