It was her ambition to see the Almond Blossom in Majorca that prompted Mavis to organize this trip. Twelve members of the Wantage Section, Oxfordshire C.T.C. and I arrived at Heathrow Airport fairly bright and very early on Sunday 30^th March, all fortunately having remembered to put our clocks forward an hour. We had an uneventful journey to Palma, arriving on time to a dull rainy day. We were met by a gentleman from Derbyshire who was running a ‘Cycling in Majorca’ business and for £30 return per head he and his crew transported us, our bicycles and our luggage the 40 miles to Puerto de Pollensa near the North East tip of the Island. There was a short delay on the way where a lorry had overturned and blocked the road, reminding us that the surface can be slippery when wet!

The Hotel Uyal was a good choice, clean, spacious and overlooking the sea. Having reassembled our bikes we settled down to a beer and dinner. The catering arrangements were ideal. There was a buffet system for breakfast and dinner and we were able to help ourselves to a four-course meal or a combination of courses morning and evening. No wonder so many cyclists staying there. The garage where we stored the bikes was full of beautiful racing-machines, as Majorca is a popular location for road racers to go for pre season training.  

Monday dawned warm and sunny and we cycled out of Pollensa in an upwardly and northeasterly direction to Cap.de Formentor which proved to be very beautiful, with spectacular views of the Med., looking clear and calm and a combination of greens and blues and mauves. Although we only did 26 miles it was quite a hard ride including about three climbs. Mavis, who was recovering from an accident and had not been on a bike for a couple of months, managed very well. Alan, who was recovering from a virus infection, wisely chose not to go to the top but enjoy the views from the vantage points lower down with Eve for company. Pat and Steve B managed to upset a Seat driver by overtaking him on the way down. 

On the second day, with Kevin leading the way, we headed south through the plain of Sa Pobla and through orange and lemon groves, The olive trees and fig trees were coming into leaf but unfortunately the Almond trees had bloomed in February. In the first years of the last century wind driven water pumps were introduced into this area creating a fertile plain, and although most of them are no longer functioning, they remain a distinctive part of the landscape.

On Wednesday Steve S. led us in a south-easterly direction towards the cost and Capdepera. The plan was to take in some sites on the way and for the transport to collect us in the evening. We arrived very quickly at a water meadow and wild bird sanctuary which was unfortunately closed, so we took a ‘short cut’ back to our route which involved a bit of cyclo-cross, negotiating locked gates and angry Spanish dogs. This slowed us down a bit and coupled with the fact that my pedal fell off and did not want to be screw back on again, meant we reached the coffee stop at lunch time. Three of the party turned back at this point. For the rest, the ride was uneventful and very pleasant, passing through near deserted lanes lined with hedgerows until we eventually swooped down hill into Arta, just as it started to rain, 14 kilometers from our destination. As we were running out of time and light we decided not to go any further. The town was experiencing a power cut, the cafes were closed, and the transport did not know where Arta was. So we sat under some awning in the rain and after about an hour and a few phone calls were picked up and taken back to the Hotel.

There was an electrical storm that night and Thursday dawned with gale force winds blowing along the sea front, lifting the sand from the beach, where the authorities had carefully placed it, and deposited it into the street and along the pavement. It was reminiscent of sandstorms in Iraq recently seen on the Tele. We all decided to take a day off the bikes. Instead we wandered through the town of Port Pollenca, along the Marina, where a couple of yachts were quietly sinking, and into a very posh Hotel for coffee where Steve & Jane had stayed on a previous visit. We then walked back, against the wind, to a bar to see the start of the second stage of the tour of Mallorca for the elite, under 23 cyclists. The wind was so strong the first loop of the stage was cancelled and the start delayed until the afternoon. We left the bar and went to lunch in an Italian Restaurant where we ate and supped wine in true Wantage CTC style. The only thing missing was Laurent’s company. Some interrupted the meal to see the start of the race and eventually we went back to the bar to see the riders come home before going back to the hotel for supper.

The gale on Friday morning was still blowing along the sea front, but Pat (off me ‘ed) Hurt appeared at breakfast dressed for the bike and set off to do the ride he had planned for yesterday. Kevin, Jon & Amanda encouraged by this show of bravery, followed suit. The rest of us walked the three-four miles into the old town of Pollenca well worth a visit. The wind settled down as the day progressed, especially further in land which encouraged a few more frustrated cyclists to go for a twelve-mile spin to the Capanet Caves.

Saturday, the last full day of the holiday, and we all ventured out. We headed south west, and into the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. After a five-mile climb we had lunch at the Monestir de Lluc. Steve S & Steve B chose to go further and take the beautiful but tortuous rout down to the coast which Pat had taken the day before. The rest followed the pleasant road back down to Port Pollencia. Unfortunately Pat who was sweeping, came off his bike while the rest of us sailed gaily on down the hill. The mobile phone system served to stop us in our tracks and return to find Pat a bit shaken and grazed, but fortunately not seriously hurt.

 Some of the party decided to party on the last evening and went to a local bar where they were the only ones partying until about one a clock in the morning, most of the locals having benefited from a siesta, ventured out later on. Never mind we were not going to cycle on Sunday, as it was time to return home.

Thanks to Mavis for having the idea and seeing it through and inviting me to join the group.

Helen Beane, City Section  C.T.C.