Mallorca 2023 Day 6 - Orient and Llubi

Ah the last day of cycling eventually dawned. Christina was set on cycling the Orient route, having heard all about it from Carolyn. She joined a group of mainly Irish lads who had just arrived and some new friends we had been cycling with earlier in the week, and off she went with Stuart, undeterred by the higher elevation, faster pace and longer distance. She had an amazing experience cycling with the peloton and came back buzzing. Well done, we are all very proud of her achievements. 

The rest of us headed out with Rob and Patrick to Llubi, some 25 miles at a good pace through the quiet lanes for coffee and cake. This was to be our longest ride of the week. 

Another day, another cake

Llubi 

Tummies topped up we stopped briefly in Muro for some more photos. 

View from Muro

Frank and Françoise

Ladies Who Tour - Liz and Pam

Final leg of a fabulous few days cycling, Patrick got in front and captured the necessary evidence of us actually cycling between food stops! 

First up is Ray

Liz

Steph with Frank following 

Lilian next

Françoise in front 

Carolyn close behind 

Then Terry

Diane

And Pam

Back to Port de Polença where some of us stopped in the favourite ice cream place. 

Saying Adios to Patrick and Rob

Thanks to Liz for organising us and to Stuart Hall and his team for looking after us so well. Lots of memories made, friendships deepened and new friends made. 

Mallorca 2023 - Day 5

 A day of indulgence 

 

There was some cycling too....

The day began cloudy with threat of rain but this did not deter our hardy group and at 9.30 we set off for a leisurely tour (though still at a steady 12 mph).  We encountered some light rain but not enough to put on rain jackets and it soon passed.  We had been promised fresh strawberries at our cafe stop in Can Picafort and strawberries in a variety of desserts were consumed, along with some very large baguettes.   It was a short ride from.there to the old walled town of Acudia where we had half an hour to stroll through the narrow streets 

We returned north on the cyclepath that follows the bay all the way back to the hotel.   A bit of a headwind but by the time we took.our late afternoon stroll the wind had dropped and there were swimmers in the sea.   Another glorious day .

Mallorca 2023 Day 4 - Muro

Today we split into 3 groups, which surprised some of us as only 2 had been planned. Carolyn and Maureen headed off for some fabulous sightseeing by coach, more of that below, while the remaining 10 of us decided that a flat ride was in order after yesterday’s climbing and dutifully fell in behind Stuart as he headed off onto our usual route out of town, following the cycle path along the beach before turning towards busier roads through Alcúdia. And this was where one group became two as a gap became a chasm, and myself and Terry, having stayed behind our new friend Irish Marie, were on the wrong side of it. Sweeper Irish Patrick took charge, creating a “groupetto” of four and having failed to see which way Stuart went, took us the other until coming onto the country lanes where the main group was still out of sight. 

Inland vista

Here’s Stuart but where is the back of the ride?

Lemons!

Irish Marie, Terry and Diane
having our own morning tour

Who lives in a house like this?

Nevertheless despite this hiccup we all enjoyed the same beautiful vistas of tall reeds and small holdings before coming to the larger rolling fields of grape vines, olive, orange and lemon trees and various other crops.

Eventually we were reunited in the pretty walled town of Muro over coffee and cake. 

Steph and Frank in Muro

Reunited! 

Our route back took us through Bùger once more, and homeward on the now familiar long winding cami vell de Polença and cami vell de Campenet. The temperature was rising, it was forecast to be our warmest day, and I could think only of the pool, cold drinks and ice creams. 

Re-grouping in Búger

Home just after 2pm and we scattered for food and drinks, and then for the pool, spa, beach or shopping. 

Maureen and Carolyn meanwhile had been on a coach trip to Valldemossa and Soller.

Valdemossa view point

Tram to Port Soller 

Port Soller

Starting to gather pre-dinner

Hotel Playa Mar