Wednesday 4 April 2012
Cycle to Port Soller for breakfast on the harbour, once we had bought tickets for the boat to Sa Calobra. In the sun we sat on the boat waiting for it to leave and then we were off. We skip round the headland with views of the climbing cliffs that are now closed because of the new hotel complex on top. Dark cliffs topped with swirling cloud dropping sheer to the deep indigo sea form the view until we rounded into Sa Calobra, a steep small harbour.
At Sa Calobra we explore the harbour and walk through tunnels leading to another large beach full of pebbles at the foot of the torrent de Pareis before starting off up the climb to the Col. The road is full of cyclists all having a go at this famously hair-pinned col. all of them are on stripped down race bikes. Our Airnimals obviously got looks and comments.
The road is spectacular and a marvel of engineering with many wriggling hairpins and one that turns a full 360 degrees back on itself over a specially engineered bridge. From the top we follow an exciting descent leading to the road-side buffet that has been closed when we have passed it previously. From here we cycle along the high road around to the Cuber Dam and than on down the pass into Soller.
Sa Calobra is a 10km long ascent with 26 hairpin turns and climbs 668 meters at an average 7.1% gradient.
The many hairpins of the road up from Sa Calobra
Approaching Col de Reis
Airnimals At Port Soller waiting to go to Sa Calobra
The boat leaving Sa Calobra
Jim and Airnimal at Sa Calobra
Cycle Shoes come off to walk up the Gangplank, Sa Calobra
Lighthouses at Port Soller seen from the boat on the way to Sa Calobra
On the Way up Sa Calora
not at home 
that looks like a fun climb. that one 360-degree-plus turn sounds interesting
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