Day 149: Porqueres (Cycle/Drive)

First, I cycled through Castellfollit de la Roca:

The village sits on a basaltic cliff over 50 metres high and almost a mile long, resulting from the erosion of the Fluvi. and Toronell Rivers on volcanic remains.

Second, there was some quality climbing to be had in three stages.

Stage one was a fairly easy climb to the Coll de Camporiol (no sign!), followed by a descent to Oix.

Stage two was a climb that, according to my Garmin (navigational aid), was to be 7.35 kilometres in length with an average gradient of 6% and 491 metres of ascent. Excellent, a steady climb of about 6%, what's not to like. However, the reality turned out to be very different! After some steady climbing I came across this sign with about six kilometres to go:

Yep, 10% for three kilometres! Three hundred metres of elevation gain later, there was a false flat for about 1 kilometre. Thereafter, descent commenced, about 2 kilometres before the Garmin climb was due to finish! I thank that's the biggest ever Garmin error I've seen. As a bonus, many kilometres later, out of the blue, this Coll sign appeared ... :

... as I descended to Beget, where coffee was had ... :

... prior to the commencement of Stage Three, the climb up to the Coll de Samoli (no sign!), through Rocabruna (a Pueblo consisting of about a dozen buildings!) to the Coll de la Boixeda (no sign!, but a very good climb) .... but a few kilometres of descending brought me to this coll:

It was mostly downhill back to Sant Joan Les Fonts, where this piece of roundabout "art" can be found:

... anyone for a house in the countryside? Just needs a little TLC!

Later, I drove to the start of tomorrow's ride.

• Distance driven:
• Distance cycled: 79 kilometres
• Weather: Much more cloud about today. Temperatures at lower elevations were about 21 - 24 °C, in the mountains about 18°C. Temperatures look to be climbing to too hot levels for me!
• Location: Google Maps

Today's route (A good route that could do with a wee tweak to avoid the N-260)