Today was the day we headed into the mountains. Not hit the really high mountain passes, but we have reached our first ‘named’ coll, the Coll de Capsacosta. We left Olot later than usual - this was the first occasion where we had a ‘hotel’ breakfast, which only opened at 0800. We had already had a reasonable amount of fruit in our room, in case the supplied offerings were disappointing. Actually, while not exactly what I would have by choice, it was a substantial spread that turned up, with lots of cereal (3 different sorts), apple, apricot, coffee, juice, cakes/biscuits/danishes and yoghurt, so thumbs up from me! A short distance but with some climbing today. Once out of Olot (which was surprisingly easy and quick) we were into the Valle de Bianya, with dairy and maize production, and as we got higher, into forests. The main road to Camprodon out of Olot goes through a series of tunnels where bikes are not allowed. Thus we went on the C-153a, which must have been the original road. This was a blessing, as it was very lightly trafficked today, and the views superb. Only one town of note on the climb up is San Salvador, with an old church and a few houses. The bypass road is incredibly twisty, but is used by cyclists a lot, judging by the ones we saw shooting up or down the road. As explained to us by a man riding from Banyoles the other day, many professional teams are based in Girona, and use this area for training. Certainly some of the riders we have seen are very fit and tough looking, and so fast up these hills! I did see a tribute to one cyclist on the side of the C153a today. On the way up we crossed an old roman road that linked Olot and Camprodon - this road did not muck about, heading directly up the hill. Some sections of this road are still visible, as well as some foundations of what are claimed to be hostels or stables. This Via Annia was an offshoot of the Via Augusta. From Figueres, it made its way up through the mountainous regions. After crossing the plain of Bianya, it carried on up to Capsacosta and continued on to the Coll de Ares. We made it to Camprodon at about 1300, and had lunch before check in at 1400. After a clean up and doing the washing, it was time to look over this pretty town. Lots of impressive buildings, and also very upmarket houses, possibly holiday homes for the people who come to this region for the skiing or hunting. At the end of the Spanish Civil War, the republican government retreated to France through this town, with the wounded and refugees preceding them. Directly after the end of the fighting a massive flood in 1940 washed away some of the riverbank - the repairs were carried out using abandoned hospital beds from the retreating forces! One of the icons of the town is the medieval bridge over the junction of 2 rivers: But there are many beautiful sights here.