Ride Director: Nelson Diaz
Ride Co-Director: Patrick Engstrom
Ride Driver: Kathleen Diaz
Report by: Jim Reain
Memories of Mallorca
Day after day of spectacular riding under sapphire skies. Excellent roads. Endless serpentine switch-backs up and down. Just like the Grand Tours on TV. Courteous and competent drivers . Deep gorges. Terraced cliffs. Cyclists often outnumbering cars.
Spectacular scenery. Mountains, sea vistas, terraced vineyards ,olive groves, orange and lemon trees – often all at once.
No rain!
No flats!
Riding across the island from Palma to Puerto de Pollenca over a broad plain with the rugged Sierra de Tramantana mountains so close that you would think that you could reach out and touch them.
The epic ride up onto the spine of the Sierra and out from Puerto de Pollenca to Cap de Formentor (aka “the Tormentor”). Hills, tunnels, Mediterranean vegetation, the scent of pine, Balearic wild goats and stunning sea-coast vistas. A “must-do”.
Early morning starts in the haze through the olive groves to the sound of mourning doves and the smell of fresh-cut hay.
Capuccinos at 11:00 in town squares to the sound of church bells.
Pipe organ and childrens’ choir in the ancient chapel of the Sanctuaria de LLuc.
The sun going down in a red blaze at the mouth of the harbour in Puerto de Soller. Lights coming on in houses clinging to the hill-sides. Sail-boats at anchor.. Antique wooden tram-cars shuttling past al fresco diners.
Street markets with all kinds of olives, cheeses, meats and leather goods.
The hill-clinging town of Formalutx. Narrow streets. Cobble stones. Oranges and lemons.
More goats.
Comfortable beach-front hotels and country estate accommodations. Fine meals and wine.
Happy hours on the sun-drenched pool deck at Banyulbufar looking down several hundred feet of terraces to the blue Mediterranean.
A happy and harmonious group of new cycling friends.
Friendly, courteous and helpful Mallorcans.
Excellent organiization, calm and competent direction, accommodation selection and route planning by Nelson who met his objective of “the best trip ever”. A profound thank-you.
Special thanks to Pat, Terry and Noreen who stepped-up when circumstances demanded.
Mallorca – truly a cycling gem.
Bicycle Adventure Club
PO BOX 23998 San Diego, CA 92193
Telephone (858) 715-9510 office@bicycleadventureclub.org