Today will still be memorable but not for the usual
reasons. We joined the 60 km tour
along with Warren, Marci, Nola, recent Toodler graduate Sam. It was Warren’s
birthday today so sister Nola stepped down a group to spend the day with him.
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Nola and Marci Before the Ride. |
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The Birthday Boy was Unimpressed with Paulo's leading of Happy Birthday! |
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These Italian Ladies Could Have Cared Less About Us. |
Everything started out normal except that the group
had grown to 32. 32 is a bit unwieldy
and it lends itself for longer waits at the top of the long hills for everyone
to catch up. On the other hand it
is kinda cool to be part of a whooshing line of cycles as it winds itself through the curves. On the
flats today we hit 33 to 35 km.
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The Line Snaked Away into the Horizon. |
The disappointing part of today was that we were
unable to reach our destination.
After days of clear blue skies we were faced with clouds and
showers. The temperature was still
26 but our leader Paulo had to keep scanning the skies and changing our route
hoping to avoid the showers that were in the area. Unfortunately we were unable to avoid them. The showers either moved to us or we
climbed a hill and the change in temperature resulted in rain. The rain was not the problem. The wet roads were. Negotiating curves on a slippery surface
is a little too exciting when you are riding a bike frame on two pizza cutters for wheels. Riding was a little more
tense today than fun.
To make matters worse we had a new “sweep” Claudio
responsible for the end of the group.
With that many numbers the leader could not simply look back and see
that everyone was there. Claudio usually
pulls bike wrenches but today he got to fill in as a tour leader and designate
Sweep. Unfortunately, Deborah
(riding the slower hybrid) was at the end of the group on the days longest
hill. Unable to get any momentum
before the hill she dropped back.
Claudio passed her and continued on the hill. She soon lost sight of the line and got lost. No phone, no money, no language … much
worry. It was a long climb and as
we waited, we realized we were a group of 31. Paulo gave Claudio a reaming out and sent him back to find
her. After a wait, they crested
the hill and I would like to say that all was well but in reality it was all Deborah
could do not to kill the little Italian stallion.
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Paulo on the Phone Trying to Find Claudio - Disappeared Again. |
We stopped for cappuccinos again to wait out the weather but there was no real improvement. The trip was abandoned. We cruised home as fast as we could and
arrived back at the Belvedere in time for yet another meal.
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There is Always time for Another Coffee. |
Warren’s birthday celebrations will carry us to and
into the evening.
Not sure we will ride tomorrow. San Marino is on the menu but the
choices are ride 60 km with the last 10 strait up or take the bus from the
hotel. Depending on the number of
drinks consumed tonight, I think we will ride the bus and not the bike.
