Mountains, Water, Gravel Roads and Old Walls

The Pyrenees, Biarritz, Picos de Europa and Carcassonne

Another journey. More kilometres. And a few new scratches on the case.

This time the route was: the Pyrenees, then the Atlantic and Biarritz, followed by Picos de Europa, with a small historical stop in Carcassonne on the way back.

It was a trip built around a mix of everything I enjoy most: mountains, water, gravel roads, good hotels, nature, history, and simply being on the road again.

After a few days spent in the dust of mountain roads, we planned a short break by the Atlantic. From there, we headed towards another mountain range for some hiking, before finishing the trip with a touch of remarkable medieval history.

Let’s start with...

The Pyrenees - away from the main roads

Through the Pyrenees, we followed the Adventure Country Tracks route more or less loosely. The idea wasn’t to recreate it point by point. ACT was more of a framework for the journey and a good excuse to leave the tarmac behind.

Gravel roads, high mountain passes, valleys, small towns and places you probably wouldn’t reach by accident.

It’s in places like these that I’m reminded why I enjoy travelling so much - whether by motorcycle or 4x4. Not because it’s the fastest or most comfortable way to get around. Quite the opposite. You simply feel closer to the place you’re travelling through.

One of the recurring themes of this trip was the vultures. They appeared above us regularly - high over the Pyrenean slopes, sometimes alone, sometimes circling in groups. Occasionally even sitting on a roadside barrier.

A few days later, we came across them again in Picos de Europa. In a way, they became a constant part of the scenery throughout the trip.

Biarritz - a change of pace

After the mountains, it was time for water.

Biarritz was a short intermission: a chance to rest by the Atlantic, enjoy some good food and try surfing. After a few days of dust, bends, mountain roads and wild camping, that change of pace was exactly what we needed.

I like that contrast in travel. One day gravel tracks and a high-altitude camp, the next a hotel, the ocean and a slightly more civilised pace. Not every adventure has to be a survival expedition.

It was also our first time ever trying surfing - and we happened to do it in a place widely regarded as one of Europe’s surfing capitals.

Picos de Europa

From there, we continued towards Picos de Europa.

It’s a relatively compact mountain range, especially after crossing the Pyrenees. But size is definitely not what matters here. The Picos are steep, dramatic and incredibly scenic. Deep valleys, sheer rock walls and winding roads mean the landscape can change almost around every corner.

One of the places that best shows the scale of these mountains is Ruta del Cares. The trail is carved high into the rock walls, running through the gorge with the river far below.

It’s a completely different way to experience the mountains than from the seat of a pickup - slower and more time-consuming, but absolutely worth getting out from the car.

Walking it one way takes a good four to five hours. By car, getting to the other side means driving roughly 150 km around the mountains.

Another highlight was Fuente Dé and its impressive cable car, which takes you from the green valley floor high into the rocky landscape of the Picos in just a few minutes. The ride itself is impressive, but it’s only once you reach the top that you really understand how abruptly these mountains rise from the valleys below. 

And again - vultures.

Circling high above the rocks, they looked like a natural part of the landscape. The same image that had followed us through the Pyrenees appeared again, several hundred kilometres later.

A small detail, but these are often the things you remember best from a journey. And hearing them somewhere in the distance, surrounded by complete silence... it can feel a little unsettling.

Especially when you happen to have a good camera with a telephoto lens and manage to climb high enough to find yourself above them.

Carcassonne - a few hours in another era

On the way back, we stopped for one night in Carcassonne.

After spending so many days mostly surrounded by nature, walking along the medieval walls was a fitting end to the trip.

I like places like this along the way. You don’t always need to plan an entire journey around a single landmark. Sometimes it’s enough to stop for the night, leave the pickup behind and simply wander for a few hours without much of a plan.

Mountains, ocean, gravel roads and centuries-old walls can easily fit into one journey. If you have enough time...

The watches in the background

Naturally, Nadir watches came with us. But this wasn’t a trip “for the watch”, nor a photo shoot stretched over several thousand kilometres.

The watch was exactly where I think it should be - on the wrist, as part of the everyday gear. Dust, water, sun, sweat, changing temperatures. A few more scratches on the case. 

And by the end of the trip, that characteristic white mark on a tanned wrist after taking the watch off.

Every watch nerd knows it well. 

Of course, you can try to keep a watch in perfect condition. I think I’m starting to appreciate those small signs of use more and more.

And perhaps that is why mechanical watches fit travelling so well for me. They are a little old-fashioned, and completely unnecessary in a world of phones, GPS and electronics.

And yet I still take them with me. I really appreciate I can combine a family vacation with creating content for the Instagram or this website. It comes naturaly.

Another journey. More places. More scratches. And I’m already thinking about where to go next.