tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78412225771852690922024-02-07T15:15:08.527-04:00Seleno's Vuelta a CataluñaEuropean Adventure 2010Shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02803637636818466139noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7841222577185269092.post-11624505482092607222010-08-02T14:02:00.012-03:002010-08-03T09:55:49.003-03:00VillafrancaWe're well into the third and final phase of our summer adventure. Having been to France and the Tour and ridden/beached in Girona, we've landed once again well on our feet in a place called Villafranca del Penedes...the French village. But I'm a little bit ahead of myself. On Saturday, we got a second car (PS to get this car, I got up, power walked to the bus station, caught the 9:30 bus to Costa Brava Airport, got in the short line-up at the Hertz desk, realized that I had left my driver's licence and passport back at the apartment...caught a cab back to Girona at 30 Euros, super-power walked back to the bus station, caught the 11:00 bus to airport, got in the L-O-N-G line-up at the Hertz desk, and rented a car :(<br /><br />Ok where was I? Right, we rented the car and drove first north out of Girona to Figueres home to the Dali Theatre Museum. This is a museum that Salvador Dali (the surrealist) designed and created himself in his home town to specifically showcase his work. Having been (twice) to the world's second largest collection of his work in St. Pete's, Florida, this was on our list (or maybe my list). Incredible, mind-blowing, insert your own superlative here! I guess to keep it short, here's the bullet list of what most amazed me:<br /><ul><li>Dali was a multi-media artist--not just a painter, he did sculpture, jewelry, holograms, stereoscopes, movies, writing...it goes on.</li><li>The volume of work. This guy must have been at it ALL the time to have produced so vast a collection...what was his day like? Did he ever sleep? or not produce art?...like ever!? Think about sourcing the material...did he have a staff to handle these types of issues or was it all on his own? His mind must have been able to be creating in the moment and dreaming up the next 4 pieces to come as he was creating.</li><li>For something specific: ok, he did these paintings on a normal, flat, two-dimensional canvas. He would lay these paintings flat and put a wine bottle that's painted with a mirror-like reflective treatment in front of the painting...the idea is to look at the image of the image of the painting that's reflected in the bottle...IMAGINE PAINTING ON FLAT CANVAS AND PUTTING IT DOWN SO THAT IT WOULD BE PROPERLY REFLECTED IN A ROUND BOTTLE...how do you even come up with the idea?</li><li>I said I would keep this short, right? Lastly, we got to see Dali's most famous painting, The Persistence of Memory...click <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Persistence_of_Memory">here </a>to see it.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80Pwbi8oAKoNK2P8TEENBDCVBtEroKNoQAXMCQQhcu_9c4DObIjefexgBbI7qj0TYWgFVkLZaIuKwA-C77Iv-67b92LitJIdZLOJRG7Mm8j1a7IF_lzupZtaT1VikkVGoNUsWpqsYNHw/s1600/DSCF2894.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80Pwbi8oAKoNK2P8TEENBDCVBtEroKNoQAXMCQQhcu_9c4DObIjefexgBbI7qj0TYWgFVkLZaIuKwA-C77Iv-67b92LitJIdZLOJRG7Mm8j1a7IF_lzupZtaT1VikkVGoNUsWpqsYNHw/s320/DSCF2894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501077712669690818" border="0" /></a>Huge!</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zpXkU9TRRMOvNfo-XM12qd4ojDY6LyixcUZpdzXCd_LI_B212ZuGrCndeBx2GjOe7JhyphenhyphencjVvzifUbA-dYXXfwCxK5fvDZQJELkspy_ZPslDmqgfuFX2JkSDMEA51aZhgfF1yo8_PVJY/s1600/DSCF2896.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zpXkU9TRRMOvNfo-XM12qd4ojDY6LyixcUZpdzXCd_LI_B212ZuGrCndeBx2GjOe7JhyphenhyphencjVvzifUbA-dYXXfwCxK5fvDZQJELkspy_ZPslDmqgfuFX2JkSDMEA51aZhgfF1yo8_PVJY/s320/DSCF2896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501086186518654562" border="0" /></a>The couch (part of a larger, multi-piece sculpture)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiy8icnvC-dYjjzeX__1EYsJVABogSUYt1ozBUpFeyLkRGpNqmyHQAis1OYMeFNjPt56ycFuy_wOyc63L6rrBMpDs0gosN1b3u0kRxjOQm-th8UW5nxP-Jr4cALUVSSF-8iHgLn5G-0s/s1600/DSCF2905.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiy8icnvC-dYjjzeX__1EYsJVABogSUYt1ozBUpFeyLkRGpNqmyHQAis1OYMeFNjPt56ycFuy_wOyc63L6rrBMpDs0gosN1b3u0kRxjOQm-th8UW5nxP-Jr4cALUVSSF-8iHgLn5G-0s/s320/DSCF2905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501086199950911106" border="0" /></a>A sculpture descending from the ceiling - the long tail is made of spoons (where would he have gotten all the spoons?)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHQpfPsA7d1accq4VWo3SDj6JCT63gMEzWAyjMWxFAdEWNbVYgeHpPnSZoFnee4Ms2gOI2SVwP43NBQ39p296fDoUGoik3pr4vb8YrXtpfVbzijxvVd3QxcKF2H2Dkfu6MG9otFdvPtM/s1600/DSCF2904.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHQpfPsA7d1accq4VWo3SDj6JCT63gMEzWAyjMWxFAdEWNbVYgeHpPnSZoFnee4Ms2gOI2SVwP43NBQ39p296fDoUGoik3pr4vb8YrXtpfVbzijxvVd3QxcKF2H2Dkfu6MG9otFdvPtM/s320/DSCF2904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501086192233588594" border="0" /></a>The persistence of memory<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbWu_N62Thy8LGFDQR7BIMlcKT1H_vR0krJZPDfOHn8X-9yj1dw-Lwy8T0gm6D_JvF1knV4DHanwBwgprNdCCVOUaunY2KB4TKUNuP1diDergpQnDqjwqfRHW0tyTqnvdzqxOMPTWARw/s1600/DSCF2906.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbWu_N62Thy8LGFDQR7BIMlcKT1H_vR0krJZPDfOHn8X-9yj1dw-Lwy8T0gm6D_JvF1knV4DHanwBwgprNdCCVOUaunY2KB4TKUNuP1diDergpQnDqjwqfRHW0tyTqnvdzqxOMPTWARw/s320/DSCF2906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501089017640712242" border="0" /></a>Crazy stuff!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNRnV6d34I8Xa_EIFhm2o3h-hgM-GtRPKfzxjZKRxVEd5an5M66Hr5yIXlUb6eGiFYJO4lyp5m6gNf5Pm-BNCTvE0NqPiabVXJK5Ev341WclD8mfhbr2EgCyYcp9L76s_uzU2RhdCteI/s1600/DSCF2908.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNRnV6d34I8Xa_EIFhm2o3h-hgM-GtRPKfzxjZKRxVEd5an5M66Hr5yIXlUb6eGiFYJO4lyp5m6gNf5Pm-BNCTvE0NqPiabVXJK5Ev341WclD8mfhbr2EgCyYcp9L76s_uzU2RhdCteI/s320/DSCF2908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501089025726180402" border="0" /></a>Dream come true...or too much wine?<br /></div><br />Put lightly, the rest of the day finished the way it started out. After the museum, we drove south to Villafranca and were sort of painted into the corner of staying at a "Hotel Basic" in an industrial park on the fringe of town. PS for dinner...MacDonald's...this is not exactly the dream evening in Spain, but it was a necessary means to a perfect end. I should say though that we had the incredible blind luck (some call it mojo) to show up in Villafranca during a Castell competition. Castells are human towers or pyramids. I caught one on video, but it's been a pain to get uploaded - sorry. Fromone of the castells, two of the three kids that went to the top fell (like a ton of bricks) from the top to the heads/shoulders of the base group...you want to have seen my reaction...visceral. Oh man, I couldn't believe what I had just saw.<br /><br />That 'end' (as in the means to an) was the County of Alt Penedes itself (Villafranca being the major town). There is only one way to sum up this area of Spain...'wine country' for on the outskirts of Villafranca lie the vineyards of the famous Torres Family Winery among others. Again, I'm ahead of myself.<br /><br />We strolled into a small (really small) town called Pacs del Penedes on Sunday morning looking for a place to call home base for a few days. We didn't find it, at least we didn't find it there. What we did find was a lady named Maria who made several calls around town on her mobile (cell phone) in hopes of finding us a place to stay. She also informed us that (mojoistically) we happened into this down on the first day of "Festa Major" and that in 'una houra' the square would be filled with costumed revelers, and the drac (a dragon sculpture from which they set off the loudest fireworks in the world). It was hard to believe that this all was going to happen in the very sleepy very quiet little square, but really, everyone was at Sunday masse, and sure enough, they poured out of the church and the fun, dance, music, and fireworks started as scheduled. Within 10 minutes of meeting Maria and her husband, we were on our second glass of Champagne.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvXwlwM3Srj5v06RDXt8KNtRmCGPB3Y1ATyM0ezbqbXZLwgxQBf6dujF89EmWUlCBz6Ysl27PCxThhy5Nh8UGU3x3Rwywf9UUUj52MwRpaHtBE54Dk8ouVW8aSBC78Lk0bTl9cZjvUhc/s1600/DSCF2919.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvXwlwM3Srj5v06RDXt8KNtRmCGPB3Y1ATyM0ezbqbXZLwgxQBf6dujF89EmWUlCBz6Ysl27PCxThhy5Nh8UGU3x3Rwywf9UUUj52MwRpaHtBE54Dk8ouVW8aSBC78Lk0bTl9cZjvUhc/s320/DSCF2919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501089031565135122" border="0" /></a>Our friends in the square in Pacs del Penedes<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVuobfo_N_Q2A2H_Ev3OWG5bKXw6pzaBuNIapJjQIuvRRwLu6kABzZdkmDZ_wPtOSkF73jbDtB-x2OJDij1_Jc95I3OdKP-_uBBPRHIPtMEH3o9JrQK90XhZJ2_jvqJwyjhsvFeI4oSk/s1600/DSCF2925.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVuobfo_N_Q2A2H_Ev3OWG5bKXw6pzaBuNIapJjQIuvRRwLu6kABzZdkmDZ_wPtOSkF73jbDtB-x2OJDij1_Jc95I3OdKP-_uBBPRHIPtMEH3o9JrQK90XhZJ2_jvqJwyjhsvFeI4oSk/s320/DSCF2925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501089039185464594" border="0" /></a>Kids dancing with cool costumes and even cooler masks<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsfoQZTkpLH3B9-VGqF4Y6xrBxiyvBASk65rjWsBIPOvUG1jcUJUcla4hvYx_u9aJEXnoZ1coPY6TLvCnJz9iuZlu43k952DiZoOuXsoMj4hHcKMThA5kI6gSfcfHuO3MxkRhlre9zU4/s1600/DSCF2929.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsfoQZTkpLH3B9-VGqF4Y6xrBxiyvBASk65rjWsBIPOvUG1jcUJUcla4hvYx_u9aJEXnoZ1coPY6TLvCnJz9iuZlu43k952DiZoOuXsoMj4hHcKMThA5kI6gSfcfHuO3MxkRhlre9zU4/s320/DSCF2929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501089043664091394" border="0" /></a>I beat one of the up and took the mask :)<br /></div><br />After enjoying the early afternoon in Pacs, we eventually scored BIG TIME with our B&B accommodation within walking distance to the Torres winery. It's called Cal Santi, and I can't even begin to tell you how perfect it is. Once settled, I built the bikes back up and we went on a short spin about the vineyards. The day was capped with a bottle of wine on the terrace.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVlUS3q2fOj0433lhPAPps1JJRcin-1G5umhNlJmNmkeH2l7YGixMYuhHhF4Hk1kqQsuF36cgd-JSIIXmN-GH5tu9Gk8v2K86E0uZqs2DUH6GFIakrXhFxzJvcbx8GixuwGpxKuSJOIc/s1600/DSCF2950.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVlUS3q2fOj0433lhPAPps1JJRcin-1G5umhNlJmNmkeH2l7YGixMYuhHhF4Hk1kqQsuF36cgd-JSIIXmN-GH5tu9Gk8v2K86E0uZqs2DUH6GFIakrXhFxzJvcbx8GixuwGpxKuSJOIc/s320/DSCF2950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501092673431833602" border="0" /></a>A ride around the vineyards<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyIw0hDmnR95KsmauDTpe_tcPMWKyMmO0zz-dfb9AwsN2UU9VrZdlrCHNbUjMDNrOkoixrnsyeVDgg1lOoPgkU05aZ46qMyf4c2EDe2D49_JCvJMjVU8llsL-XyywAisRRXeO_7mSnjw/s1600/DSCF2966.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyIw0hDmnR95KsmauDTpe_tcPMWKyMmO0zz-dfb9AwsN2UU9VrZdlrCHNbUjMDNrOkoixrnsyeVDgg1lOoPgkU05aZ46qMyf4c2EDe2D49_JCvJMjVU8llsL-XyywAisRRXeO_7mSnjw/s320/DSCF2966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501092685958440978" border="0" /></a>Great end to a great day<br /></div><br /><br />This morning it was up, breakfast of coffee, croissants, cheese, ham, and the cool Spanish tradition of rubbing a small tomato on a piece of toast and drizzling a little olive oil on top...killer! Once fueled up, we set off for a tour of the Torres winery. We first became interested in the Torres family when we attended a tasting seminar put on by a representative of the Torres family at the wine festival in Moncton. The seminar was inspiring, and well, here we are. We were toured through the entire process: first a video of the family history, then a tunnel where they attempt to give you a sense of the aromas (sense of the scents?) throughout the four seasons of wine making. Next we boarded a train and were paraded through the winery and estate were we came face to face with each set in the process, from harvest, to fermentation, oak aging in the cellars, bottling and corking. It finished with an eight-wine tasting which included Mas La Plana. We actually have been saving a bottle of Mas La Plana at home that we got at the seminar in Moncton. It was great to sneak a taste without having to cork our bottle and also to walk the vineyard that produced the grapes for that bottle of wine.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEVtJc0y-3SQvejFFnsKzZVUmSY3oTbolVb26W9pz3YhRkVG4zoqdcwWYRjrVow2G9eabn186Wj4sLsvcL6QFR17KIDL2URQ3ZsoXD7un72rydPXPIAc0OZpOS1TjgxUXjjPGvFWz9pI/s1600/DSCF2955.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEVtJc0y-3SQvejFFnsKzZVUmSY3oTbolVb26W9pz3YhRkVG4zoqdcwWYRjrVow2G9eabn186Wj4sLsvcL6QFR17KIDL2URQ3ZsoXD7un72rydPXPIAc0OZpOS1TjgxUXjjPGvFWz9pI/s320/DSCF2955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501092682065060722" border="0" /></a>What can I say, I just follow the signs around here :)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay9dJ_bJHYGDJ4Vx9_4lxIrY69-Ch0QkDMzHkYBcV8XCQWfI0Adka0SParXbY9yCz-MXksHXzD7dcDlhO1MsWXbmiDFepDxs-FFh2YBQrx7zLYovqKaoYkxteKZnBCVk1fRDBpMRM3TM/s1600/DSCF2972.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay9dJ_bJHYGDJ4Vx9_4lxIrY69-Ch0QkDMzHkYBcV8XCQWfI0Adka0SParXbY9yCz-MXksHXzD7dcDlhO1MsWXbmiDFepDxs-FFh2YBQrx7zLYovqKaoYkxteKZnBCVk1fRDBpMRM3TM/s320/DSCF2972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501092688776182850" border="0" /></a>Mas La Plana<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEkXh5ZXWSy4PvFPz0HWrruAXbksyC6pOPiEKjJWUC8lNRkTIe9VlEA1ETug_nMK0lV6Zq7voQjlN4G0H0XyhhDWqddqG2O4TNTuFH9GEq-VZG0Xf3oMFLQP-r0JW1aVYktOnJyHkyaI/s1600/DSCF2956.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEkXh5ZXWSy4PvFPz0HWrruAXbksyC6pOPiEKjJWUC8lNRkTIe9VlEA1ETug_nMK0lV6Zq7voQjlN4G0H0XyhhDWqddqG2O4TNTuFH9GEq-VZG0Xf3oMFLQP-r0JW1aVYktOnJyHkyaI/s320/DSCF2956.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501097764405006130" border="0" /></a>Wine lovers Disney<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZewcsMCoJbyc5qkAlSyuozRdS7lrEAJykZ6nmVH5q-SBwRQHnHdha5C2OmGMoamgQ6wRYFBUZOvktSMdPINVVf4CBo1NFc5qu8kXSQvrIMooZCSdqVNPe1HEa2x6QqQ2c-Lx_usvjoJQ/s1600/DSCF3013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZewcsMCoJbyc5qkAlSyuozRdS7lrEAJykZ6nmVH5q-SBwRQHnHdha5C2OmGMoamgQ6wRYFBUZOvktSMdPINVVf4CBo1NFc5qu8kXSQvrIMooZCSdqVNPe1HEa2x6QqQ2c-Lx_usvjoJQ/s320/DSCF3013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501095326326327042" border="0" /></a>The Torres family home among the vineyard<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicU7-PcX3eUPBf1f7XpcfEANA91ST3rP9ZFfQsrOuDmwvBNmWqXmBgoyLg5yma_SQVtisclvC9QO-zu-g6WPXU-9xlCaIvCBdDmzc2QRKc_ue4SVbfSwpWlAIwrKchbOr19xjTzdcrx0/s1600/DSCF3010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicU7-PcX3eUPBf1f7XpcfEANA91ST3rP9ZFfQsrOuDmwvBNmWqXmBgoyLg5yma_SQVtisclvC9QO-zu-g6WPXU-9xlCaIvCBdDmzc2QRKc_ue4SVbfSwpWlAIwrKchbOr19xjTzdcrx0/s320/DSCF3010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501095317846124258" border="0" /></a>The Cabernet Sauvignon of Mas La Plana<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDWV0FBx8FJd1NldvRt7axJLnnuEaxJSU8IBJ295gjtWqUIFViBCo5_uk1-oeS1w8sBrtgufbR91nPh1K0KKoac9i2WsB8PiZyxFLhYSa__aBgtlpu-tthISuS2YkIBikvB2UFSDZfTo/s1600/DSCF2998.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDWV0FBx8FJd1NldvRt7axJLnnuEaxJSU8IBJ295gjtWqUIFViBCo5_uk1-oeS1w8sBrtgufbR91nPh1K0KKoac9i2WsB8PiZyxFLhYSa__aBgtlpu-tthISuS2YkIBikvB2UFSDZfTo/s320/DSCF2998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501095312431628002" border="0" /></a>Oak aging in the cellar<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpG32-OxqDEkNmVIiHtu2FwC8wLa88jpWdfYUw0PUoNJ3clJzYYODh6GcXnSVFm_WXKvr_LVliK_lOepOjUYsq5k_OSOjmyF7VYt_dwaH2t1srluZq5rFh3cmK0RTk1WQeCJMSaRLlz4/s1600/DSCF3017.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpG32-OxqDEkNmVIiHtu2FwC8wLa88jpWdfYUw0PUoNJ3clJzYYODh6GcXnSVFm_WXKvr_LVliK_lOepOjUYsq5k_OSOjmyF7VYt_dwaH2t1srluZq5rFh3cmK0RTk1WQeCJMSaRLlz4/s320/DSCF3017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501095334106319762" border="0" /></a>Five eighths of our tasting!<br /></div><br /><br />After the tour, we were off to the beaches of Villanova...nice sand, warm water, and the ultimate beach treat, French fries and beer.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmddYr6e7LkR1o212xDAURPiZa371hpo-eSi2bAV7YaKyvHGkxWLHdzE9nmKjMsv53mCDtbeNwZGCZCxxS_vvUPZAsJWLO1VJSqB_wnyA-PLuGEZWlaTbjsYa8Ou_gpXq0jMHUcdj6uw/s1600/DSCF3031.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmddYr6e7LkR1o212xDAURPiZa371hpo-eSi2bAV7YaKyvHGkxWLHdzE9nmKjMsv53mCDtbeNwZGCZCxxS_vvUPZAsJWLO1VJSqB_wnyA-PLuGEZWlaTbjsYa8Ou_gpXq0jMHUcdj6uw/s320/DSCF3031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501095338440195218" border="0" /></a>A happy girl at the beach<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ka91QGgmRdkQ9SyYD1zAkjSlvsl3qA4wnkdM1wYdPMzJtyPGHfmM16A98AD_9NlwYYT6UeHKyYz_Y4eFoM1vuw-Nw0os6TI5gvxp_PFE_o1KkzStBrnneq6_Mvjs0vJaPRWm_QSvm-U/s1600/DSCF3034.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ka91QGgmRdkQ9SyYD1zAkjSlvsl3qA4wnkdM1wYdPMzJtyPGHfmM16A98AD_9NlwYYT6UeHKyYz_Y4eFoM1vuw-Nw0os6TI5gvxp_PFE_o1KkzStBrnneq6_Mvjs0vJaPRWm_QSvm-U/s320/DSCF3034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501097737746597362" border="0" /></a>Seleno at the beach<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikw9QgM7XZ3Ib6epdxj116FgKIQODTI3l8nFhidQbbV1qYolsiKQeSIQ_DNmpKfP1pYv43ZpwjCjJAPYzfL_l5_LFu2zEmZ5fN9KKFJj1u7uQOORxnQ1VFUzshuY9_lBbS08a2Y7Xn1sg/s1600/DSCF3042.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikw9QgM7XZ3Ib6epdxj116FgKIQODTI3l8nFhidQbbV1qYolsiKQeSIQ_DNmpKfP1pYv43ZpwjCjJAPYzfL_l5_LFu2zEmZ5fN9KKFJj1u7uQOORxnQ1VFUzshuY9_lBbS08a2Y7Xn1sg/s320/DSCF3042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501097745814833698" border="0" /></a>Post-beach recovery nutrition<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP1llSjfQY07lrNgUOIu9ng1TCk_EFwz2z9Kv6_ym4ljGb2iMyMiaefoCe9FnTqZy9BqVW0W5cyWAFuHNlP6mjW2lDnovOZDKnhBNf6Y7AIwkn3iufFVgcawNT2ouPQ2UTjZJgHHOsXw/s1600/DSCF3047.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP1llSjfQY07lrNgUOIu9ng1TCk_EFwz2z9Kv6_ym4ljGb2iMyMiaefoCe9FnTqZy9BqVW0W5cyWAFuHNlP6mjW2lDnovOZDKnhBNf6Y7AIwkn3iufFVgcawNT2ouPQ2UTjZJgHHOsXw/s320/DSCF3047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501097752760716418" border="0" /></a>Sunset on the terrace (at Cal Santi B&B)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvV1gam9-HGVF-rbgg0laNjE3xVoQn02ahbn9OS12jEuAlUYShyphenhyphenZy2IAOnHZ2doMWUEypezan90rgb_lzqkpZmdZ7FKVid4TczzQPK2-7M9MclZOOGCboSs7C1Fw3yb_OQUP1fuiJi7U/s1600/DSCF3050.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvV1gam9-HGVF-rbgg0laNjE3xVoQn02ahbn9OS12jEuAlUYShyphenhyphenZy2IAOnHZ2doMWUEypezan90rgb_lzqkpZmdZ7FKVid4TczzQPK2-7M9MclZOOGCboSs7C1Fw3yb_OQUP1fuiJi7U/s320/DSCF3050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501097756527391538" border="0" /></a>Seleno on the terrace<br /></div><br /><br />That brings me to right now...about to put my only collared shirt on and head down stairs to the family meal here at the B & B...three courses and wine included for 20 Euros per person. Can't wait. Thanks for reading, sorry I can't seem to keep it short - so much to share.<br /><br />Seleno<br />PS Hopefully tomorrow will be a big day on the bikes, then it's off to the beach on Wednesday and home on Thursday...it'll be good to get home for a rest!Shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02803637636818466139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7841222577185269092.post-48539835514670826252010-07-29T10:39:00.026-03:002010-07-30T20:02:26.325-03:00Life in GironaHi again, it's been a few days now, so I'd say there's been enough adventure and it's time to share. I'm usually one for chronological order, but I think I'll go with themes this time--Rides, Beaches, Food and Wine and a little surprise for last (no peeking ahead!).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rides</span><br /><br />Since that last post, Rod and I have managed to ride three out of the three days--proper thing, ya. Undoubtedly, the most epic in terms of length and heat battling was Tuesday's ride. We set out on another ride recommended by Michael Barry in Canadian Cycling Magazine that was described as being 4 hours and 'rolling'. It was all of that. It turned out to be a great day--110 km in the saddle and incredibly hot. I drank seven bottles and I'm sure that wasn't enough. This ride offered an optional out and back climb called Rocacorba, but we decided that we should leave it for another day (foreshadowing) given the heat and duration. Awesome day though as we headed west and north out of Girona climbing up through the small towns of St. Gregori, Les Planes d'Hostales, and Olot and descended/climbed (rolled) south and eventually east back into Girona via Santa Pau and Banyoles. A gratifing day on the bike, but tremedously hot. PS Lunch in Olot consisted of a ham and cheeze panini and a chocolate croissant. The croissant requires some description. Do you remember 'squirt gum' when you were a kid? We were <span style="font-style: italic;">sharing </span>one of these decadent numbers so Rod decides to break it in half and it exploded oozing chocolate. Oh, it was good. Did I mention that both outside ends of it were chocolate dipped - crazy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivRuUqky4ZHYvOHcRQwX4DZXqaq1uf1Fhgq-9Qm9i1GsZwqy3nuy-ysI09jg0Y_qkFZJt5JSNyon15gcQ_xQhzygR6Vr1E2odKREnc8JTivKTiZuNJ12jMKEXB_HQA__lYcWLWBpE6q8/s1600/DSCF2685.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivRuUqky4ZHYvOHcRQwX4DZXqaq1uf1Fhgq-9Qm9i1GsZwqy3nuy-ysI09jg0Y_qkFZJt5JSNyon15gcQ_xQhzygR6Vr1E2odKREnc8JTivKTiZuNJ12jMKEXB_HQA__lYcWLWBpE6q8/s320/DSCF2685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499815922194157490" border="0" /></a>Our friend Dave getting us off on the right road out of town<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZkHhJ2Q9FOjdDzl8Xd8tTko7mie_kalWDdP9o6RyFE1DW2L4GyI4YSXqMYNhtlytlXakSsrd41KvdwSG9v7h-GcyBXHjeZuUO9QxS6RCyom1FZDZ6x1Wt02yNgaE72zpam3q-Ml3zhs/s1600/DSCF2709copy.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZkHhJ2Q9FOjdDzl8Xd8tTko7mie_kalWDdP9o6RyFE1DW2L4GyI4YSXqMYNhtlytlXakSsrd41KvdwSG9v7h-GcyBXHjeZuUO9QxS6RCyom1FZDZ6x1Wt02yNgaE72zpam3q-Ml3zhs/s320/DSCF2709copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499817749486749730" border="0" /></a>Rod burning a descent - full gas!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpoCNlpLIiqRzQ3-K2LENnl1GsUJV1lPMfhzcjRljdAWzFSRqi_6hyxlj-T47Xncf-eUp45tpIyb3CeR1Xi-DWiWblGRRQpanpB3GkHfdGbzum2GwsdqwVvTW-HIcdHS5H-e1HKPgkTs/s1600/DSCF2702copy.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpoCNlpLIiqRzQ3-K2LENnl1GsUJV1lPMfhzcjRljdAWzFSRqi_6hyxlj-T47Xncf-eUp45tpIyb3CeR1Xi-DWiWblGRRQpanpB3GkHfdGbzum2GwsdqwVvTW-HIcdHS5H-e1HKPgkTs/s320/DSCF2702copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499817746359824066" border="0" /></a>The RS's flight deck<br /><br /></div>The next day, the plan was to ride easy for a couple of hours and get back in time to go with the girls to the beach. All pretty much went according to plan except that I flatted (MY FIRST EVER FLAT ON THE ROAD - I actually feel some relief because now I can talk about it without the fear of jinxing myself; seriously five years of riding and zero flats until yesterday). Tube swapped, and we were back under way. The plan was to head to a town called Le Pera, former home of Salvador Dali, the famous surrealist painter. If you don't know who Dali is/was, the best way I can describe him is to say that he's the melting clocks artist...ring any bells? If not click <a href="http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=salvador+dali&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=ZMRRTKyZNtSH4gbZueD7Ag&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CC0QsAQwAA&biw=1280&bih=834">here</a>. Running a little behind time because of the flat, we decided to head across country to Madremanya and over the back side of the Els Angels climb from Monday's ride. It was much harder (and hotter) this way (short distance so steeper). Fun though!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIkAn5ln0TMicv_tMFtsdZaxVdrXs0x4ox_PVXjxv8PqVw5BXdMmi_EKTWpreMzKdjgZhgABXDMZkyT50Kb5HFLvLbW6ZeQJ7bOueqL-dDTkWxerBSsYTbFgqDIMtHjOypsfzD4bWLB0/s1600/DSCF0090.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIkAn5ln0TMicv_tMFtsdZaxVdrXs0x4ox_PVXjxv8PqVw5BXdMmi_EKTWpreMzKdjgZhgABXDMZkyT50Kb5HFLvLbW6ZeQJ7bOueqL-dDTkWxerBSsYTbFgqDIMtHjOypsfzD4bWLB0/s320/DSCF0090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499819913872744978" border="0" /></a>Approaching La Pera among the sunflowers - perfect!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc68nQbU1Uam3QCQgOS1wa3PR20pD3gh9fPPKGinmzeDGxTln9A55_M49kVRjP3TxIDTqDV7QMq0YnYfQa0tVmKwFC-1u1yXdLW07zK9QG5KLJSoF1o7gmGMT4z4a4WGVvFgWDug56Gu8/s1600/DSCF0097.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc68nQbU1Uam3QCQgOS1wa3PR20pD3gh9fPPKGinmzeDGxTln9A55_M49kVRjP3TxIDTqDV7QMq0YnYfQa0tVmKwFC-1u1yXdLW07zK9QG5KLJSoF1o7gmGMT4z4a4WGVvFgWDug56Gu8/s320/DSCF0097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499819917290605906" border="0" /></a>Probably the closest I'll ever get to Salvador Dali<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTRFhf9HaXKz94BolThH6Fcbaei5Ro_DblbKp2YhoGNC-czhCkMXLroyFzz2saE-W1sNfs7grnwG2K0ry9ouXYkiHvmFeyLEuHiTZSG_VkFST_Rmfnnh2na7jFLsd_4JSuOeOaVV3rEU/s1600/DSCF0108.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTRFhf9HaXKz94BolThH6Fcbaei5Ro_DblbKp2YhoGNC-czhCkMXLroyFzz2saE-W1sNfs7grnwG2K0ry9ouXYkiHvmFeyLEuHiTZSG_VkFST_Rmfnnh2na7jFLsd_4JSuOeOaVV3rEU/s320/DSCF0108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499819931996093842" border="0" /></a>Rod atop Els Angels<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyUe8w9CDt3BPqBTAuquxTuxCJbk-fxH0O-zLYyZp7EIv04oNn1XMb2QoXGRcanXG47Abi4C5euWxkBtdLzfY5lGYCk0QcvwtiiqhRvY3x_ncv4CdCsv3hFEYkuCWLmhczUkXPUvFZlg/s1600/DSCF0104.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyUe8w9CDt3BPqBTAuquxTuxCJbk-fxH0O-zLYyZp7EIv04oNn1XMb2QoXGRcanXG47Abi4C5euWxkBtdLzfY5lGYCk0QcvwtiiqhRvY3x_ncv4CdCsv3hFEYkuCWLmhczUkXPUvFZlg/s320/DSCF0104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499819920282329506" border="0" /></a>Big descent<br /></div><br />Last ride was yesterday. We ventured back up to Banyoles to challenge the Rococorba climb. Fourteen kilometers at average of 6.5% doesn't sound too bad, but k's 8 and 9 are at 10.5% (which I think is steeper than anything I climbed in France) and the last 4 k's are at 8.5%. I guess you could say that it starts out fairly easy but gets very intense up top. Dave, the owner of a local bike shop told us that the pros make good use of this climb in training and actually do a time trial on is frequently. We made it to the top and were happy to find clear skies at the top for the camera. The summit actually offered 360 degree views, so we were able to see a distinctive mountain valley that we rode through on Tuesday off in the distance. Pictures taken, the descent was fast and furious. After lunch and coffee in Banyoles, we burned back into Girona (Brad Vein style - aka FULL GAS!) and managed to skirt the ridiculous rain storm that was baring down on the city. Jinx, you say? I flatted again in Banyoles and if that weren't enough the valve stem on the replacement tube failed, so had to change it again - good thing we both carry a spare tube.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ICgDQ6G26Aqf2Z7vJaboNAlbK_1LPstuxdPa-0i3NcKFwpERUVzOpTKpjlCt5Ew-V-rAbj7JjgYiuoPG3eRtyUOrVe4YzMvSnM8w38ml28PDdjt4kXo7G-xPiSpmAXWQUjpCQEg4sPo/s1600/DSCF2784.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ICgDQ6G26Aqf2Z7vJaboNAlbK_1LPstuxdPa-0i3NcKFwpERUVzOpTKpjlCt5Ew-V-rAbj7JjgYiuoPG3eRtyUOrVe4YzMvSnM8w38ml28PDdjt4kXo7G-xPiSpmAXWQUjpCQEg4sPo/s320/DSCF2784.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499823346470991874" border="0" /></a>Our heroes set out for Rococorba on the cobbles of Girona, and yes, we bought matching Cycling Girona kits for the occasion<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMnogyh3rKBTTjAfXZRbcEbmNXgiPwPeHkAiivZrTTPkuWpTQ8uRrdBpug-QmTy_4MxPcFV-FRh5diL6rFDdI0esNYKROZPNV_EYElJMjixBhWSvbPsurDC-zfFFIsgRlVuFqqBTmO_U/s1600/DSCF2791.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMnogyh3rKBTTjAfXZRbcEbmNXgiPwPeHkAiivZrTTPkuWpTQ8uRrdBpug-QmTy_4MxPcFV-FRh5diL6rFDdI0esNYKROZPNV_EYElJMjixBhWSvbPsurDC-zfFFIsgRlVuFqqBTmO_U/s320/DSCF2791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499823355955644418" border="0" /></a>One of the sights along the way - a border collie at work<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23mQMTCA0YmuScHpZj5UZjLuYbcyJAh-ynHUHrABHjkXDfQzOqK3vDBLwD3neOey5HoBp7lABPDBN3Xt6EOpvoqQXEKedBS-DPTfEcoQyYRBfVhEqbikJMGO0CqYlm_ykykY6O22I2_g/s1600/DSCF2793.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23mQMTCA0YmuScHpZj5UZjLuYbcyJAh-ynHUHrABHjkXDfQzOqK3vDBLwD3neOey5HoBp7lABPDBN3Xt6EOpvoqQXEKedBS-DPTfEcoQyYRBfVhEqbikJMGO0CqYlm_ykykY6O22I2_g/s320/DSCF2793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499823364357882674" border="0" /></a>The stats on the climb<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPBd0fVDjZszqTZh3TliIWllFR6__9yOsNAmllHbSYgqvg4eRoJg6HfIE0sV57470nQhAD8gYReCXSj58QSKBKvbto28R3SmbSYYIQ4v6a5WojGvnYAloxPTpqXDU5Q9CbcgGd0ZvD7I/s1600/DSCF2798.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPBd0fVDjZszqTZh3TliIWllFR6__9yOsNAmllHbSYgqvg4eRoJg6HfIE0sV57470nQhAD8gYReCXSj58QSKBKvbto28R3SmbSYYIQ4v6a5WojGvnYAloxPTpqXDU5Q9CbcgGd0ZvD7I/s320/DSCF2798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499823367963292402" border="0" /></a>Rod's climbin' calves!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFq5LhACFtXIkAQ4peoCqrkHWzdWjqRkkPbG1E1ehBfqx0YNIC0D0PwQBBwtU60e0m4JbHH4pyzJEr1_o6meQ77YMShE_WYXwb4ljSStLBVuk9HqZ_ARQ9poDMdoZDpj78BbE6A2vifrg/s1600/DSCF2814.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFq5LhACFtXIkAQ4peoCqrkHWzdWjqRkkPbG1E1ehBfqx0YNIC0D0PwQBBwtU60e0m4JbHH4pyzJEr1_o6meQ77YMShE_WYXwb4ljSStLBVuk9HqZ_ARQ9poDMdoZDpj78BbE6A2vifrg/s320/DSCF2814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499824669164517938" border="0" /></a>We're keeping good company on this climb as evidenced by the writing on the road<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyWZ0dOQVFTYcJu33fU3x2ojLQJB_-seMrEFGFj_706OxSsPVUZTH8VqAsSB8bPCqydA4N86f4PUHjAdAjjsWITYrHJIOxGBrEfoXs6N3pY8DgHTXHev-gqNEqpk8hC7VCfHLbC5PbDg/s1600/DSCF2807.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyWZ0dOQVFTYcJu33fU3x2ojLQJB_-seMrEFGFj_706OxSsPVUZTH8VqAsSB8bPCqydA4N86f4PUHjAdAjjsWITYrHJIOxGBrEfoXs6N3pY8DgHTXHev-gqNEqpk8hC7VCfHLbC5PbDg/s320/DSCF2807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499824660117546642" border="0" /></a>Success! Man, climbin' mountains feels good!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmcIA4Br010V6-lkRvQ4jTogQ2YkKycJqMgzzXZXAzJ53P7gPqE1zQLcwsTluD-4YyPJPFACXW3EQNqkauDwTmj2cBfp1LZBi4l9z6kMAzBEkudnukvVvieQ5fDTYiFnkYP6YHdD_biI/s1600/DSCF2805.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmcIA4Br010V6-lkRvQ4jTogQ2YkKycJqMgzzXZXAzJ53P7gPqE1zQLcwsTluD-4YyPJPFACXW3EQNqkauDwTmj2cBfp1LZBi4l9z6kMAzBEkudnukvVvieQ5fDTYiFnkYP6YHdD_biI/s320/DSCF2805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499823376087745554" border="0" /></a>This is at the summit - we were told it's a hand gliding launch-way. Can you imagine the nads it would take to jump off this thing?<br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">The beach</span><br /><br />If Rod and I have handled all cycling related business ;) over the past couple of day, it's been Selena and Deanna's job to make sure the beaches got invaded. They've had a great time exploring the beaches of the Costa Brava--I think they may even have had a plate of French Fries. Tops are of course optional on the Spanish beaches...actually bottoms are even so in some cases, I guess. The water is blue and warm but refreshing given the heat.<br /><br />Rod and I joined them on Wednesday after our ride. We drove out to a beach city called Palamos and ended up at Platja de Castell. Last one in's a rotten egg. Pretty much your standard beach day really except for the kayak rentals. Fifteen Euros got us a tandem open kayak each for an hour and we were able too paddle around the point and through a big seacliff archway. Also paddled into a bit of a cave. Good times.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxa87bsiwA20N4r4B2Vmm2uUmJRt9u4SqwSTS7V1Fhk_GZhVKhjRlZkAfBPBL9563g6VZmM_c6H1GwaFUfJL8zEcOOB-Gbmetu_4gBt5i02ryv0SnDEW3aH84oQg9EcjyzkK4sebzbWY/s1600/DSCF2725.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxa87bsiwA20N4r4B2Vmm2uUmJRt9u4SqwSTS7V1Fhk_GZhVKhjRlZkAfBPBL9563g6VZmM_c6H1GwaFUfJL8zEcOOB-Gbmetu_4gBt5i02ryv0SnDEW3aH84oQg9EcjyzkK4sebzbWY/s320/DSCF2725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499828750086051154" border="0" /></a>The arch that we paddled through<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWXi3i2jn4WCEIitHjxJ2QRsOo5lVw-8AkFosM-DBs8AoxEhHdH7HljMWyFWwowmkm20s3kb1GhBrGnu5FLAouGRhCRzbhFk4nYGYCpUvpuX0eittb-F_-7yhQGJgB8MmxXVunjqoZSw/s1600/DSCF2736.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWXi3i2jn4WCEIitHjxJ2QRsOo5lVw-8AkFosM-DBs8AoxEhHdH7HljMWyFWwowmkm20s3kb1GhBrGnu5FLAouGRhCRzbhFk4nYGYCpUvpuX0eittb-F_-7yhQGJgB8MmxXVunjqoZSw/s320/DSCF2736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499828756706535682" border="0" /></a>Rod and Dee paddling under ground<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOrmkoVN-1RrQ8x4DUhm3W3IWKUuHbHyxPcGDPnHF3l0h_QDnztWgff4D0rQap5IMRIPMkgdNlBiu_WAoZ1Lhyq3gCAY2eR4Un1poOIqo2oGX20YIKD2JrLvLdRO84d4iFwVI4SEQpVY/s1600/DSCF2742.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOrmkoVN-1RrQ8x4DUhm3W3IWKUuHbHyxPcGDPnHF3l0h_QDnztWgff4D0rQap5IMRIPMkgdNlBiu_WAoZ1Lhyq3gCAY2eR4Un1poOIqo2oGX20YIKD2JrLvLdRO84d4iFwVI4SEQpVY/s320/DSCF2742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499828764781739842" border="0" /></a>Frolicking<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2nk0iVuYnngHbuHlKAlfEm0G9eriOTyV6fHADToTXkZZ11ff3PCqJnC_vWSaQzVDfuE26dTk3JSznp7WP7u5jjxcrNJrWjuX_SG3jfXya_4QCq95Yt7Be68zWbqtWt02uNQgJ1M6nRc/s1600/DSCF2768.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2nk0iVuYnngHbuHlKAlfEm0G9eriOTyV6fHADToTXkZZ11ff3PCqJnC_vWSaQzVDfuE26dTk3JSznp7WP7u5jjxcrNJrWjuX_SG3jfXya_4QCq95Yt7Be68zWbqtWt02uNQgJ1M6nRc/s320/DSCF2768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499828770049736130" border="0" /></a>Bad time for an earthquake<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food and Wine</span><br /><br />This post is getting long, so I think I'll let the pictures do most of the talking here. Suffice it to say that we've lived pretty high on the hog around here over the last couple of days. First was Draps (see previous post), then was a France place for stellar crepes (mine was stuffed with sausage, cheeze and a fried egg), and lastly a Basque tapas bar called Zanpanzar. At Zanpanzar, you pick up your tapas at the bar, each with a toothpick shoved into it; you collect these toothpicks throughout the evening, then your bill is based on the number that you've collected - no we didn't 'mistakenly' let any toothpicks fall through the street grate :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1vM8zcLXYY2k8Y5ZZzXnOF_qf3-zOh6AemXQ908c8_1vVCyQVSoBBCC2BKmmpBNc07zeClf5iI7YiO8v6m93DEXRcJlY_bMJftwxhgA7IycSgIpQgm_8wSDsyz1ZbhXlTKHWGLj6Svw/s1600/DSCF2712.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1vM8zcLXYY2k8Y5ZZzXnOF_qf3-zOh6AemXQ908c8_1vVCyQVSoBBCC2BKmmpBNc07zeClf5iI7YiO8v6m93DEXRcJlY_bMJftwxhgA7IycSgIpQgm_8wSDsyz1ZbhXlTKHWGLj6Svw/s320/DSCF2712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499830403160971282" border="0" /></a>Pre-game cerveca at the apartment<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbGIJG8LIsK4AsR87Epbww2C9Niy72LZAlts-yhf0r_0HxIv4OR_Hrh22BZAh5r7zvrEZL9gPqGnQSd9fRmnYLcV0a933fUoxgpWl4DobUvyCOkeaUO7ih8jQKCDVQLpEmJM4s4n8BGE/s1600/DSCF2716.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbGIJG8LIsK4AsR87Epbww2C9Niy72LZAlts-yhf0r_0HxIv4OR_Hrh22BZAh5r7zvrEZL9gPqGnQSd9fRmnYLcV0a933fUoxgpWl4DobUvyCOkeaUO7ih8jQKCDVQLpEmJM4s4n8BGE/s320/DSCF2716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499830411298488722" border="0" /></a>Inside (yes, inside) the crepes place (you can eat inside the old bus; we, of course, opted to eat in the alley way outside the cafe)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF4ga1wwZUyJ1kYnw25u_jv9U4zkAbg-dq6Xcbu04m-PpB2_J-k3vwB8iX2JBOmlM-xbEEzTZdnMlbKa_p3Icp3yehIdd7gA-GoCflQwCD4O35VR8XfRHdhIY2T_p8BpTZPdcws08iKI/s1600/DSCF2818.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF4ga1wwZUyJ1kYnw25u_jv9U4zkAbg-dq6Xcbu04m-PpB2_J-k3vwB8iX2JBOmlM-xbEEzTZdnMlbKa_p3Icp3yehIdd7gA-GoCflQwCD4O35VR8XfRHdhIY2T_p8BpTZPdcws08iKI/s320/DSCF2818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499835088133027506" border="0" /></a>We seemed to develop a thing for stacking dishes???<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhww4Dzo_dg-LyeLusxfMMl7Do26Bjl2hxJ-fzsYfrEYrbHWc0eNGlkeFutHMezoNd_NVpGGa94P7yVcWwtdyEpqJtyETDfCweZhMOAAAGPb5IMLvAY_yDmFGic3kvS1BHol0v4GNr0V1E/s1600/DSCF2825.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhww4Dzo_dg-LyeLusxfMMl7Do26Bjl2hxJ-fzsYfrEYrbHWc0eNGlkeFutHMezoNd_NVpGGa94P7yVcWwtdyEpqJtyETDfCweZhMOAAAGPb5IMLvAY_yDmFGic3kvS1BHol0v4GNr0V1E/s320/DSCF2825.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499834319745942946" border="0" /></a>The end to a perfect evening. Please note the three people behind the counter of this little gelato place are the three people that we got to know best having 'spoken' to the EVERY night. Like I always say, a day in Europe without a dish of gelato is like any old day in North America<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">One final, major piece of news</span><br /><br />I think I mentioned a post or two ago that our time in Girona was to be a sort of Tour de Michael...Michael Barry being one of mine and Rod's favorite pro riders. He's a Canadian from Toronto and rides for the British Team Sky. Michael is a also a writer, so we've spent a lot of time over the past few years reading about life in the pro peloton and specifically about the life of a pro cyclist living in Girona. Indeed this is what inspired us to come here in the first place. This city really is a road (and mountain) cycling mecca actually. It's very common to see (obviously) pro riders riding about town on their way to or from a training ride. It's fun; their training groups/friendships don't at all observe the boundaries of 'team'; they seem to be a big family really living and training together here in Girona. We've been lucky enough to spot a couple of Saxo Bank riders, a few Garmins, a lone BMC'er, but as you can imagine, our eyes have been peeled for our patron saint of Girona, Mr. Barry. (Rod, brace yourself for what you're about to read...I'm sorry buddy, but it happened this afternoon just outside the store where we bought the Bikecat kits.)<br /><br />In keeping with the good mojo that helped me meet and ride with Lance Armstrong last year in Dublin, Ireland, I was lucky enough today to meet Michael Barry and his wife Dede as they were coming back into town from a ride. Michael just completed his first Tour de France (he's race several grand tours, World Championships, and Olympics, but 2010 was his first Tour) so I imagine he was on a little recovery spin about the area shaking out the legs. As they rode by, about 30 or so feet away from where I was walking, I recognized him and shouted, "Hey Michael!" They could easily tell that I was a fan, and true to my impression of the man that's come from reading his blog and articles, they were gracious enough to stop and chat for about 15 minutes . It was so great to be able to tell him face-to-face that we had been on what I called the "Tour de Michael" as we've enjoyed three of his four eating recommendations and three of the four riding routes that he described in the article in Canadian Cycling. They were very curious about our trip and I was able to tell them that we'd been in the Pyrenees for Stages 16 and 17 and that Rod and I had just yesterday climbed the famous Rococorba. He said his legs were a bit sore from the tour, but nothing too major or unexpected. We chatted about the local pros and their commaderie, about Selena's conquering the Col du Soulor, ah, it went on... I love this sport! In what other sport can you meet one of your heros in this way? Professional cyclist and the sport itself are so accessible. Check Ticketmaster's website for the price of Tour de France tickets--you won't find any, not because it's sold out 8 years in advance, because it's free, stupid! I'll stop now and fill you all in on the details when I see you. I did give Michael the link to this little blog, so maybe he'll throw us a comment--cyclists are like that...if he is reading this, thanks again, man - it was a real thrill meeting you two.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrVGMi5BR6T0V2l16rtCFesJ4KIaRsqQxwkdQP9nJwT1yiAbcR_32RpH_vkeM9pFmqCBsDc97x0-auTojkI7I2tlgrbg76jKnJVnKKDCSuA1LLcxAoAx7dp7cTcy18zRhOAuxvrnM5A8/s1600/DSCF2856.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrVGMi5BR6T0V2l16rtCFesJ4KIaRsqQxwkdQP9nJwT1yiAbcR_32RpH_vkeM9pFmqCBsDc97x0-auTojkI7I2tlgrbg76jKnJVnKKDCSuA1LLcxAoAx7dp7cTcy18zRhOAuxvrnM5A8/s320/DSCF2856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499831941874095570" border="0" /></a>Our inspiration, Mr. Michael Barry! (PS I was by myself and happened to be carrying the camera; good thing as I'm sure no one would have believed this one.)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKPRMUja0E13TPGt8EitSzShhKFdKrtQ-Fa6Dundlphl4Vl5yUb6jFiUtamvurqEHDxhxwUBOuow6egQxsnlkTi0pHUPUS4Dz7uxfXZ-TwlO2d2kcnng9qTrZOKG0acHh8HeIYo1OL2Q/s1600/DSCF2858.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKPRMUja0E13TPGt8EitSzShhKFdKrtQ-Fa6Dundlphl4Vl5yUb6jFiUtamvurqEHDxhxwUBOuow6egQxsnlkTi0pHUPUS4Dz7uxfXZ-TwlO2d2kcnng9qTrZOKG0acHh8HeIYo1OL2Q/s320/DSCF2858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499831953226463010" border="0" /></a>And just like that...they were gone<br /></div><br />Check out Michael's blog <a href="http://michaelbarry.ca/">here</a>.<br /><br />We travel on, our time in Girona all but done, our friends departed this morning; we plan to head south of Barcelona to check out the beaches and hopefully do a little cyclo-wine-touring. Thanks for reading (this novel) and please drop us a comment. Home in 6 days.<br /><br />Seleno<br />PS Believe it or not, I do have much more to say about Girona and would like to put more pics of the city up, so if I run into a good wifi connection in the next couple of days I'll try my best to do so.Shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02803637636818466139noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7841222577185269092.post-62541976404206030202010-07-26T14:25:00.021-03:002010-07-26T18:45:59.935-03:00First Days in GironaHey there blogger people! Sorry for the recent hiatus, but it's been interesting around here. Where to begin?<br /><br />After camping one more night (Thursday) at the base of the Tourmalet, Selena and I pointed the car back up the famous Col--the road being re-opened to traffic. The plan was to reach Spain via an alternate route; on the way up to France, we went up the east coast then shot west to Tarbes, Lourdes, etc. On the way back we climbed the Tourmalet, and the Col d'Aspin then caught a tunnel (10 minutes drive through a mountain) to Spain. The tunnel was amazing. The rain during the tour on the North side of the Pyrenees has been well documented. When we emerged from the tunnel in Spain, on the south side of the Pyrenees, it was like someone flicked a switch--blue skies, no clouds, and 25 degrees - 30 by the time we got back down to the base of the mountains. Surreal. That night we camped on the coast north of Barcelona in a virtual desert--stark contrast to the conditions in Bareges.<br /><br />Saturday was spent scoping out the beach towns for Selena and Deanna, getting moved back into the apartment in Girona, doing laundry, and dumping the rented car back at the airport. Then...<br /><br />At 6:30 two people showed up (Rod and Deanna) with two carry-ons...pass the beer nuts. No suitcases, no bike :((((( I won't spend too much time on the details here, but suffice it to say that it was NOT a happy time. Frequent phone calls to the airport, iffy service in English, unreliable payphones in the street, a stake-out vigil on the sidewalk lasting hours and spanning two days. Then our incredibly generous apartment neighbors graciously loaned us one of their cell phones so that we could give the airport an actual contact number (our apt doesn't have a phone) and eventually, at 2:30 today, some 48 hours after the arrival of the Rawdings, the successful delivery of the baggage/bike occurred.<br /><br />The girls were already off to the beach, and Rod and I had his bike out of the box and built back up in no time. We set off on the cobbled streets of Girona for our first ride :))))))<br /><br />Looking to spin the shit out of our legs (that hadn't been moving for a couple of days), we took off on Michael Barry's 1.5-2 hour Easy Ride. By the way, a lot (all or most) of our riding here over the next few days will be based on Michael Barry's article from the current issue of Canadian Cycling which you can find <a href="http://cyclingmagazine.ca/2010/06/sections/ridesevents/international-bike-travel/riding-in-the-pros-backyards/">here</a> . Michael is a pro rider, originally from Toronto, who rides with Team Sky who recently finished his first Tour de France and makes Girona his permanent home. This ride saw us over the Els Angels climb which the likes of Armstrong, Barry, Christian Vandevelde, Levi Leipheimer, and George Hincapie use for interval workouts. It was a great climb, ridiculously hot, but we were smiling all the way. The ride then looped back to Girona via a small ancient town called Madremanya. The only way to describe this small place would be to tell you that as we were riding about it's archways, tunnels, and small alleyways, I suggested to Rod that we could play a game of hide-n-seek on our bikes...very twisty, circuitous little passages built in the 14th and 15th century.<br /><br />In the end we made it back to Girona coming in on the road that we parked the car on. As we were criding in on this road, we met the girls who were just coming home from their day at the beach. At this point, they didn't realize that the luggage had arrived, so we were able to share the news by riding by and saying hello from our bikes. Very fun!<br /><br />The day was capped with a pitcher of Sangria, and a meal at Draps, a restaurant that specializes in meals to share - we ordered three meals and shared it all around with a great bottle of wine. Each meal is designed for 2 - you do the math. The requisite 2 boules of gelato finished off a great first day (with bikes) in Girona.<br /><br />Thanks for reading and please comment freely :)<br /><br />Seleno<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WVxz-GU-JV5xs2MFF4iKgIQ4npKGMGWud2_lgGExLJTZfLvlyUjRJk45s6d9eBVP5_balmfBeR_gELeptGXJNwRg2Rmx6xlQJd-8D3ygA_IB7lfEgKlZ4whE_9NmDyno_85i2WU1tzY/s1600/DSCF2561.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WVxz-GU-JV5xs2MFF4iKgIQ4npKGMGWud2_lgGExLJTZfLvlyUjRJk45s6d9eBVP5_balmfBeR_gELeptGXJNwRg2Rmx6xlQJd-8D3ygA_IB7lfEgKlZ4whE_9NmDyno_85i2WU1tzY/s320/DSCF2561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498324404110939938" border="0" /></a>Some other dude riding up the upper slopes of the Tourmalet while we drove.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlPaFs6aWkk0XYY5Ql8dv_9da5DvdJJtI4iyO9Uxo9E2qnd1oCw7uvR5p1raeRGDc9EX4LCUOFt7k89saRFyxBfJvXI0zYJBcsOT3DdfVJi62aGZAAmViJWWpzTtGsEhYYg_Y5kEhA3A/s1600/DSCF2562.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlPaFs6aWkk0XYY5Ql8dv_9da5DvdJJtI4iyO9Uxo9E2qnd1oCw7uvR5p1raeRGDc9EX4LCUOFt7k89saRFyxBfJvXI0zYJBcsOT3DdfVJi62aGZAAmViJWWpzTtGsEhYYg_Y5kEhA3A/s320/DSCF2562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498324800697808610" border="0" /></a>This pic is still worth something<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX8q0HhTpoJL8udChWeVLdxr48W5xMgsG8XqRjWwNzul7Wa64MheKYGILjZKn5VIM3wseUcRthOJc-t3r9X7Q1UirDs1httVt78XUuOqD0s7eb_Fs0CX6Qyr0QDHJl0IFZNigScS1ShM/s1600/DSCF2578.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX8q0HhTpoJL8udChWeVLdxr48W5xMgsG8XqRjWwNzul7Wa64MheKYGILjZKn5VIM3wseUcRthOJc-t3r9X7Q1UirDs1httVt78XUuOqD0s7eb_Fs0CX6Qyr0QDHJl0IFZNigScS1ShM/s320/DSCF2578.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498325670112976562" border="0" /></a>Check out the dusty campsite<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3srTTIotvhkCmYzNHrrGwwypACileOBdqs36BLFuFAYKLUp_lI6MjS3KKi_ljvNotOgegno2IlOtXUuqularDrl6lL_8s_q5zEXmgOCP16m_FJ0JLpQITHlhxhmD4k-UogDnadqwRlk/s1600/DSCF2086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3srTTIotvhkCmYzNHrrGwwypACileOBdqs36BLFuFAYKLUp_lI6MjS3KKi_ljvNotOgegno2IlOtXUuqularDrl6lL_8s_q5zEXmgOCP16m_FJ0JLpQITHlhxhmD4k-UogDnadqwRlk/s320/DSCF2086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498332915990651234" border="0" /></a>View of the Onya River from our apartment in Girona<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe6wVir9JqTkOrqJQNi1iPPmGIU7C1gxfiFYL8ZLq4YL2MrL2mkbX-PBddsv6XPKU9Ax8cfRET7PGnFdnjEdQAW6Y_Wd8bMtTitXyGCyr4LIv46kCbGByRNnjZFSDEsS5Lid6gREbp5Q/s1600/DSCF2588.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe6wVir9JqTkOrqJQNi1iPPmGIU7C1gxfiFYL8ZLq4YL2MrL2mkbX-PBddsv6XPKU9Ax8cfRET7PGnFdnjEdQAW6Y_Wd8bMtTitXyGCyr4LIv46kCbGByRNnjZFSDEsS5Lid6gREbp5Q/s320/DSCF2588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498325971980776786" border="0" /></a>Fun at the beach<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LgUTt34kcjR2z07FW900iOsRWJF92YIyb27YatdbFgwlAd1MeNbF5RK5VI3IxTx0mXABZyhH2GvGUDLqRdvKO7CLrOm9dc3e7wfDkmUWpLCiekw6jj5XaiTwmRB6oBLO8_jcQGj1De8/s1600/DSCF2590.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LgUTt34kcjR2z07FW900iOsRWJF92YIyb27YatdbFgwlAd1MeNbF5RK5VI3IxTx0mXABZyhH2GvGUDLqRdvKO7CLrOm9dc3e7wfDkmUWpLCiekw6jj5XaiTwmRB6oBLO8_jcQGj1De8/s320/DSCF2590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498326392701977010" border="0" /></a>Ah, diddo!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfTZnrszYp9wjfGEYDsn6meUpPZEpzrpULeJbXOGuOcQzqn7fuQ6LR5QOnhYs0U07RzV8VY7_4Dd6yRcYuiRy7634dO2OBHz5D5lERRYbLrE0__hjrbWjTfMvxKm28td7sJ3n27vtjP8/s1600/DSCF0044.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfTZnrszYp9wjfGEYDsn6meUpPZEpzrpULeJbXOGuOcQzqn7fuQ6LR5QOnhYs0U07RzV8VY7_4Dd6yRcYuiRy7634dO2OBHz5D5lERRYbLrE0__hjrbWjTfMvxKm28td7sJ3n27vtjP8/s320/DSCF0044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498331445014121730" border="0" /></a>Rod at the top of El Angels<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP88AmstKZPIUDZaV_EpZ_v-9hHfjvc7xxJD8Q5MZ83Vp1wvk_qMqZoC4sstXzBt1WuLggPvtJPYkUOxVN_QZkVwuLwCAi7EeHbUX-ETKB83PCmAW17OnlbeWN6QyRzZntFVC3lnRTt18/s1600/DSCF0043.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP88AmstKZPIUDZaV_EpZ_v-9hHfjvc7xxJD8Q5MZ83Vp1wvk_qMqZoC4sstXzBt1WuLggPvtJPYkUOxVN_QZkVwuLwCAi7EeHbUX-ETKB83PCmAW17OnlbeWN6QyRzZntFVC3lnRTt18/s320/DSCF0043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498332564287317378" border="0" /></a>Shane at the top of El Angels - some of my buddies might notice a new purchase in this pic - couldn't help myself<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgT7w7LuTE7PdtxQgsgV8Qt5JzFEEN7ULIPWAYwik33wgEQsr3mYgRxrQuAKki9TzZixGGec5TAwPVL0t7F6nXfpSc-OOxxFiRhT6W_ArDsq0rrWOLctiRMgGYFYWQem6oCDkUC8GzyY/s1600/DSCF0048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgT7w7LuTE7PdtxQgsgV8Qt5JzFEEN7ULIPWAYwik33wgEQsr3mYgRxrQuAKki9TzZixGGec5TAwPVL0t7F6nXfpSc-OOxxFiRhT6W_ArDsq0rrWOLctiRMgGYFYWQem6oCDkUC8GzyY/s320/DSCF0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498333581390196690" border="0" /></a>Riding into Madremanya<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmbZtKh8TmUkaKRXaQD3v5KqJISjqOTYjqWa7VYGmmG3yGpPzFfpscFxMabhyNFNg63jEUtHHnMgPcsEgnnK0WUz4voIjxWZgbc0f7WRBDPh3ba_MFO0qzND9S_hNChLwC_NmMm-4eks/s1600/DSCF2599.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmbZtKh8TmUkaKRXaQD3v5KqJISjqOTYjqWa7VYGmmG3yGpPzFfpscFxMabhyNFNg63jEUtHHnMgPcsEgnnK0WUz4voIjxWZgbc0f7WRBDPh3ba_MFO0qzND9S_hNChLwC_NmMm-4eks/s320/DSCF2599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498326818284912786" border="0" /></a>Pretty much says it all really<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaVaIl3WwA3WNFh27t-eTFl7sEyVqeWQITqr29H-GsMEy4DAfzxspHy_eXPiF2J9rbsj3RoJdPlGw-ulR8hbe3ZvRHi2jHRispURucc2tbFYcoPzzvUVhd6b3M9N2-KW4lc17BwCtSjg/s1600/DSCF0041.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaVaIl3WwA3WNFh27t-eTFl7sEyVqeWQITqr29H-GsMEy4DAfzxspHy_eXPiF2J9rbsj3RoJdPlGw-ulR8hbe3ZvRHi2jHRispURucc2tbFYcoPzzvUVhd6b3M9N2-KW4lc17BwCtSjg/s320/DSCF0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498330570389745522" border="0" /></a>This is the street we live on, Carrer Ballesteries - the lighting at night is sureal<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2dF1QJdG_RL6kudLemPxzRkF98j3L6wXIBwlR_NWu0dWchdCLzDYcEPATHz5VrZH-7L33oXQWk0ReDR2aSLAUjO3wqjODxAJKnQ7p-0fDKfPWGdW8KXqZimVTfLcHMLJSg95mvI952c/s1600/DSCF2641.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2dF1QJdG_RL6kudLemPxzRkF98j3L6wXIBwlR_NWu0dWchdCLzDYcEPATHz5VrZH-7L33oXQWk0ReDR2aSLAUjO3wqjODxAJKnQ7p-0fDKfPWGdW8KXqZimVTfLcHMLJSg95mvI952c/s320/DSCF2641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498327871442711874" border="0" /></a>Fred and Barney<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs59vSAUifXnWXKDGkKmub9lquWzJKeLPcS53yuOau92P1A2GuN0ax_EhvL_cVSpWZO-dkKWR686DQTl4aK6kHznTHGxBAwK5ePC2QG87yNSqr3v8oDX55FyUgEMRLd2XzTgtVHyqvW34/s1600/DSCF2640.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs59vSAUifXnWXKDGkKmub9lquWzJKeLPcS53yuOau92P1A2GuN0ax_EhvL_cVSpWZO-dkKWR686DQTl4aK6kHznTHGxBAwK5ePC2QG87yNSqr3v8oDX55FyUgEMRLd2XzTgtVHyqvW34/s320/DSCF2640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498328201331310322" border="0" /></a> Betty and Wilma<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityGgGOm5pYJaYUW9bHr4DP9LCHKV1YSFuzBs4gyosuOwPnrF2zI5dQ-zbkkXXxi1nKS4CB5TPoCAcPmQ2SWGGJRl-yjni5gS8KuE4dFU7AYl7puBmN6JkOGYA2XT3nsAUg26aSXfRZhk/s1600/DSCF2669.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityGgGOm5pYJaYUW9bHr4DP9LCHKV1YSFuzBs4gyosuOwPnrF2zI5dQ-zbkkXXxi1nKS4CB5TPoCAcPmQ2SWGGJRl-yjni5gS8KuE4dFU7AYl7puBmN6JkOGYA2XT3nsAUg26aSXfRZhk/s320/DSCF2669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498328847511824898" border="0" /></a>Just so we're clear, I can eat 21 power gels, a deep fried turkey and my body weight in gelato without throwing up<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02803637636818466139noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7841222577185269092.post-38562282048221689642010-07-23T04:55:00.013-03:002010-07-23T06:28:27.307-03:00Tour de France Pt 2Hi again friends!<br /><br />Well our time at the TdF is done...I was thinking that I'd feel relief that the rush rush, hectic-ness was over, but when the grupetto (collection mostly sprinters who ride together at the back just trying to make the day's time cut-off) went by us, I was a bit sad that it was over.<br /><br />Tent city was good to us Wednesday night - man, did it rain, thunder, lightning, etc. The mountain was angry. We managed to stay mostly dry, despite our set-up which was on a bed of tall grass/weeds, next to a stone wall on a narrow bank--a small, tent-sized piece of real estate among the throngs of RVs...forgot to get a pic of the site, hence the description.<br /><br />Up early and as planned after fueling up on coffee, I descended almost to Luz St. Sauveur (incidentally where I sit right now) and turned back up the mountain (the gendarmes told me not to go any further down or I may be told to stay put - now that would suck - bad!). So up I climbed, back to Bareges, where we had spent the night, collected my rain coat for the descent, and again set off climbing. I had super legs yesterday - felt so great; I think the mood of the whole scene was wearing off on me. I climbed and climbed in a total downpour (ps, I usually feel good in such conditions - not sure why). I managed to still be feeling great at the 4km to go banner when the gendarmes halted me and instructed me that the climb was closed off to 'velo' from there up and that I could walk (in the rain? what are you crazy? I'm not WALKING in the RAIN.). So, after sufficient begging and pleading and bull shit stories about having left my wife on the summit this morning, I snapped a couple of pics and pointed the wheels down. Fun time, but hypothermic to say the least. When I got back down to our camp site, I was frozen, but very happy if a little pissed. The Dutch family in the RV next to our car made us a couple of cups of coffee which I drank as I peeled off my drenched layers of spandex.<br /><br />With the day's ride out of my system, we ventured into Bareges to catch the early part of the stage in the pub...fun scene there, then back up to watch the group come by about 200m above the 10k to go banner. Group, what group? Happily for spectators the day's route and the mood of the riders shattered the peloton, and the riders came by us one, two, or three at a time over a period of twenty-five minutes...there was only the grupetto and one other group of any size. Lance must have been tucked in one of them, because I didn't get a good look at him, but I did see (and speak to) virtually every other big-name rider. Cancellara gave me a pop-a-wheely. I congratulated Cadel Evans on a great season and Giro - he replied that he wasn't doing too well at the moment :) Andy Schleck (in the white jersey) and Alberto Contador (in yellow); Chris Horner again (he seems to love our camera), Lance (I think Selena got him after all), Levi (!) Leipheimer, Fecha, Basso (yes, Aaron, Basso), Wiggins (yes, Aaron, Wiggins), Vino (yes, Brad, Vino), Sastre, Mick Rogers, Jens Voigt (!), Cavendish, Hushvod, Pettachi...saw them all...very thrilling.<br /><br />With the riders off to to summit, we listened on the radio to hear about the finish - Andy and Alberto caught the remnants of the break and thrilled the crowd with attack after attack and eventually Andy took the win with Contador right alongside. Chapeau Andy, here's hoping you have the TT of your life on Saturday.<br /><br />Into the car and down to Luz St. Sauveur where we stayed in an actual campground on an actual tent site (amazing how the tent pecks go smoothly into the ground) and had actual showers (our first in 4 days). And that gets me to right now--we've packed up yet again, coffeed/croissanted up and are about to point the car back up and over the Tourmalet (and Aspin and Peyresourde Cols) en route once again to Espagne.<br /><br />Rod and Dee show up tomorrow at about noon. Girona rides and beaches await us, so tune back in in couple of days to hear more adventures.<br /><br />Seleno<br />PS, if you read, try to comment to let us know you're there :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCPzrZJqYbOgs1iVBcvZSkctJ6JLaapu3eChHosp6bBUMh1bLyFmAFXSiXUhQ_WAfP89VxdabtV78YYuN4mxSl5WedEGyoUpcp_zEC40zNASbgnP6KUw-gHsr1cuuIeMPMb2W4WFnGsI/s1600/DSCF2460.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCPzrZJqYbOgs1iVBcvZSkctJ6JLaapu3eChHosp6bBUMh1bLyFmAFXSiXUhQ_WAfP89VxdabtV78YYuN4mxSl5WedEGyoUpcp_zEC40zNASbgnP6KUw-gHsr1cuuIeMPMb2W4WFnGsI/s320/DSCF2460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497016758363865554" border="0" /></a>The gendarme instructed me - you shall not pass en velo.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIEOCPca9_21sJy8WpjG5bdc0Pa0BCUjxvpvwv5MnDeLUhfVEFzN7HrLrY41FsMQds5nKx3jqAP0nO-BWKP7tjDaPclmwxG5mVuB-jMKUelFDnS9lAsgdJY5qGyYxg9d_LLl1wEJrEXY/s1600/DSCF2462.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIEOCPca9_21sJy8WpjG5bdc0Pa0BCUjxvpvwv5MnDeLUhfVEFzN7HrLrY41FsMQds5nKx3jqAP0nO-BWKP7tjDaPclmwxG5mVuB-jMKUelFDnS9lAsgdJY5qGyYxg9d_LLl1wEJrEXY/s320/DSCF2462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497017852049057570" border="0" /></a>Somewhere near the top of the Tourmalet<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjLl9DEzS2BqXCDfCTforj7kPXZLwCqY9KXepHF2vE3b9NDd2YpFMn5NYrWMKwUSpu_DEZhgADx6U6mlMKWEZDewWG3-oBRqFZ9g7wyRDjWllr3_6qB8qeuZFvdn8SuqLFkXVokvfwMs/s1600/DSCF2470.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjLl9DEzS2BqXCDfCTforj7kPXZLwCqY9KXepHF2vE3b9NDd2YpFMn5NYrWMKwUSpu_DEZhgADx6U6mlMKWEZDewWG3-oBRqFZ9g7wyRDjWllr3_6qB8qeuZFvdn8SuqLFkXVokvfwMs/s320/DSCF2470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497019157185247202" border="0" /></a>Dutch coffee and a happy guy<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcJDyNNHx0zsOZF35hgCdP8-OvJnpM5I1ncIALV6HohR0VdslQez7vVz43NJolcyZhd1sKGx813SFSkVbPxQJdI-3b7e8jQ8hypG3kudTq_XKhYOPie2R7Po5Ok7_PNPYbPqNWaOv7_s/s1600/DSCF2474.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcJDyNNHx0zsOZF35hgCdP8-OvJnpM5I1ncIALV6HohR0VdslQez7vVz43NJolcyZhd1sKGx813SFSkVbPxQJdI-3b7e8jQ8hypG3kudTq_XKhYOPie2R7Po5Ok7_PNPYbPqNWaOv7_s/s320/DSCF2474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497020326912330434" border="0" /></a>A happy couple awaits the peloton in the sun (which lasted about 10 mins) on the Tourmalet<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlyGFzydBFEm5m14HzaD-cQfsHJ6tK3em7kDK_ctX3KcAioFvX4JEgESutR09jNVjDHSCmFpGk7p2z61VY6AAs_V6x1g0XsvJeXGhMV48jirnCR7ENDw-BN49ah9NTDWBHQVruO0POfU/s1600/DSCF2495.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlyGFzydBFEm5m14HzaD-cQfsHJ6tK3em7kDK_ctX3KcAioFvX4JEgESutR09jNVjDHSCmFpGk7p2z61VY6AAs_V6x1g0XsvJeXGhMV48jirnCR7ENDw-BN49ah9NTDWBHQVruO0POfU/s320/DSCF2495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497021472436375602" border="0" /></a>Andy and Alberto go by<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXuToeaAOy4f_iD84Fcm3mUWI3REyndIXPFxxyHWaWgJRfOEV26krO9oUBJ7KEhWlJ-TNx4nuYV0MJ7JQyeXxL928fL-1EkuOC_eB7BacPKUI6L3ijPz2ZLfQCsb_rVUFWZx0-ufdsxw/s1600/DSCF2499.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXuToeaAOy4f_iD84Fcm3mUWI3REyndIXPFxxyHWaWgJRfOEV26krO9oUBJ7KEhWlJ-TNx4nuYV0MJ7JQyeXxL928fL-1EkuOC_eB7BacPKUI6L3ijPz2ZLfQCsb_rVUFWZx0-ufdsxw/s320/DSCF2499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497030534790713762" border="0" /></a>Horner (again), but on the right is Canadian Ryder Hesjedal on the ride of his life, finishing 4th on the stage and slotting into 8th on GC at 9:18<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWpYa4jOTSgo7A5OfLPq6ssQyk_WcPYMszDX1IwNPFBFen7jf90xUg0xjuIW4urcwzQjtC8yycJ2aS7DBkRqr7jRjmklTtwHbd8rMykX24iRDb9a7_sA9acDZ80M-4EJRGQPw24eyNcY/s1600/DSCF2501.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWpYa4jOTSgo7A5OfLPq6ssQyk_WcPYMszDX1IwNPFBFen7jf90xUg0xjuIW4urcwzQjtC8yycJ2aS7DBkRqr7jRjmklTtwHbd8rMykX24iRDb9a7_sA9acDZ80M-4EJRGQPw24eyNcY/s320/DSCF2501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497022703967048258" border="0" /></a>Lance<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7x9FnntPIwSTpd-K6c8R9-nreHpmGHQ776q5PtIXwZ24vjY9x4ctmbswb-MGEuGCFRTeHKasbg__RuiB7pRt8u6M66Oc_lPBcpesVGyWVBr4j69KIPZtMxS13uiKgs1VEKGzwm9VaKUk/s1600/DSCF2520.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7x9FnntPIwSTpd-K6c8R9-nreHpmGHQ776q5PtIXwZ24vjY9x4ctmbswb-MGEuGCFRTeHKasbg__RuiB7pRt8u6M66Oc_lPBcpesVGyWVBr4j69KIPZtMxS13uiKgs1VEKGzwm9VaKUk/s320/DSCF2520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497023845289999250" border="0" /></a>The Rainbow jersey (World Road Champion) of Cadel Evans<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcRx9RSFp84toW3Bs2RQl0qwHu48GeCcbjWPdoxgJch-UgPBgxHsDALX6KGaqZrJ70TXWSMe6FevXHr2fSkzrRfHbaUZhVAmONGV1T7zID7NMyj4QfNq2hgWvup58ubAoB4lfHDWhYVQ/s1600/DSCF2522.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcRx9RSFp84toW3Bs2RQl0qwHu48GeCcbjWPdoxgJch-UgPBgxHsDALX6KGaqZrJ70TXWSMe6FevXHr2fSkzrRfHbaUZhVAmONGV1T7zID7NMyj4QfNq2hgWvup58ubAoB4lfHDWhYVQ/s320/DSCF2522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497024949948219986" border="0" /></a>Fabian Cancellara!<br /></div>Shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02803637636818466139noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7841222577185269092.post-52903195263185608292010-07-21T15:53:00.011-03:002010-07-21T17:09:09.059-03:00Tour de France Pt 1All,<br /><br />Well, I thought I was ready to come over here to challenge the big Pyrennian climbs of the Tour de France...I've had a terrific spring/early summer of training, I try to watch what I eat, and stretch my muscles, yoga, etc. And you know, it really worked. I made it to the summits of both the Col du Soulor (Cat. 1) and the Col d'Aubisque (HC - Hors Category (English - Beyond Category)). The thing is, that my epic wife did the same thing...all the while wondering what all the fuss about this cycling business was all about...nothin' to it. Well, what can I say, she is from GASPEREAU MOUNTAIN...I wonder where it would fit in the categorization. Long story short (for now)...yesterday we had a great day; we caught the peleton about 2 km from the summit of the Aubisque. We stayed (tent) both Monday and Tuesday night in a small village called Arrens Marsous (get your atlases out) at the base of the Soulor. In the morning, I descended down to Argeles Zaoust and climbed back up, then Selena joined me and together we conquered Soulor and Aubsique.<br /><br />And we were treated to none other than Lance Armstrong and Chris Horner of Team Radioshack (aka ShackStrong to some - that's a specific tap on the shoulder to see who's following along) in the break. If you were watching on the tele, yes that idiot in the Cervelo Test Team kit running alongside the breakaway group was yours truly. Next we were treated to great looks of the yellow jersey of Alberto Contador (don't get me started on the scandal of his taking Andy's jersey) and Andy Schleck (Andy looked me right in the eye as I shouted, "Way to go Andy!". Our old friend from the Alpe d'Huez, Mr. Carlos Sastre was also visible in this group. So much to share and I'm a bit pressed for time right now...Cancelara, Hushovd, Pettachi, Wiggins, Cavenish, Millar, Basso, S. Sanchez, and many others were easily spotted.<br /><br />As for today, the rest day, I (solo) climbed the famous Hautacam, and we lifted stakes (literally) and have moved to Bareges (a little less then half way up the most famous Col du Tourmalet). Tomorrow, after the requisite espressos and pain au chocolat, I will descend to Luz Saint Saveur (the official start of the climb), re-ascend to Bareges, pick up Selena, and from here we will challenge the Col.<br /><br />Looking for fireworks from either Contador or Schleck tomorrow. Can't wait.<br /><br />Tomorrow night, we hope to head back south to Spain (though we may end up spending the night here...?) to scout out the beaches outside of Girona so that Deanna and Selena can get a good plan of attack together. Speaking of whom, we're looking forward to Saturday's arrival of Rod and Deanna. Many good times are set to go OFF!<br /><br />Internet access in these small mountain towns has been tough but I promise to be better at updating the blog once we're back in Girona (our apartment has wifi :)<br /><br />Until then, wish us luck - please think dry thoughts (we're about to head out to our rainy tent and the forecast for tomorrow is R-A-I-N...but you won't here us complaining).<br /><br />Seleno<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJwCSC8Pn-KBfubCR5I70p78Uc9fqVBqvR2uHrtizP7Hp7XRhu9CzpmDuj2YPrSG-cz8pAZulLcJV_Y78nbFLbaIbXATnhlNJv2UydDZcWnPN-_tJT2t1F6IMFzHHeN4pXdu4MDyG3LI/s1600/DSCF2377.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJwCSC8Pn-KBfubCR5I70p78Uc9fqVBqvR2uHrtizP7Hp7XRhu9CzpmDuj2YPrSG-cz8pAZulLcJV_Y78nbFLbaIbXATnhlNJv2UydDZcWnPN-_tJT2t1F6IMFzHHeN4pXdu4MDyG3LI/s320/DSCF2377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496444309140796098" border="0" /></a>Home sweet home <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelcqlO1BxSeXOLhkoMpdmZADam-f-GNEUOC9MKEIvuPdhJKU-Jz8NWl-Sr9IvsVt8YsHYOnvy3ULzSG7-6TXg73CoTik0g8d7JxVNR_HHQBG8iVrJHYOBBkQQxtX9i7BJG1ermf4bYnk/s1600/DSCF2385.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelcqlO1BxSeXOLhkoMpdmZADam-f-GNEUOC9MKEIvuPdhJKU-Jz8NWl-Sr9IvsVt8YsHYOnvy3ULzSG7-6TXg73CoTik0g8d7JxVNR_HHQBG8iVrJHYOBBkQQxtX9i7BJG1ermf4bYnk/s320/DSCF2385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496445634026960002" border="0" /></a>Tour de France fans will recognize this guy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlen_KQn-WB7QlyLpZTua1tBX0yFLFWCoyBpiwJsTmxl0Agfs0B1hKegVvpjoDoPs6pIf9kfdR7AdJ2AXJX5lWibDRUj1XaJ-8KKwjhfUqhiauqxcFy4SI6SheFxbccOwaPdCrXQpL-E/s1600/DSCF2391.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlen_KQn-WB7QlyLpZTua1tBX0yFLFWCoyBpiwJsTmxl0Agfs0B1hKegVvpjoDoPs6pIf9kfdR7AdJ2AXJX5lWibDRUj1XaJ-8KKwjhfUqhiauqxcFy4SI6SheFxbccOwaPdCrXQpL-E/s320/DSCF2391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496447136530091010" border="0" /></a>Get that woman a polka dot jersey<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Na8PaJAVhU4t-A2di_xtJcQfsMLO7e9arbl_CKdIFU-7u5zzE0xGjPdDEwG8bTzWFfAxks26r6vehxEYl15jukKhyphenhyphenoNr-OCNCyTJjeQIZGYER1FOdyb1i3rKvdQ89j-Cp5FdlgW2tMk/s1600/DSCF2399.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Na8PaJAVhU4t-A2di_xtJcQfsMLO7e9arbl_CKdIFU-7u5zzE0xGjPdDEwG8bTzWFfAxks26r6vehxEYl15jukKhyphenhyphenoNr-OCNCyTJjeQIZGYER1FOdyb1i3rKvdQ89j-Cp5FdlgW2tMk/s320/DSCF2399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496447992004222370" border="0" /></a>Makin' it look easy<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbSMvxz71VkNAK5oYX2uLg09yStLXqfJtwQFyVvHXlGjsStlskmUc1VZsQHOj5mZlnG7ECeioN1KtTdub7Um4KlHzTPUzJ4j9sPUy45FW13-LgH51x8GbKHHfSp6b_mPIGZFkaPKv1o4/s1600/DSCF2401.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbSMvxz71VkNAK5oYX2uLg09yStLXqfJtwQFyVvHXlGjsStlskmUc1VZsQHOj5mZlnG7ECeioN1KtTdub7Um4KlHzTPUzJ4j9sPUy45FW13-LgH51x8GbKHHfSp6b_mPIGZFkaPKv1o4/s320/DSCF2401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496448814413856002" border="0" /></a>Au sommet de l'Aubisque<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5gkY89gcz15xViveC6n0_d_cyYGXyHVNiKm3M0a9rURXA0M-SyRWAf2QprDPJyDsEcbLoTqAxssz8O1zs9A8VqMv1Yr9e-UmZYh8-DACR8A7-ftxMuAaKMED1Y-FNTOF7m4GUoFh7ck/s1600/DSCF2427.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5gkY89gcz15xViveC6n0_d_cyYGXyHVNiKm3M0a9rURXA0M-SyRWAf2QprDPJyDsEcbLoTqAxssz8O1zs9A8VqMv1Yr9e-UmZYh8-DACR8A7-ftxMuAaKMED1Y-FNTOF7m4GUoFh7ck/s320/DSCF2427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496449970591948002" border="0" /></a>Fortunately the camera caught Chris Horner in the break; unfortunately, it missed Lance (try again tomorrow)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZcGz8AFhIX8X0Y8JfnX5y2tE2WKEHSVo3QqOcGfmSvh89kyqrsJLBxvUOvVq8-b3MkUqmaFhDmyfGaVjIAzD70tlll9XUYJwfOWTkDKXQ52v4cqAVE7sRnM_KaKdHeOvimLRR7w1aag/s1600/DSCF2428.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZcGz8AFhIX8X0Y8JfnX5y2tE2WKEHSVo3QqOcGfmSvh89kyqrsJLBxvUOvVq8-b3MkUqmaFhDmyfGaVjIAzD70tlll9XUYJwfOWTkDKXQ52v4cqAVE7sRnM_KaKdHeOvimLRR7w1aag/s320/DSCF2428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496450997213244818" border="0" /></a>Chasing the break<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1WnAQbu4qhZCPP5ibPUcBSOymIGQYzkk35r5R2MyiGl0f4Dy0D5paoh3t9WSo6bcXNKWTfmpWliqJSBnCr_xR27tPaOR9bd2q9eqLc_dwzUEkF2BibHkC1kRBJZtWVsNV8UL0tTnvD8/s1600/DSCF2440.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1WnAQbu4qhZCPP5ibPUcBSOymIGQYzkk35r5R2MyiGl0f4Dy0D5paoh3t9WSo6bcXNKWTfmpWliqJSBnCr_xR27tPaOR9bd2q9eqLc_dwzUEkF2BibHkC1kRBJZtWVsNV8UL0tTnvD8/s320/DSCF2440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496452124622724114" border="0" /></a>Fabian Cancellara leads a chase group up the Aubisque<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7Ry-3QzMKWtl1GRgIBQL4zBMz2_eu8sTdRS2WGcNAjQZUPd8LXEyPtGjmEYVXLA2f-qSi8bAmvNatrTYavG_FcMB4MrTDP2UOoHIAxePrSaKGx-OsEREt9Ss7lU0wZPrz54DRy2UXRg/s1600/DSCF2450.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7Ry-3QzMKWtl1GRgIBQL4zBMz2_eu8sTdRS2WGcNAjQZUPd8LXEyPtGjmEYVXLA2f-qSi8bAmvNatrTYavG_FcMB4MrTDP2UOoHIAxePrSaKGx-OsEREt9Ss7lU0wZPrz54DRy2UXRg/s320/DSCF2450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496453385444686178" border="0" /></a>A happy guy at Hautacam!<br /></div>Shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02803637636818466139noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7841222577185269092.post-19178525668682917642010-07-18T18:40:00.002-03:002010-07-18T18:52:21.790-03:00ArrivalHi kids! So, two people, two bikes, two backpacks, and two carry-ons made it to Barcelona today; thanks Air Canada (and eventually by train to Girona). A happy event to say the least but indeed it's a hard fought victory.<br /><br />This needs to be a quick check in as it's been a heck of a day--seems like we've been without sleep for a week. Bikes are built back up; car is rented and parked; head is clearing. Tomorrow bright and early we head north to France's Haute Pyrenees to position ourselves for Stage 16 of the Tour de France on the regions 2nd most famous climb, the Col d'Aubisque. This is the current challenge on the docket. We'll be living in a tent by the side of the road(s) for the next three or four nights, so unless the cafes have wifi, this may be all you'll hear from us for a while...but if I can get something up, I will as soon as I can.<br /><br />What's the MOST famous climb in the region, you ask? That would be the Col du Tourmalet where we hope to be for Stage 17 on Thursday. (Rest day on Wednesday.)<br /><br />Good night all.<br /><br />Seleno (pics will be coming eventually)<br /><br />PS The only way to describe the heat here is 'unattainable' as in I can't picture the Maritimes producing this amount of heat - killer.Shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02803637636818466139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7841222577185269092.post-74201903306467264822010-07-15T23:18:00.002-03:002010-07-15T23:23:33.786-03:00Packing and PreppingThe list is long; I don't know how it's all going to get done. Come to think of it, maybe it won't, and I'm sure it'll all work out in the end.<br /><br />Check back, say, Sunday night for our first official post (hopefully by then). I have no idea what the internet access is going to be like in the Hautes Pyrenees - I know that our tent doesn't have wifi...so if I don't get something out on Sunday, it may have to wait til July 24...<br /><br />Until then, please wish us luck!<br /><br />SelenoShanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02803637636818466139noreply@blogger.com11