We had promised the Columbia team that we would do them a favor and drive back to Service Course to get some supplies. So, the day consisted of an 1100km drive. End of story – almost. We did the drive, and got to the team hotel about 8pm and delivered the goods. Did some work on wheels, and then we were invited to eat dinner with the team staff. Pretty cool! Dinner was good, and I got to know the team mechanics a little better (John already knows them, he has been over here before). About halfway through dinner, the lads showed up. It so happened that Mark Cavendish had finally won a stage that day, so everyone was in very good spirits. There were toasts to Cav and his teammates, and everyone had a good time.
We packed up and managed to make it to our hotel about 11:15. Long day.
The next day, the race headed to the Alps, and we headed there too. We stopped at a rest area, and it was very pretty. We were not the only ones to think so, this family apparently has had a rest area picnic or two before.
We though these were the Alps. Not quite. At the other end of that bridge are 3 long tunnels. When you come out of the last one, then you are in the Alps. The real thing is MUCH pointier than these
We eventually found our hotel. It was a pretty nice one for a change. Since we had some time we went for a ride, only the second one of the entire trip. In the Alps, what do you do but climb mountains? We headed for an imposing ridge and after a 20 minute ride through beautiful farm country and three small towns we were climbing a mountain in a National Forest. The road was small and lumpy but paved, not too bad to ride on. I was sure we would not see another soul, but as we rode along we saw a girl in the distance, pumping away on here mountain bike.
Then we saw this guy, and eventually four other people, all on klunkery bikes, just out for an evening cruise up the mountain. It was getting late, and we could here thunder not far off, so we turned around.
At least John seems to be having fun, in spite of all the driving and lack of riding.
We got back, ate our third pizza in as many days, and then took care of some business:
Au Revoir!
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