Mallorca Trip 2005
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12 members made the trip to Mallorca this year mainly vets
including Trevor Siddons, John Davis
John Maughan, Chris Parkinson, Alan Mattinson, Gordon
Corrie, Kevin Avery, Don Saunderson, Andy Hurst, Paul
Staton (Askern CC),Bruce Cooper and Steve Evans.
We left Manchester at 845am on Saturday 23 rd April on a
cold dreary day and arrived at Palma at I 205pm to be
greeted by blue skies and a temp of 23 degrees Celsius.
We had a fairly quick turnaround and arrived at the
resort (Pollenca) at I .45pm
Again this year we had decided to hire bikes instead of
having the hassle and risk of damage to our own bikes. A
new supplier had been found ( Pro cycle Hire) based in
Pollenca and they provided brand new T mobile gianta
that were delivered to our hotel (Polleca Park) and were
ready to ride when we got there with just minor
adjustments,
Most had gone for TCRs but John Maughan and Parka thought
they would try the TCR composite.
By 3:15pm we were on our first ride and as usual this was
to the light house at Formentor, only 13 miles each way
but a hard ride as you do not get any warm up and are
straight into the Mountains but well worth the trip in
gorgeous sunshine.
Then after a good dinner, out for a pint but an early night
(12:30am ) as most were tired after early start.
Day2
Day two started of overcast and a little cool but by
lunchtime the sun was out again and it was warm again,
sun block had to be applied.
Our destination was Bunyola and we went via caves road
through Campanet, Moscari, Selva, Lioseta , and Alaro
and through the Orient Vally, where the climbing starts
and goes on and on. After passing through Orient village
(the smallest village in Majorca and one more climb we
descended into Bunyola where we had dinner stopping at
the usual cafe and had egg and chips.
We had decided to take the easier route back rather than go
over SaIler pass. This route took us through Sencelles,
Lubi, Sta Margalida then on to Alcudia for coffee and
cake ready for the final five mile ride along the coast
back to Pollenca.
Day 3
Day three was a steady day to the bike shop at Binissalem
again going on the caves road to St Pobla, Llubi and on
the water pipe road to Binissalem. After spending 45
minutes in the bike shop we made our way to Inca for
dinner. We then made for Campenet via Buger unfortunaty
we had a split in the group and John Davis, Steve Evans
and me finished on our own and made our way back to
Pollenca.
To finish the day of I decided to have a ride up to the
viewing point on the Formentor road.
Weather dry and very hot.
Day 4
Mountains day. The decision we had to make was wnch route
to take today the one that some consider the easy way
via Lluc first or the Orient. We decided on Lluc
although no way is easy in the mountains. All the group
decided to go but Don Saunderson turned back early and
Pete Williamson only intended going as far as Lluc
monastery.
After the 12mile climb of Lluc we went onto Puig Major and
Soller pass and again into Bunyola for dinner before
climbing out again through Orient and the Orient valley
(Brilliant decent) to Alaro and Selva, Moscari, Campenet
and back to Pollenca.
A great day in the mountains it’s easy to underestimate
this ride which was very hard but well worth the effort,
the scenery is fantastic. As usual John Maughan and
Bruce were first to Bunyola with the rest arriving in
dribs and drabs.
Weather, very hot again enough to melt the new tarmac on
the Soller Pass making it hazardous.
Day 5
Our destination today was Sineu. The plan was to go via Sa
Pobla, Muro, Sta Margalida and Petra but on the way some
one decided that we should get of the main road to Petra
and get into the lanes therefore we took the next
available right turn. After two dead ends and three
times round Sta Margalida we eventually finished up were
we started! And continued on the route that was
originally worked out. Had dinner in Sineu on which
turned out to be market day and very busy. Returned to
Pollenca via Sa Pobla and the Marshes road to Alcudia.
Weather Very hot again.
Day 6
Another hard day. Destination San Salvador via Sa Pobla,
MuroSineuSant JoanVilafranca and Felanitx. We then
started the climb up to the Monastery at the top of San
Salverdor a very hard climb again but well worth the
effort for the views over Majorca After 10 minutes we
descended back to Felanirx where we had dinner.
Returned via Manacor and spent some time trying to find
the bike shop there before heading back via C’an
Picafort and Alcudia.
Weather Hot and sunny
Day 7
Last day . Went up to Lluc again this time going the easier
way via Selva but still a hard day. Most had decided
that we would have a relatively short day in order to
get the hire bikes ready for collection. Therefore we
had a snack at the cafe at the top of Lluc and enjoyed
the 12mile decent back to Pollenca. The only exceptions
where Gordon and Parko who decided to carry on to the Sa
Calobra which is a 5mile decent to the bay and only one
way back, 5miles up.
Weather Hot and sunny.
With no ride the next day we had a good night out getting
to bed at 3am
Total Miles covered in the week was 459.
A good week had by all.
Trevor
