Years ago when I was doing Ironman races, Gilles and I would go to various training camps organized by our Canadian coaches.
In 2007, the annual spring training camp was in Majorca.
So what does it look like when a group of cyclists head off to a training camp? It’s a lot of luggage and careful logistics.
Majorca was a beautiful destination with breathtaking scenery, great cycling weather, and some very challenging riding.
However, in spite of the gorgeous surroundings, it wasn’t our most successful or enjoyable tour.
We had issues with the local guides who managed our riding routes, and a number of serious crashes put a dark cloud over the group.
It was the first time we had to leave someone behind when we eventually returned home. One rider was still in hospital and would be several more days waiting for a medical flight back home. Thankfully he subsequently made a full recovery.
As a result, my memories of Majorca aren’t the fondest, but I cannot deny the beauty of this lovely island.
All photos were taken by my husband, Gilles.
My Life Lived Full 
Great work
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Gorgeous!!
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I love how you oh-so-casually say “when I was doing Ironman races”. 😀 And then a training camp in Majorca?! Your life is amazing!
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Sue said the same thing yesterday. Sorry – I didn’t mean it to sound pretentious
… it’s just how else do I explain why we are at training camps in Europe?!!
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Oh, it didn’t sound pretentious. I’m just sitting here with my mouth open. What an amazing thing to be able to say. Go, you! 🙂
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Oh good – I was afraid that was the underlying message!
Yeah – don’t be amazed. I was and still am a horrible athlete. The only thing I have going for me is tenacity!
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Nope, still amazed. 🙂
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Then I accept with a smile 🙂
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You amaze me with everything you do – and CAN do, You are a champion!
Whew, what an experience for you and your co-bikers, but at the least, it was in an area of incredible beauty.
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Wow – I think you just made my day! I’ll tell you, most days I sure don’t feel like a champion, but today I’ll have a smile 🙂
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Great photos, especially of the cyclists going through the rock tunnel….a tough place to cycle I would have thought.
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Yes, I remember it being beautiful and scary at the same time 🙂
Sometimes I would just have to get off my bike and look around.
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Joanne! I have been to Mallorca which I am sure is the same place, an island in the Mediterranean. Your husband’s photos are beautiful. The cyclist going through the narrow passage in the cliff-like rock “tunnel” was amazing!
As a high school senior I went with my Mom’s (she taught at another H.S.) Spanish Club which joined my H.S. club. We stayed in student dormitories for some of our time in Madrid and Valencia. This kept our meal costs down since we ate our breakfast and lunches there. We stayed in student’s rooms while they were on Spring Break. Each room had 2 twin beds with a set of sheets and towels. They must trust American students, since while we didn’t take anything, we certainly peeked into closets and drawers! They put out bottled orange juice and milk with breakfast and Coca Cola and wine for lunch. The parent’s signed permission to drink while in Spain. Yay!
I was sorry to hear of a fellow cyclist’s critical accident. 😦 I really wish you had better experiences to provide wonderful memories, Joanne.
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Wow – that trip must have left a real impression on you – wine on the lunch table 🙂
Yes, Majorca and Mallorca are the same place. I’m not sure of the origin of the different spelling though.
There are very few places that have left me with a sad memory, unfortunately this is one of them.
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I am not “liking” (when I press Like button) your bad trip but liking you and appreciating your interesting and diverse posts, Joanne. Have a great rest of the weekend. My Saturday was so busy I didn’t get here!
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Thank you, Robin. I hope this weekend is treating you well 🙂
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Wow, that’s a lot of luggage for a bike trip.
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I’ve been to Spain, but not Mallorca… although I bought a pearl from there while shopping in Madrid. That’s kind of like visiting the island, right?
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Well, you’re one up on me. I didn’t buy a single souvenir even though I LOVE jewelry and pearls are THE THING to buy in Majorca 🙂
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I’ve never hard of Majorca, so I actually had to look it up. It looks like it was a really beautiful area, though I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. I am very glad he made a full recovery. That coast line is gorgeous, though! What happened that made some of your crew get injured?
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Joanne the first thing I was struck with ‘Years ago when I was doing Ironman races’….Wow how many people can say that?! I am bowing down before you Superwoman!
Sorry to hear of the accidents of others in your group. Hopefully not long lasting effects.
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Every accident is really terrifying, but it is absolutely remarkable how the human body can repair itself and bounce back.
It is a bit of joke in the cycling community that after an accident, one of the first questions asked is ‘is the bike ok?’
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Haha yes I can believe that for sure Joanne. Glad to hear that that this was a good outcome!
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Those photographs are amazing; it helped to look at them and then to imagine bicycling on those roads. Whoa. Injuries aren’t that surprising, but sounds like other places are more careful with their routes. Thanks for sharing.
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Pretty. Probably a place I’ll never see, hot places aren’t high on my list. But that last photo, with the yellow cafe, well that’s a gorgeous shot! 🙂
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*Hot* isn’t my favourite either, but it seems to describe most places in summer
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True story. Any place with palm trees or cactus is never a good place for me!
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Never been to Majorca, but it looks stunning. A shame about your negative memories; I guess when you travel to so many places, some of the trips will not go as well as others. Hopefully, tomorrow’s destination is a happy one 🙂
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That’s exactly it. Some trips we’ve enjoyed more than others … but a small handful, like this one, just felt kind of sad.
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Such a shame about your friend – I’ve heard many wonderful things about the island. You’re right – there are a lot of Germans in that part of Spain! We stayed at a campingplatz in Blanca (just north of Barcelona and across from Majorca)
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As a Canadian, I tend to forget that the distances in Europe to travel from country to country is not the same as here.
I remember many years ago as a child being in awe of a Dutch uncle who vacationed each winter in the French Riviera … until I related the distances to Canada. Suddenly it didn’t sound so exotic anymore 🙂
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What gorgeous scenery! I’m so glad your teammate made a full recovery. I’ve seen some nasty cycling crashes and can only imagine the outcomes.
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Yes – I’ve had to live through a few nasty ones with my husband. Thankfully he’s always made a complete recovery, but I can’t help but wonder if “the next time” might be different.
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Oh no! Horror of horrors! Imagine going on vacation and ending up in the hospital! I smell a law suit!
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Canadians don’t tend to share American’s love of litigation. We don’t tend to do 🙂
Cycling is risky, we understand the risks
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Hmmm…I see. I don’t love litigation…but I like money!!
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hahaha!! Don’t we all?!! I’m soooo good at spending it 😉
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Sorry you had so much “rain” in Spain. Looks like a beautiful place to visit.
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It is a beautiful island – of that there is no doubt!!
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Wonderful shots. I’m especially fond of that last composition. It’s too bad you don’t have fonder memories of the trip.
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I really love that photo too 🙂
These little cliff-side towns are so wonderfully picturesque!
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Majorca… another place that your pictures make me want to visit!
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That’s the problem, isn’t it? You see and hear about other people’s adventures and want to add it to the to-do list someday. My list keeps growing – it never seems to get smaller!!
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I don’t think I would ever be up to the ride, but the scenery is gorgeous.
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We did both ride and drive it. Personally, I found the driving part much more relaxing 😉
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Wow. Gilles has quite an eye for a great photograph! Now adding this place to my bucket list!
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Yes – Gilles does have a great eye for composition. It’s too bad he hasn’t taken photos for years.
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How unfortunate to have been left with a negative experience when visiting this beautiful place. Perhaps a return trip some day just to enjoy the surroundings!
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Sadly I have no interest in returning. I have a been-there-done-that feeling about it
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I can understand that Joanne. Interestingly my colleague at work cycled in Majorca a couple of years ago & claimed it was one of the best & most beautiful cycling trips he had done. Just goes to show you, we can all experience completely different feelings when visiting a place!
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Exactly! It is a very popular place for cyclists so I’m not surprised to hear that the vast majority of people have a wonderful experience.
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I’ve been there too, with my ex. None of us got hospitalized, so I’ll call it a success.
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woohoo!
I laugh, but any trip that didn’t involve a crash and someone getting hurt was a success in my opinion 🙂
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I totally agree, but I’ve been on several trips that has involved the two and I still consider them to have been successful. 😄
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You’re a lot tougher than I am! 😉
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I used to be a wild one. 😜😜😜
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Used to be? 😉
I’m sure Little Max has slowed you down a bit, but I’m confident the instinct is still there 😉
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Hahaha, yes that’s very true Joanne. I’d say you nailed it! I do occasionally perform more or less hazardous stunts of dubious character when he’s not around.
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It looks like a beautiful place. Pity it was soured by unfortunate events.
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It is sad. It is a beautiful island and I can see why tourists from Europe are lured there, but I have no desire to return.
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I’m one of the very few, Swedish people who haven’t been to Majorca. When those cheap, charter flights started back in the 60s, Majorca was the first destination. They started to go back there, over and over again.
Both my brother and my niece were avid cyclists. My niece competed, on a national level, I think.
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We had heard that Majorca was a major tourist destination for Europeans. When we were there, it seemed EVERYONE was speaking German. We had to keep reminding ourselves we were in Spain, not Germany 😉
Cycling is considerably more popular in Europe than in North America … and they have the terrain to develop really strong competitive cyclists.
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Yes, I remember hearing about bars, where the bartender spoke broken Swedish, and diners that served meatballs and herring. They even made some really, funny movies about it 🙂
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Shame it wasn’t the happiest of trips. But wow, that is a lot of luggage.
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I don’t travel light – ever. Add a bike box and gear to the requirements and it gets a little crazy.
When I saw everyone else’s gear, I didn’t feel so badly 🙂
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Yup – and I never got used to lugging around a bike box.
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Looking back at all of your different cycling adventures made me wonder if Gilles was an avid cycler before you started the iron man goals or did you start out doing this together? The reason I ask is a friend of mine’s husband is an avid cycler and has been for many years, she is not but as an artist, she takes his away time as a time for doing art. I was just curious of the dynamic of cycling in general.
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Gilles was originally a runner. He took up swimming and cycling in order to do triathlons.
I wasn’t athletic in any way. I took up running, then cycling, much later. In my case, it was a matter of “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”.
It changed everything – our circle of friends, how we spent our leisure time, vacations, … everything.
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I understand completely. My first husband was an avid reader, I was not…in self defense I became one and was grateful for the introduction.
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Those of us who are lucky in life find a partner who makes us better 🙂
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Beautiful scenery and impressive athletic abilities. 🙂
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Thanks Judy 🙂
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Wow, you certainly got about with the cycling didn’t you! Not such a light packer as our other Canadian cycling
freakfanatic, the delightful SueS 😀LikeLiked by 1 person
omg, I don’t know how Sue does it! I don’t pack light even to do groceries
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😀
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Wow! Those pictures are beautiful! It’s too bad you had problems. It would be so much better if you could think back on that trip with fond memories!
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yes, I agree … but I guess they can’t all be winners. This was the first, but unfortunately not the last, camp we would have when there would be injuries from crashes.
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