Using only non-motorised transport, Antonio de la Rosa set out from La Mola at midday on Thursday to tackle the challenge of "four islands and four peaks in two days"; the objective being to cross each of the four Balearic islands by bicycle, including the highest point on each, and travel between islands by canoe, all in 48 hours.
In temperatures of around 25 degrees centigrade, De la Rosa pedalled from La Mola to the summit of Monte Toro (346 metres above sea level), arriving at 1330 hrs., an ascent he described as "very hard", before heading to Es Mercadal to rejoin the main road. At 1500 hrs. the sportsman from Valladolid reached Cala Santandria where his Polynesian-style canoe was waiting for the crossing to Mallorca. After a quick lunch De la Rosa set out to paddle to Cala Ratjada, the favourable sea conditions enabling him to average 4 knots on the 25 mile journey and arrive at the Mallorcan port in a little over six hours.
Taking to his bicycle once again, the adventurer set out to cross Mallorca via the island's highest point, the Spanish Air Force base at Puig Major in the Sierra de Tramuntana (1,432 metres high), to the port of Andratx, pausing for a 40-minute nap on the way. A slight navigational problem between Sóller and Andratx cost De La Rosa almost two hours but at 1100 hrs. on Friday he set out in the Sipre kayak on the 50 mile crossing to Cala Sant Vicenç in Ibiza, a journey involving 14 hours of constant paddling and including a much-needed 30-minute siesta.
A logistical problem with the support team delayed his departure for the beach at Ses Salines (via the 479 metre Sa Talaia) by a little over an hour, but at 1000 hrs. he was ready for the final row of his journey, to Formentera. Although this was the shortest sea voyage, it was also the most hazardous due to the amount of shipping and his kayak was overturned twice en route. Despite this he reached Formentera safely at noon for the last stage of his journey, by bicycle to La Mola, 192 metres above sea level, where he arrived at around 1400 hrs., 50 hours after setting out from Menorca and two hours later than the expected time of arrival.
During his journey, the 40-year old sportsman covered 200 kilometres on land by bicycle and more than 150 kilometres at sea in his kayak.