Mallorca Day 13

After a fine day yesterday we were disappointed to find today's forecast included showers in the afternoon

 Whilst Martin and Sue sent off walking for the day we drove to Sa Pobla and parked on our usual spot by the cemetery. A few spots of rain appeared on the windscreen on route but this had cleared by the time we were ready to set off cycling.  Cagoules were left on the van and we decided to chance the weather.  Our route took us you of Sa Pobla and on tracks towards Muro before joining the road and then following a track alongside the railway line. We were then on roads going around the outside of Llubi before heading for Sineu and Petra. Petra is a popular lunch spot for cyclists but we continued on tracks to Maria de la Salut where we stopped at a bar we had stopped at last year,  Bar Ca's Xigaler. We shared a Pa lamb oli and a salad but had been spoilt by the quality of the food at bar Mayorga . We then took an extended route back to the van via the outskirts of Santa Margalida and along some ecovias. The route was carefully planned even if Lyn thought we were cycling round in circles.  We got back to the appartment before 6:00pm , plenty of time to get ready for our evening meal at Stay.  A round trip of 43 miles and the rain stayed away all day.

Mallorca Day 13

Mallorca Day 12

For Sue's second ride on the island we decided to repeat a ride we had done earlier in the holiday and ride from Manacor to Arta and return via the disused railway line. We parked at our new parking spot by the station in Manacor.  Martin and Sue had a car so were able  to get to Manacor without having to catch a bus and then train. They set off before us but went via Alcudia and got caught by road closures for a local bike race .  We had time to assemble the bikes and put on our sun cream before they arrived. We set off just after 11:00am After 150 yards our  first stop was the station cafe for a coffee.  We the continued towards Sant Llorenc des Cardassar before the climb up towards Arta. Lots of good photo opportunities including Broomrape a parasitic plant with no chlorophyll in its leaves. (facts provided by Sue). After the final climb it was a quick decent to Arta. We choose the cafe Is La Bar De Vins and had an excellent lunch sitting outside in their court yard.  Lyn and I had had a good lunch their 5 years previously but had been unable to locate it on subsequent trips as we did not know where it was located or what it was called. After lunch it was 29km along the railway line back to Mancor. Like the previous weeks ride we had a headwind but it was not as strong.  After a diversion to Sant Llorenc des Cardassar for an icecream we were back in Manacor. A roundtrip of 36 miles with 1700 feet of climbing. The bikes were packed in the van and we returned to Pueuto Pollenca . Martins and Sue's bikes were returned and we prepared and eat a tea of roasted tenderloin of park with tumbet .  ( Tumbet is local Mallorcan dish made with layering aubergine, courgette, roasted  red pepper and potatoes in a tomato sauce andvtgen roasting in the oven.)

Mallorca Day 12

Mallorca Day 12

Mallorca Day 12

Mallorca Day 11- A ride to Biniamar

The forecast was a fine morning with temperature of around 18 degrees but with the possibility of showers in the afternoon.  The ride started from the appartment and Martin and Sue decided to join us. This was Sue's first ride on the island.  The anticlockwise loop took on the back roads from Puerto Pollenca to Campanet.  We stopped at seat by the chapel and decided to climb the hill to Campanet and get a coffee from the small supermarket on the corner.  Unfortunately it was closed for refurbishment so we continued towards Caimari and diveted off our route up the hill to Moscari.  The bar by the church was closed so we had a pleasant coffee in the bar in the main square. Our route then took us on the minor roads  to Binibona a Caimari where instead of climbing up to Lluc we continued round the valley to Mancor de La Vall. After a quick descent towards Inca we turned of towards Biniamar.  We were pleased to find Bar de Mayorga was open. We sat outside in the shade and enjoyed an excellent mixed pa amb oli each. The sky's darkened as we set off towards Llosetta and took the minor track to Inca. The Garmin directed us on the back roads thought Inca to the cycle path to Sa Pobla. We stopped in the main square at cafe Placa Vuit for a cake and a drink.  Lyn and I shared as slice of Almond cake. It was freshly baked and very good. On our next visit we will try the chocolate cake Martin had as it was also very good. Our route back was though the Parc Natural de S'Albufera.  Sue spotted a Bee Orchid which we stopped to photograph before we took the back roads to Port Pollenca.  An excellent ride and a round trip of 53 miles. Althoght the dark  clouds threatened rain it stayed away all day. After beer o'clock sitting outside on the patio a vegetable curry was prepared and eatern.