Spanish TET Day 4

My legs litterally trembled today.

The morning in Roses was a quick start, up, pack, breakfast, get to the bike. We had aready met the people that organise the off-road tours in the bar the night before, that morning we met again whilst prepping the bike.  Dounia, in the support vechile and general organiser, invited us back to their tour house!  :) (thanks Dounia!)

We made tracks for the TET stopping in Figueres to get coolant for the WRR and get its cluch checked (its OK we were informed), intercoms for the bikes (a great addition), brake pads for the DRZ and food.

After that it was back to the TET. Heading west the route was good, but not too challanging, the weather great. Passed throught some picturesque Spanish countryside and villages

The road started climb, one hair pin following the next, all the way up to a remote village. By the time we reached it the rain and hail was thundering down upon us and the temperature and dropped dramically. Our elevation was approx 2000m, the snow line could be seen not far above. There was a resturant purchased on the side of the mountain over looking the valley we had acesended from. The people looked warm and cosey.  What they were missing were two dripping wet bikers, we joned them and ate ball soup.

look at the water in this shot, we're stood at the resturant.

Ate soup and coffee and then mounted our steeds.  The roads gaveway to rocky dirt track, it was then that five huge Nissan off-road trucks pulled up.  They were using paper maps and wanted to know about the moutain pass we just starting.  One of them, a lady spoke, English and i helped where i could.  We got to the front of the convoy and continued upwards.  Hail stones and snow falling from the sky as we picked our way higer. 

When reached the point marked the map below on the mountain pass our ellevation was approx 2500m. Snow drifts had formed on the road.

It was here we met two english chaps sat in a landrover, eating biscuits, pondering the snow drift ahead.  There was steep drop on the valley side - you woudnt want to get it wrong.  A wrong move would leave you falling down the slope somewhere. They were contempalting retuning down.

We approached the drift and could see that by walking the bikes across we could probably make it along a narrow point.  Cold, scared, in a hail and rain i went first... My heart was pounding, Jason asked 'should we be doing this?' I went on anyway (fool) Thankfully, I did make it to the other side, but my legs were like jelly, physically shaking.  I needed a moment to compose myself. Jasons words resonating in my mind. 

Befor Jason crossed i said i would scout ahead to assess the situation and our chances of making it down alive.

The ansewer was no - we couldnt make it without signifcant risk to ourselves. Job done i returned to my travel companion and let him know.  This time, rather than walk across the drift, jason suggested going up above it.  Pointing the bike up the mountain slope on the grass the wheel gripped and she took me up and over the snow and back to the Landrover.  (yes!) The lads had waited to ensure we returned safe. 

Then we hit the roads and bypassed the section as did the landrover and the Nissan trucks.  We joined the now substanstial convoy and riding in a thunderstorm with lighting breaking above us we reached Ripoll and found a biker friendly hotel!  A garage with a boiler room to dry clothes.  

Ahhhhh Warmth, food, drink, relax.

Tomorrow we'd plan around the 2500m passes...