May 2nd
After the celebration, returning to everyday life meant a slightly colder night for us (the temperature dropped to 3 degrees overnight, and we didn’t have the heating on. It was a bit chilly in the morning. Clouds were also gathering in the sky, so rain was expected. Leaving the small mountain town meant several attempts. Not all streets were accessible by motorhome. We had to maneuver and turn Tellu in tight spaces.
Without any major bumps, we started driving on the mountain serpentine road, which passed through the local nature reserve. Dense forest lined the road, and the cliffs on either side of the road didn’t seem very inviting to traverse.
I wondered aloud what had led people to settle in these hills at some point. They must have had the right attitude at least! Of course, crystal-clear streams flowed in the valleys, where trout and other fish have surely lived for ages. Travelers may have eaten them to satisfy their hunger and drunk the crystal-clear waters on top of that.
Halfway through the trip, we stopped in Spain to buy bread, strawberries, and fruits. At the shopping center parking lot, we enjoyed a quality lunch: fresh bakery products, grapes, strawberries, and salami (for Antti – Eva doesn’t eat salami) with drinks.
After the break, we continued towards the French Mediterranean coast. The mountain landscapes seemed to suit both of us. The small consecutive villages, roads with ascents and descents, were pleasant to follow. At times, we even stopped to take pictures and admire the scenery.
We reached the French border in the mountainous area. We didn’t linger much at the border. Just acknowledged that we had entered France. After the border, we arrived at a relatively new toll road, where the speed limit increased to 130. At the same time, we descended from seven hundred meters. Just engine braking wasn’t enough to curb Tellu’s eagerness to go downhill! The fuel price increased by 30 cents per liter after crossing the border.
We arrived at the accommodation area in Le Barcarès, in the village of Leucate, at quite a brisk pace. Here, a clean motorhome parking lot awaited us. We parked Tellu, unloaded the bikes from the rear rack, and went off to explore the villages to find a wine shop. Of course, the intention was also to find a dining option. Both were found quite effortlessly. We bought wine in a specialized store – not among the aisles of a supermarket, but with the guidance of a knowledgeable wine merchant. Long live Alko and its knowledgeable salespeople!
Eva found the restaurant Terracotte on Trip Advisor. It was conveniently on our way. Upon entering, we realized we were the only customers (it was only 6:30 PM – locals eat later). We received really good, smiling service and excellent food. Tailwinds and downhill slopes propelled us at quite a speed on our way back to Tellu.
That’s how we roll towards tomorrow’s adventures! Cheers!