The wall-to-wall sunshine forecast changed to completely overcast this morning and the pressure charts showed fairly close together isobars, so we abandoned any thoughts of flying and dusted down our cross country skis. Literally. We’ve worked out that the last time we used them was 5 years ago. We were a bit disorganised leaving the house and as we were driving through Olot I remembered that I had forgotten to take my gloves. I have bad circulation in my hands and my fingers usually get really cold, but since we needed diesel, I raided the plastic glove dispenser at the petrol station. Two pairs on each hand and I was toasty – no wind chill and when the sun came out they were like little greenhouses. I’ve kept them for future use.

We got to Croscat and the snow hadn’t melted in the slightest, so we skied round the volcano view point and then headed down to ski towards La Fageda. It took us a while to figure out the bindings again. Geoff had trouble getting his skis on and I was laughing at him until it came to taking my skis off, which I failed to do miserably. Having giggled at him, Geoff was not inclined to help!

As we walked a short way down the road to get onto the track, we could hear this weird flapping noise and on closer examination realised that the plastic sole on Geoff’s boots has degraded and come off nearly entirely. While XC skiing, you lift your foot up anyway, so it was still possible to ski, and we trudged on. By the time we were half way back the other sole had gone too and Geoff was making flip-flop noises with each step. Very amusing.

It was weird being on cross country skis again, after five years of downhill skiing. I can see why we felt really insecure then, with the speed and getting the sensation that the skis are running away with you. I had exactly the same sensation today, but for the opposite reason. I felt really insecure because the skis wouldn’t turn. Still, once we got going and I got back into the swing of it, I really enjoyed it.

Far from it being cloudy and windy, it was sunny with just a gentle breeze and we checked the conditions at Santa Brigida, but Joan told us it was N, so we went to Xenacs instead. Nice little walk, picnic and great views.

See photos of today.

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