GR221 Fuel and Camping part 1

Hi there,

   I asked a few questions before I left so thought I would report back on the trip.

I took two stoves not sure which fuel I would find.  My flight was late and just made it to the Intersport near to El Corto Ingles at 20.15, 15 minutes before they closed.  Not sure what I would have done if I'd missed that - a taxi to Decathalon!  Intersport/El Corto Ingles is the stop before the Placa Espanya (Intermodal) called Alexandre Rossello.

The three Alpina maps were going to cost £30+ so I used the Discovery Map at £5.99 which covered most of the route and was fine. The new edition (5th) has the GR221 marked and has been extended westwards.

I used the Cicerone guide and it was easy to follow.  In fact the whole route was well marked and very easy to follow.  The only place I lost the trail was descending to St Elm - I knew where I was going but there were trails everywhere and they all seemed to be going the right way!  I found there was very little reference to water sources in the guide - my only gripe!

There were so many great camping spots along the way it was hard to choose.  There were hardly any spots with water.  There was very little water along the route and many of the 'fonts' were dry.  I managed by filling up in villages and carrying 4L to camp above the village.

The refuge in Pollenca is temporarily closed for repairs.  Hotels in Pollenca are a bit costly but Port de Pollenca has cheap accomodation and is a short bus ride away.  The express bus to Palma only takes 30 mins.

David

I bought gas from Es Refugi, a walking and climbing equipment shop, a 5 minutes walk from the main bus and train terminus in Palma.  Its on Via Sindicat.  (You can pick up a free street map for it at the Tourist Information office at same Plaz de Espanya) I didn't ask if they did maps because I had picked mine up from a wide choice at Casa Del Mapa on Sant Domingo about another five minutes from there.

I also had an offline map of Mallorca on an iPad that said there was a campsite just off the GR221 at es Pixarells north of Lluc.  I had walked through it before I had noticed it on the app map and did think it looked a bit like a campsite marked out in little pitches.  If it is then it also  appears to be unmanned (April).  But I didn't bother to check it further because I was at the refuge and walking out to Pollenca the following day.