Waking Up with Purpose
Alright, so the sun wasn’t even properly up when I dragged myself out of bed. Had this itch to get out of the city noise, you know? Barcelona’s great, but man, sometimes you need trees, not traffic. Grabbed my dusty backpack – seriously, last time I used it was probably last summer – and just threw stuff in. Water bottle? Check. Some random energy bars? Hopefully not expired. My old sneakers? Definitely needed a wash, but eh, good enough. Didn’t even make proper coffee, just slammed down some cold juice and got moving.
Finding the Way Out (Sort Of)
Figured catching a local train was the smart move. Barcelona Sants station felt like an ant nest, buzzing with people even early. Found the regional line boards – took a minute to actually understand them, ngl. Hopped on a train heading kinda north-ish, aiming for somewhere green. Honestly? Wasn’t 100% sure where I’d get off. Saw rolling hills out the window around Manresa area, thought “Yeah, that looks promising,” and just got out. Felt good stepping onto a quiet platform, smelling actual dirt and grass instead of car fumes.
First Adventure: Shaky Wheels & Dodgy Signs
Spotted a place renting bikes near the station. Paid for the cheapest thing they had – looked sturdy enough. Boy, was I wrong about comfy. Felt every single bump on that trail! Tried following some hiking and biking signs pointing towards the hills. They started friendly, then got kinda… sparse. Ended up on a dirt path that felt more like a goat track than a proper trail. Highlights?
- Nearly eating dirt going down a rocky slope. Brakes squealed like a dying pig.
- Stopping constantly just to breathe and stare at the view. Totally worth the shaky legs.
- Discovering a tiny, ancient-looking stone chapel hidden behind some trees. No idea who built it or when. Just… there.
Got properly lost once the path split three ways with zero signs. Pulled out my phone – miracle! Had signal. Maps app saved my bacon, pointing back towards civilisation. Pushed that rusty bike uphill, grumbling, sweating buckets. My butt was killing me already.
Fueling Up Village-Style
Stumbled into this tiny village – looked straight outta a storybook. Found a little cafe-bar thing with tables outside, filled with old dudes chatting loudly. Ordered a bocata de fuet (dried sausage sandwich) and a massive cold Coke. Simple, perfect. Sat there for ages, just soaking in the village vibe, watching nothing much happen. Owner asked where I’d cycled from and chuckled at my adventure.
Afternoon Stumble & Hidden Gems
Parked the death-trap bike back at the rental and decided legs were better for exploring now. Wandered down a lane near the river. Saw kids splashing in shallow spots. Found an unexpected path through an olive grove. Trees looked ancient, roots all twisty. Ended up by a calm part of the riverbank. Just took off my shoes, stuck my feet in the cool water – bliss after all that walking and biking! Saw some locals carrying picnic baskets further down. Made a mental note: Next time, bring snacks and drinks for a proper water-side chill.
Heading Back, Heavy Legs & Light Heart
Caught the train back to Barcelona as the sun started dipping low. Legs felt like jelly, shoes covered in dust, probably had a weird farmer’s tan happening. Stared out the train window at the countryside flashing past. No grand achievements today, no epic challenges conquered. Just bikes, fresh air, getting lost, simple food, cold water on tired feet. Felt genuinely good. Tired in that satisfying way where you know you moved your body and saw cool stuff. Barcelona city lights appeared again – different energy buzzing now. Can’t wait to find another random countryside spot next weekend. Maybe pack more snacks though.
