THE FIRST OF 2025:
sun, wind & unexpected magic ✨
After months of cold, rain, and way too many gray days, we’d had enough. We needed sun. A proper adventure. Something to break the routine.
At first, we thought about heading to Costa Blanca or Valencia—somewhere warm, somewhere known. But the idea of driving that far? Not so appealing. So, we looked at the map and spotted El Parc Natural dels Ports.
Neither of us had been there, and we found a gravel route from La Garba that looked interesting. A quick adjustment, and boom—we had a three-day plan.
Honestly, we had zero expectations. No idea what the terrain would be like. No clue if the route was actually good. We just wanted to ride, discover, and chase some winter sun.
What we got was so much more.
my
PINARELLO GREVIL
ready for the adventure with Camelbak bag and bottles
Day 1 – 114 km +2,460m | 6h52m
The first few kilometers were easygoing—rolling hills, empty roads, and that feeling of finally being on the move. Then we hit the climb to Balneari de Cardó, and suddenly, things got real. The road twisted through the mountains, getting steeper as we climbed.
At some point, we reached the abandoned Balneari de Cardó, a Catalan Cultural Heritage site, which felt completely out of place in the middle of nowhere. From there, we left the tarmac and kept climbing on a rough, steep gravel road, winding through the forest.
Then, the view opened up—valleys, rugged peaks in the distance, absolute silence all around. It was one of those moments where you stop pedaling, look around, and think, why have we never ridden here before?
Then came the descent to Tivenys, and it was anything but easy. Super loose gravel, tight turns, and technical sections that kept us fully locked in. It was the kind of descent where you just want it to be over. But the views were absolutely unreal, and we stopped a couple—maybe three—times just to appreciate them. (Okay, also to rest.)
Once we hit the valley, we crossed the Ebre River and reached the Camino Natural de la Val de Zafán tunnels. Imagine riding into complete darkness, just the sound of your tires and the bike light cutting through.
We had already put our lights on, we knew by the time we exited the tunnels, the sun had already set. After a long day of big climbs and wide-open landscapes, this was like stepping into another world.
We made a quick stop in Bot for one last food and water refill. When we left, it was completely dark, and we still had 30 km left to Valderrobles. The final stretch felt endless—our legs were cooked, and we’d been pedaling for nearly seven hours. But we made it.
First day down. Dinner was well earned.
Day 2: 122 km +2,640m | 7h14m
The morning started easy—rolling terrain, quiet gravel roads, legs feeling decent. We stopped in Peñarroya de Tastavins, knowing it was the last town where we’d find food and water for a while.
After that, things got rough.
The next part was flat but completely broken terrain. It felt like we were crawling at 10 km/h on a flat section. It was one of those moments where you just have to focus on and keep pedaling. But it was hard—hard on the hands, hard on the butt, and impossible to find any kind of rhythm.
Then came a super steep climb—the kind where you just hope for traction and try to keep the bike upright. Luckily, the steepest sections had concrete, which helped us get some grip. We reached the top, and from there, the road smoothed out. Only 14 km to go until our planned lunch stop.
Then the wind hit.
Not just a little breeze. Relentless wind. The kind that turns every flat section into a battle and it felt like the ride was never going to end.
Finally, we reached Fredes, where we made a proper lunch stop at Restaurant Europa. We sat down, ate, laughed, and rest a little bit
. That meal saved us. It was the reset button we desperately needed.
After lunch, we kept pushing. It wasn’t cold, but the wind made it freezing, and riding through it was more work than expected. We were on a high ridge in the middle of the Parc Natural dels Ports, surrounded by deep forests that, luckily, gave us some shelter from the wind. The sun was setting, and we knew we were in for another late arrival, but there was no choice but to keep moving.
The last part of the ridge finally eased up, and we were able to pick up speed, reaching Refugi Caro Nou—a huge relief because from here, it was all downhill to the hotel.
Except, of course, the ride had one last surprise for us.
As we started descending Carretera dels Ports, night had fully set in. The road was pitch black, completely empty. The wind was still howling. Our bike lights showed us the road, but that was it— just us, the road, and the sound of the wheels broken by the wind.
It felt surreal, but at the same time incredible. A 17km downhill to the hotel was a small present to finish our long long day
By the time we reached the hotel, we weren’t just tired. We were completely done.
Day 3: 32 km +26m | 1h45m
We woke up ready to roll, but the wind had other plans.
The gusts were even worse than the day before—so strong that staying upright on the bike was becoming a challenge. The last stretch of our planned route was completely flat, fully exposed, and there was no hiding from the wind. After a couple of sketchy moments, we had to admit it:
Pushing forward would’ve been straight-up dangerous.
So, we changed the plan. Instead of suffering through a brutal ride, we took a direct route to L’Ampolla, where our journey had started and ended. We rolled in slowly, as a recovery ride, soaking in the final moments of the trip.
And honestly? It didn’t feel like a letdown at all.
Because what better way to wrap up an adventure than sitting by the sea, eating an amazing rice dish, and reflecting on everything we had just been through?
We started this trip with no expectations. And that’s exactly what made it so good.
This wasn’t about bucket-list climbs or famous routes—it was about the experience. The little moments that made us stop and appreciate where we were. The unexpected struggles that made us dig a little deeper. The feeling of being completely in the moment, with nothing to do but ride.
Because sometimes, the best rides aren’t the ones you plan for. They’re the ones that surprise you.