Spain

[Tigerchas]

Now moved on and it was another long day to Ripoll but that was of my making .... found some wonderful twisty roads with the help of the The Spanish Biker. Today, Saturday, I have given the bike rest and used the train.

[Simon_100]

Hi Chas,

As promised - a few details:

Railway museum is at Vilanova i la Geltrui

Vilanova is a nice place, like I said it's a bit like Hove :whistle: complete with seafront lawns and there's even a miniature railway there - the kind model rail engineers use.



I guess it only runs on Sundays or holidays but what the heck

Onward - the town I was telling you about with the nascent rails centre is Mora la Nova. It's on the national highway (N420) into central Spain from the coast near Tarragona and, as I also mentioned, you can have a fantastic time riding back to the north coast via the 'sistema iberico' mountain range. Key towns: Darroca, Soria, Burgos, Cervera de Pisuerga (for the Pico de Europa).

Back to Vilanova: from Ripoll head for Igualada via Vic and Manresa. You pass both of the latter but you have to go right into Igualada to start a fantastic road, the C37 to Valls. It really is ne of the loveliest roads in north east Spain - a bit narrow but amazing nonetheless.

But you don't want to go all the way to Valls, head instead for Santes Creus, which is a lovely little village woth an ancient Cistecian monastery where the 'princes ' of the house of Barcelona are buries from the days when Catalonia was an 'independent' country, i.e. before what we now call 'Spain' existed' - politics But a great spot for you to do some of your photography or course.

Finding the C37 is a real nightmare so you'll have to get your Satnav skills on top notch: head for Valls but only when you are near Igualada, otherwise it will send you on another route, and then once you are safely on the C37 load up Santes Creus, but if your Satnav doesn't know this village head for Vila-Rodona, which is just beyond.

After you've stopped at Santes Creus carry on along the road (the TP2002 by now as you leave the C37 at Pont de Armentera - a dump!) until it joins the Valls - Vendrell road, (C51), then turn towards El Vendrell and it goes all the way to Vilanova.

Enjoy!

Simon

[Simon_100]

More,

Vilanoca i la Geltru is more of a residential town rather than a holiday resort, again, a bit like Hove - I used to live in Brighton so I know all about Hove

But there are plenty of hotels. I haven't stayed there but the Cézar really took my fancy with its 'colonial' appearance

If you were to stay there a couple of nights it's a better place to get to Barcelona from, with trains about every half hour or less - get one that goes into 'França' station, lovely building and a nice part of the city to begin exploring.

Otherwise a day out down the coast at Tarragona, where I live in the winter, is a good alternative. Think of York but on a cliff overlooking the Med - but with no bloody Vikings!

You'll need to check the timetable though as mostly you have to change - but I don't suppose that would be too much of a problem for you!

Regs

Simon

[Tigerchas]

Thanks Simon.

I am back in the UK now. I stayed in Ripoll at the La Trabada Hotel and what a find that was. Secure locked garage parking and at least two of the staff spoke English and were extremely helpful.

Ripoll is great for touring and I found a great run out to a Cement Museum that included a train ride and a stop at Jardins Artigas an area designed by Gaudi and a pleasant walk through the gardens. The road was great with lots of twisty bits.

I caught the train into Barcelona from Ripoll and expired on foot getting to all the railway related stuff that I wanted to see.

I covered 2165 miles and managed to take 753 pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charleslroberts800

[Simon_100]

Nice one Chas, you certainly got about a bit. Mrs S and I have just had a great tome identifying your sites, but going straight from the Pyrenees to the Ffestiniog Railways and Caernarfon Castle made us a bit dizzy :laugh:

You take some great photographs mate!

Simon

[moto al]

Hi Simon ,do you know anything about this meeting? Cheers see you next month.al

image_2014-07-29.jpg (56.93 KiB) Viewed 1722 times

[Simon_100]

Hi Al,

My local BMW dealer keeps reminding me about it but I've never been. They offer very expensive accommodation which is way out of my league and it's always been a difficult weekend for me.

I'm not sure of can just drop in and check pout the bikes - do you know any more, is this part of your plan?

Simon