Toroella to San Antoni de Calonge and Back

Mileage: 42 miles
Elevation Gain: about 2000 ft
T max: 87 degrees F
Highlights of the ride: 2000 ft of elevation gain is part of a training ride for US Postal team and Lance Armstrong. We saw 16 other bikers on our route today.

Today we had a beautiful day biking along the beach and then back through steamy hot wheat fields. Ben had his second flat tire today - we decided it was a faulty outer tire causing the inner tube to puncture. We changed it in Palamos at Biccecletta Esteve´s. Then we had lunch on the beach and walked up to an old castle tower. Today we found out that the Castell de Montigri (on the hill outside our hotel) was built in 1294 after King Jaume II, when he got all the disobedient counts in the area to follow his lead and keep this area of Spain part of Catalunya. The best thing we learned today was that when people in this area have the day off they say "Manaña tengo fiesta." Literally translated as "Tomorrow I have a party." I think I would take so much more advantage of my limited days off if I thought of each day off as a party.

Tonight we´re drinking cava - the Spanish version of champange.
On the dinner menu: tomato mousse with olive oil, and bruchetta with tomato, sardines, and strawberries