johnsunter.com >> outdoor >> mountains >> andorra - multi activity 2
Multi-Activity holiday in the Pyrenees mountains of Andorra (2/2).
The following day, was a mixture of mountain biking and white water rafting.
Because of my hand, I couldn't do either, so I decided to walk into the town of Canillo and rest my hand.
On the rout down the road, was this spectacular outdoor climbing wall.
Canillo wasn't so much a town next to the river, as a town built on top of a river.
You can see from this construction how its cleverly raised above the water.
I sat in the comfortable village square, spent some time on the internet and had a couple of drinks and a pizza.
Meanwhile the rest of the team had a go at white water rafting in a place called Sort.
These pictures were taken by Emma, and I would like to thank her for allowing me to use them.
That evening, The hotels resident band, the Roc 'ers, entertained us with charismatic live music.
On the left, the Hotel Chef, Ben. A superb cook, and quite the most modest Chef I have ever met.
On the right, our multi talented barman Pepe. Throughout the week, he couldn't have been more helpful, and literally nothing was too much trouble for him.
In the center, a charming girl called Laura. She worked at the pharmacy in the village. She was one of the few people I met who wasn't a ski instructor.
The following day, my hand is a little better, and for the first time, I am able to ride a mountain bike (I have to hold the handlebars a certain way, and take lots of painkillers, but I am actually riding !).
We cycled a circular rout through the a park near El Cortals valley.
It was great to be out on a bike, I haven't enjoyed riding one that much, since I was a child riding my Chopper.
The path went past this beautiful lake.
At lunchtime, our guides cook a Barbeque at this delightful picnic spot in the El Cortals valley.
I was so tired, and it was so warm, that I found a really smooth rock, lay down on it, and went to sleep.
Me at the start of the GR11 trekking rout.
In the afternoon, we drove to the top of the El Cortals valley and and peddled down.
A skating rink in Canillo, featured the go karts, with special tyres, which enabled them to race on ice.
Apparently, the Karts had a governor on them, so if you were driving recklessly, they could slow you down by remote control.
While I went walking, Emma and Preston went canyoning.
I had thought it would be like gorge walking, but actually involved abseiling down waterfalls.
.
It looked pretty exciting to me.
On the last morning, we head out walking, in perfect sunshine to the Incles valley.
The ridge behind me, is the border between Andorra and Spain.
In places, the rout was quite steep, and days of activities and late nights in the bar had taken their toll on me.
It was worth my exhaustion, as you can see from these spectacular views of the valley we had, once we got up high.
A thing that really impressed me in Andorra were the refuges.
They were similar to mountain bothy's in Scotland, but had beds and windows and stuff like that.
Here you can see the fireplace inside the refuge, with a bow saw for collecting wood.
There were even tables for cooking and food preparation.
We sit by the lake and eat our well deserved packed lunch.
As we descend back down the valley, I pause next to this waterfall.
I was really sad to come home, despite my hand, I still had a brilliant time.
I would like to thank the hotel staff, the locals I met like Robin and Laura and the many friends who were other adventure company participants like myself.
