Snowy Peaks to Soaking Streets 🏔️ Cycling the PYRENEES into ANDORRA

Описание: Day 61. 71km (86635kms 8yrs)

It’s new country day! I always enjoy my time in France, but today I was eager to cross the border into Andorra. First though were the Pyranees to cross. Just before setting off I received the OK for a Warm Showers stay in the capital Andorra La Vella; I had planned to camp, I didn’t know it yet but this notification would be a godsend.

The climb from Ax-Les-Thermes to the pass is 40kms mostly at a pretty steady 5%, the final 5kms inside of Andorra a little steeper. At first, conditions were perfect; no wind no rain, beautiful views. I couldn’t have wished for better. About half way up clouds began to descend obscuring the mountains but only for a short time. Before long the snowy peaks re-emerged, no longer lofty but at eye-level. Soon I was cycling above the snow line, and though I was growing weary the promise of a new country to visit kept me pushing on upwards.

At the border I was surprised to get waved though; to my knowledge Andorra is not a schengen country - relevant information for a Brit on an extended Euro trip - where was my exit stamp?! Pausing in the border town of Pas De La Casa I delighted in the confusion of being in a new place. Even something as simple as buying bread was unusually challenging - all the supermarket-looking places seemed to be duty free shops. Mission eventually accomplished I set about the final 5kms to the top. The weather which had been patchy cleared as I trudged slowly up past skiers and snowboarders to the pass. Here families sledged, and made snowmen. I cursed my silliness in getting my feet all wet clambering about in the snow, unaware I was about to get soaked to the bone on my descent into the city.

30kms dropping down 1500m required careful focus as rode down into heavy rainfall. Squinting through the rain I navigated streams running down the road passing through the ski-lodge towns of Canillo and Encamp without so much as a glance, focussed as I was on arriving. Now fully sodden and shivering I could hardly manage the phone with wet hands to reach Jorge. When I couldn’t find the address in the dark, cold, and wet I was about to despair, but mercifully up the alley came Jorge to rescue me. I could hardly speak for cold, my brain was numb. But after a lengthy hot shower I came back to life settling into a hot meal in great company. In Andorra!

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#andorra #biketouring #cycling