Girona - Olot - Girona by bicycle via Ruta Garrilet I
One should not believe everything one reads. The guidebook for Greenways claims that Ruta Garrilet from Girona to Olot is of minimal difficulty. The bike path follows (mostly) an old narrow-gauge railway track. Since trains cannot ascend steep hills, the path should be easy.
So, I rented an hybrid bicycle from Cycle Centre Girona and set out for Olot from Girona. It was a bit late, almost noon, but the distance is only about 60 kilometers each way. For a fit cyclist like me, cycling 120 km (and having a late lunch halfway through) would be easy, and I would easily be back before dark.
The route is well marked. There are funny green and blue paintings on the road, sign post every now and then, sign at most turns, etc. Even a bit absent minded cyclist should find his way without problems. I did not, I lost the path and ended up cycling along a high way for 5 km or so. Not fun with a hybrid bicycle, since it was constant uphill.
There was some difficulty. First, it was a hot day, so I was sweating like a hog. I run out of water at one point. Second, the surface is not good at all. It is mostly soft sand or gravel with large stones. Rather slow both of them. Third, I was hungry because I decided that I must loose weight (after the club ride debacle) and skipped dinner the night before.
But I made it to Olot. The scenery is fine, there are many small towns to wonder, castles on hills, villas on mountains. Many animals (snakes, pheasants, donkeys, cows, hares, sheep, dogs, cats, ...) entertain the cyclist.
In Olot, there are restaurants. They serve food. Eating food made cycling back to Girona much easier. Of course, the fact that Girona is 400 m lower than Olot helps somewhat.
Despite of my difficulties, it was a nice trip and a say well spend. Altogether 125 km, 6h45min cycling time. 3500 kcal. The route.
So, I rented an hybrid bicycle from Cycle Centre Girona and set out for Olot from Girona. It was a bit late, almost noon, but the distance is only about 60 kilometers each way. For a fit cyclist like me, cycling 120 km (and having a late lunch halfway through) would be easy, and I would easily be back before dark.
The route is well marked. There are funny green and blue paintings on the road, sign post every now and then, sign at most turns, etc. Even a bit absent minded cyclist should find his way without problems. I did not, I lost the path and ended up cycling along a high way for 5 km or so. Not fun with a hybrid bicycle, since it was constant uphill.
There was some difficulty. First, it was a hot day, so I was sweating like a hog. I run out of water at one point. Second, the surface is not good at all. It is mostly soft sand or gravel with large stones. Rather slow both of them. Third, I was hungry because I decided that I must loose weight (after the club ride debacle) and skipped dinner the night before.
But I made it to Olot. The scenery is fine, there are many small towns to wonder, castles on hills, villas on mountains. Many animals (snakes, pheasants, donkeys, cows, hares, sheep, dogs, cats, ...) entertain the cyclist.
In Olot, there are restaurants. They serve food. Eating food made cycling back to Girona much easier. Of course, the fact that Girona is 400 m lower than Olot helps somewhat.
Despite of my difficulties, it was a nice trip and a say well spend. Altogether 125 km, 6h45min cycling time. 3500 kcal. The route.
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| Girona - Olot |
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| Timing |
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