Thorn Sherpa with Rohloff

[rualexander]

Ordered the CSS Andra and Kool Stop pads today.
Hopefully get the wheel built up next week.

[rualexander]

Had a great three weeks in the south of France (Pyrenees Catalanes), https://www.flickr.com/photos/rualexander/sets/72157648835560011/show/with/15378064689/

[triaesthete]

 France is so very belle. Thanks for sharing.
How do you find the CSS rims btw?

Ian

[rualexander]

CSS rim seems good so far, no significant squealing noise with the Koolstop pads, haven't been able to assess them in wet weather yet as there wasn't any rain (apart from one day when we weren't cycling anyway).

[John Saxby]

Brilliant fotos from your trip, Rual -- made me want to revisit the Pyrenees.  Those climbs looked demanding, for sure, but the hill villages and the views offer serious compensation.  The French side seems more settled & cultivated than the Spanish, and as one would expect, more forested on the northern slopes.  Liked the deux chevaux and the sleepy cats!

[Andre Jute]

Had a great three weeks in the south of France (Pyrenees Catalanes), https://www.flickr.com/photos/rualexander/sets/72157648835560011/show/with/15378064689/

Fascinating slide show, Rual. Thank you so much for sharing.

603m elevation! That's a mini-Alp already!

[Audax hopeful]

The pictures are great! I feel like packing my bags and heading of now!!

Three weeks and no rain to speak of, roads apparently without any traffic, even pedestrians few and far between, simply stunning scenery and the most attractive villages ever! Perfect!!

Nich (jealous, me?? Just a bit!)

[rualexander]

Nothing much new to report on the Sherpa itself, but we had a good week on the Isle of mull again at the end of May, photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/rualexander/sets/72157654226783229/show
Five nights wild camping, fantastic.
Weather a bit mixed this time.

[John Saxby]

Great photos as always, Rual, of some splendid land-, sea-, & sky-scapes. We spent a little time on Mull in 2008, but not nearly enough, nor on the backroads and tracks you followed. Especially liked the colour of the gorse against the rocks, and the rainbow nicely aligned with the silhouette of the mountainside.  My cherished stereotypes were relieved to see that it's not always sunny in Scotland.

[Andre Jute]

Lovely photos, Rual, of such beautiful countryside. I always find the misty mysteries of hills more meaningful than bright, flattening sunshine.

[in4]

What a great set of Mull photos. Coincidentally I was musing over a flat for sale in Tobermory. http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/37163287?search_identifier=fa28445743135b7ef10d151e7aa8d172#azqqPessIIS3idhi.97

Needs a lot of work but for proximity to the joys of Mull well,  hmmm, I wonder. On a slightly different note: I noticed that you both were well wrapped up for your Mull tour. Did you choose a particular pair of trousers to use? I use a Paramo Quioto top but am thinking of the matching trousers to wear over my padded shorts if the wind is a bit nippy in the trossachs!

[Andre Jute]

...if the wind is a bit nippy in the trossachs!

Heh-heh!

[rualexander]

What a great set of Mull photos. Coincidentally I was musing over a flat for sale in Tobermory. http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/37163287?search_identifier=fa28445743135b7ef10d151e7aa8d172#azqqPessIIS3idhi.97

Needs a lot of work but for proximity to the joys of Mull well,  hmmm, I wonder. On a slightly different note: I noticed that you both were well wrapped up for your Mull tour. Did you choose a particular pair of trousers to use? I use a Paramo Quioto top but am thinking of the matching trousers to wear over my padded shorts if the wind is a bit nippy in the trossachs!

We were still wearing our winter cycling longs, in the last week in May.
Mine are Ground Effect 'Daddy Long Legs' an earlier version of http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/products/daddy-long-legs-merino-cycling-tights?variant=1615101635
 

[Slammin Sammy]

Great photos Rual! I think I spotted one car on the road. I hope that's all you saw in a week! 

These photos really made me want to go and experience the place, and your camps look very snug. What tent are you using? It looks a strong one.

The place looks pretty devoid of trees, so I was glad to see the Honey Stove get a workout! Did you have trouble finding firewood? There's nothing like a wood fire to warm up a cold camp.

Thanks for sharing.

[rualexander]

There were a lot more cars on the roads than the last few times I've been to Mull, last week of May is an english school holiday week unfortunately, previous trips have been in september and march which are much quieter.
The tent is a Hilleberg Stalon, unfortunately no longer in their model line up as its a great tent and I'd have liked to replace it with the same when it eventually wears out, it's 18 years old now and had a new groundsheet, elastics and zip sliders eight years ago.
We only managed to get the Honey Stove (extended Hive version) fired up on one night due to the weather, some rain but very windy most nights so not nice enough for sitting out. Finding wood wasn't a problem, just had to grab it when I saw some and carry it under the flap of my saddlebag.