European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 28, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                One of Many deserted villages seen along the Way left. A Lake near Berga marked the Halfway Point of the ride far left. For a amps Catherine Toups Oma for a amps Catherln Toups continued from Page 15 books i found in Barcelona were in Spanish. Campgrounds Are plentiful in Catalonia a most of them offering Grassy Sites and hot water showers for about $10 per night for two people and a tent. You can also take your pick among the Little hotels hostels Mountain refuges Anc hotel like Fondos along the Way for $10-$3q per person. These places tend to have dining rooms offering generous portions of delicious catalonian fare a roasted Rabbit plates of pasta with meat thinly sliced Ham on crusty bread brushed with fresh Tomato and creamy cheeses. Starting the trip in Barcelona s Busy streets can be nerve racking. You might consider putting yourself and your Bike on a train for Sant Cugat 20 Kilometres outside of the City and enjoying morning cafe con leche in a. Courtyard of an 11th-Century Church cloister with a. Famous Bell Tower and shaded by Palm Trees but what s More rewarding is threading your Way through Barcelona s Las Rambias Boulevard past. Outlandish Gaud masterpieces of architecture and up toward Tib Idabo for an inspiring View of the City and its 3 million inhabitants. A in june the Sun does t set until after 10 . In this part of Spain so you be got the entire Day to cover to Kilometres 49.6 Miles or so. You pass tidy catalonian towns that backpackers on Rains will never experience and you can fill your water bottles from Public fountains in town squares where the illustrated Road map mural helps you find your Way. If the siesta hours of 1 30-4 30 . Finds you feeling a bit of Noha a catalonian for the afternoon yawns a you. Can stretch out on a sunny Bench or along a River Bank and locals will consider this a Norma and necessary pleasure unlike in Southern Spain the climate is fairly mild Here in june and Early july. A. It is possible to take secondary roads nearly the entire route along with several stretches of clearly marked dirt roads. The two listed Quot Pedr Forca Quot Mountain Midway into this ride becomes More Beautiful As you ride toward it and leave it behind. The Cadi Mountain Range is also a formidable foe a until 90 Kilometres Latef you look Over your shoulder and it has become a Distant companion that left you with tired Muscles but a real feeling of accomplishment. Probably the most difficult leg of the journey is the last eight Kilometres 4.96 Miles a from spot on the Edge Snow tipped mountains stand in Catalonia s Only National Park parc d Aigi ies tortes for a amps Catherine Troupa of parc d argues tortes to the Glacier Lake of Sant Maurice this 38-Square-mile Park has As Many rocks As variations of Fauna so the Pristine condition makes you feel like an intruder among the ribbon like waterfalls and Rock terraces. Here i could have used my Granny gears but i kept steady and cranked slowly Drifting into the. Cool Mountain serenity where the Only sounds Are Birds Rushing water and distantly clanking cowbells on Tower pastures. A bus from the Park turnoff will take you and your Bike to Barcelona in six hours for�?T$22. But if you have time a better idea would be to make a Loop by bicycle through the pyrenees toward the sea near Figueres North of Barcelona. Along the Way you la pass More medieval villages Hills and Fields of orchids an Ltd butterflies in Oil. North of lot. Pyrenees for the Semi lightweight you bet. The essentials a a rain jacket of lightweight breathable fabric like Gore Tex. A a detailed Road map of 1 300,000 ratio is Good. A a thin insulated shirt for Long cold downhill stretches. A a and a sleeping bag if camping out. Catherln Troupa la a tree Lance writer who Haa been cover inn tha War in the former Yugoslavia for the Wash Langton time. 76 stripes Magazine july 28, 1994