Spring Feelings?

In the French Pyrenees the weather was quite fresh and rainy so we desired warmer conditions and took the route via Andorra to Spain. We took the pass over 2300 meters height, had a lot of snow and could hardly imagine that it will be sunny and warm and we asked ourselves were will be the first time to wear t-shirt. We made a short stop in Andorra to get some cheap diesel- just 89 cent- but for the rest it was quite touristic. We meet a kind hitchhiker who is also a climber and he gave us great advice for some climbing in Spain and we moved further. We ended up in Col de Nargo, an amazing and chill climbing spot. “360 degree panoramic view” like one of our camping neighbours said. Finally spring arrived and during the day it got warm and we enjoyed the warming sun on our skin, bees were flying around, different kind of flowers and everything was green. Having breakfast outside became common. Days became longer and we stayed more and more time outside than in the bus. Of course the stove during the winter times was cosy but the warm temperature outside gives you a lot of freedom, not in need to search for fire wood or waking up, not wanting to go out of the sleeping back because the bus is still cold or having a longer shower outside, not freezing, or water which is frozen in our tank... I love spring time and the feeling that everything is awaking!

Not far away was another climbing place called Perles. We parked our car next to an old church, watched the herdsmen every day waking around with his animals, took fresh water from the fountain and enjoyed the peaceful nature. In the little village of Col de Nargo was an old and traditional bakery with lots of tasty things: Magdalenas with cognac and other pastries. For Easter we got some tasty things from there and at Perles we celebrated it. We had a great breakfast and had to search for our Easter EggsJ David made a very traditional Easter sauce called “Schmiere”, and I made Humus.

We also had another present, a new mate living with us in the bus for several days but uninvited, disturbing our calm night. We got suspicious and tried to find some traces but it took a while. We decided to put out everything of the bus to give it a chance to escape but the food box was too attractive. So I left David behind with all the stuff lying outside to buy a trap. We put it in our bus and were excited, talked quiet in hope to catch the animal. In the end we went disappointed to bed because our friend was hiding. We did not hear anything the night, but the next morning we discovered a little mouse in the trap. Sad for the mouse but good for us being able to put all things in the bus again and travelling further.

After that we decided to make a canoe tour and found a fantastic place close to Solsona, a lonesome place in the middle of the nature. We prepared our things and took of the next day. David pimped our canoe, so that we also could sail with it- works perfect! We paddled and sailed and for the night we found a nice little bay. We put up our tent, searched for fire wood and made a nice fire which warmed us during the evening! We were very enthusiastic, David tried to catch a fish and I collected lots of thyme. Staring into the fire, listening to the sounds of the nature is always magical and makes calm J it was also very nice, leaving the bus alone and sleeping somewhere else.

The next day we went off to Barcelona to visit Patti, an old friend of my hometown. Finally I realised to visit her and we spend a great time at her place. We felt immediately cosy at her place and enjoyed the luxury of a flat! Patti showed us around in Barcelona, little streets, quiet and green places. It is always great to discover a city with a local! We made tasty fish paella a traditional and very tasty dish in Spain and another evening we had a great barbecue at a roof terrace at a friend´s place. Further we went to a free urban climbing/ boulder spot in the centre of the city, an old tunnel, where you meet a great mix of all kind of people. People go there after work, listening to music with their headphones, doing some boulders and then move further. Funny to observe. In the end we just let us flow with the energy of the city, drove around with our bikes and were allowed to see the atelier of Alex- Patti´s friend who is an artist. He showed us a less touristic part of Barcelona and we saw two exhibitions of friends of him. Further he has a friend who has a shop called Family Beer- to make your own beer! Just fantastic!

After that we went back into the mountains- to Margalef a famous climbing spot in Spain. A great atmosphere and a highlight and meeting place for all climbers. There were several parking places in the nature, nicely done with barbecues- fire places made of stones. Close to it there was a river were you could refresh yourself. It felt as if being in a huge community just of climbers.

During the day we went climbing, getting used to the Conglomerate-little stones pieces- searching for holds and steps, which made it not always easy ;) as well as the overhanging start.

In the evenings we met several people and had food with them- laughed and played Wizard- a great card game!

David´s birthday arrived so we chilled and played Wizard with two other Germans in our bus and had a cake at midnight I prepared. A traditional cake David always got of his parents called “Kalter Hund”. The next day we made a trip with the canoe. We took our fishing rod with us and could hardly believe it. All the hours spending at rivers and fishing nothing became rewarded. We fished 5 big fishes and there seemed to be no end. Just fantastic!! In the evening we made it in different ways on the barbecue and shared it with other people. My favourite fish was wrapped in aluminium with olive oil, one tomato, one onion, garlic, rosemary in the inside and a bit salt and pepper.

Leaving Margalef was not easy, a very relaxed place with nice people. But we went further to Motanejos and gave a ride to Madis a Lithuanian guy, looking as a rocker, interested in bikes and metal work, outdoor educator and climber who was sewing very well all kind of climbing stuff.

On the way when we tried to reoccupy some food of supermarkets, which is nearly impossible in Spain we met a Vagabond called Theo, originally Dutchmen, but now he is like all nationalities in one. We gave him and his dog Tiko “little bean” a ride until Montanejos. Listening to his stories and his life were amazing but also confronting. In winter and summer he lives outside, has a lot of experience living in and with the nature and coming in contact with all kinds of people all over the world and feeling their culture, mentality and language by heart. Going by foot, gives him the right speed to feel the area he is. He lives outside of the system but still informs himself very well about the ongoing world. He is very well informed.

Montanejos was a perfect choice, very idyllic, with an outdoor thermal bath and a great valley surrounded by climbing walls, and a river which was flowing in between. It looked like a jungle, with all its fig trees and other plants. Also there we meet some climbers and saw them again in Chulilla one week later. There we changed our rhythm, woke up early to go climbing in the shadow and then having siesta at a little river down in the valley. We always took our cooker with us and had in this idyllic place late breakfast/ lunch- read a book or trying to catch a fish.

The last time you could read about our plans…. Now as you can see it is mid of May, we are in Valencia, not even reached south of Spain, having to realize that Spain is fucking huge and we won´t manage being in Morocco in May because there is still a lot to see on our way. But plans can be changed, and over changed. We live from one day to the next day and see what will happen. Our new idea is going to Morocco in September when there will be less heat and travelling southwards in our own tempo and rhythm. The idea of doing some fruit picking still exits and let’s see were we will end up

Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.

John Lennon

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