Birmingham to Reus to Montroig – starting over

The guest house near Birmingham airport, Gables bed & breakfast, was grim. The pits. The glass in the bathroom was filthy and streaked with dried blood. Avoid. I set off walking from there at 5.30 this morning to the airport. Invigorating in the cool morning. The previous night’s curry lay in an unfriendly manner on my stomach, working its fiery way down my old alimentary canal. No it’s not in Venice. Flight on time, landed early and I walked out of Reus Airport at 11am. Today and tomorrow’s routes are here. Anybody spotted the fab 4 references yet? Oh God. Sounded like Rolf Harris.

Today was a road walk of about 12 miles from Reus Airport to a hostel in Montroig. The black marked route is the GR7 part of tomorrow’s walk. Reus is lacking character but there are a few corners in the centre that are attractive.

The Catalan flag is 4 red stripes on a gold background. Same down in the Valencian region where me and Maggie hang around in the Bavs’ place in Calpe and the Terralta in Beni. It is the flag of the King of Aragon; historical stuff. The Catalan Marxist separatists added a Cuban-style blue triangle with a white star. Now it’s seen everywhere and displayed by all separatists, irrespective of political persuasion. Why do they want to pull out of a substantial country? Potty – like Krankie in Killecrankie. Would Barcelona play in a Catalan league? Would they duck.

The next town was Riudoms, associated with Gaudi, that designer bloke. The Gaudi ‘Hand of God’ is substantially better than Maradonna’s.

Stopped for proper patatas bravas and grilled meat in Montbrio del Camp, and took the leftovers in a bag for my dinner. Montbrio was unremarkable but ok.

Montroig is ok, the hostel was ok and I got an early night. A lot of oks floating about so far! Before I went to bed the sky clouded and at night it looked great.

Tomorrow another road walk from Montroig to Colldejou, to meet up with the GR7 footpath. Then following it southwards over the mountains to a town called Tivissa. I was going to camp but the Hotel Braseria Tivissa reduced its room rate to £27 so that’ll do me. It’s a nice gaff by the looks of it and I’m walking over 20 miles and climbing over several mountain ridges so I’ll need it.

Night night.