Marça to the "white ball"

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1029467

Today's ride was pretty ambitious, a looooong circuit around Llaberia involving several big hills! I also had an extra warm up cycling to Mont Roig (our neighbouring town) on my "courtesy bike" to get mine back from a service. After a lengthy lecture on the state of my brake pads, which were pretty much completely down to the metal and "totalmente gastado...muy peligroso y por la vassura!" we headed up to Marça to start our ride...

We began along vineyards before we hit the hills, heading up towards llaberia. We also passed four policemen here - presumably patrolling for illegal off road motorbikes or something, but as we only saw goats all day this seemed pretty odd?! Great use of my taxes ;-)

A slog (and some carrying up the rocks!) but worth the effort... Capçanes in the distance 

Still a lot of up to go! 

Some fun downhill too :-)

Destination of "the white ball" on the horizon (a radar station visible for miles around)  

Traffic jam as we arrive at the white ball 

Finally made it to the white ball! The high point of the ride

Having realised a long held ambition to get up to the "white ball" However the day finished with a rather frustrating carrying section. between us and Marça there was a bloody great hill and a very chossy path. The hill wasn't a surprise (these things are on the map afterall) but the state of the path was! The way up was rocky and the descent even worse - on terrain that I struggle to walk on without a bike! I also need to work out a more efficient method of carrying that doesn't involve bashing myself so much...

Made it! At the final coll of the ride. Feeling rather weary and bruised after carrying my bike up a mahuuusive hill after 6 hours on the go! 

Fun and rideable tracks through the forest to finish. 7 hours in total!