Bob on BAC Majorca 2007

Rollers along the coast


Botiga

The Ride - The ride started south along the coast. It had more of our previous long rollers high above the Mediterranean. I rode alone mostly because the other riders were doing various alternate routes. They were afraid of the mid-day heat and their legs were getting tired. I reached Andratx after 23km and turned inland.

The rest of the ride was on narrow country roads with little traffic. The road went up and down through three different valleys. I passed several small villages. In Capdella, I went into a botiga (Mallorcan for bodega) where I spotted Alison. With her Spanish language skills, she helped me buy a freshly made salami and cheese sandwich with tomato and olive oil. (It turned out that the shopkeeper spoke some English and I probably could have done this myself). I also filled up my water bottles with a large agua sin gas. I rested here and chatted with Alison. She was doing the same loop in the opposite direction. Peter and Rod had done this, too, reasoning that it would be cooler later in the day along the coast.

I ate my lunch at the top of the next hill in the shade watching other cyclists go up and down the road.

The temperature was now varying between 85 and 92 so I was anxious to get back to the hotel and cool off. I did, though, go through some beautiful countryside. On one stretch as I was riding along a high wall, bird calls were echoing back and forth. I was going to record them, but I was too focused to stop.

Google Earth

The Hotel - We spent out second night at the Hotel Mar I Vents.

The Food - Breakfast was served on the outside balcony. It was the usual buffet. No eggs were ready so I had a very good granola along with assorted pastries.

As I mentioned above, I bought a lunch mid-ride and ate it picnic-style.

Dinner salad

Tonight's dinner was the farewell dinner for our group because one of the riders was leaving after tomorrow's ride. The dinner was held at Son Tomas - a restaurant up the street from the hotel. Typical of Spain, it started late. They conceded to us, though, and let us begin at 7:30. I had the house salad, fish ala Mallorca and chocolate cake with frozen yogurt. The fish was a thick white fish covered with kale, thin slices of leeks, tomato, raisins and pine nuts. It sat on slices of potatoes. It looks really good but it is a little bland. I've had fish cooked a similar way several times on the tour and have never been totally satisfied. The dinner was fun, though, and the wine flowed freely.

Non-Cycling Activity - Happy hour was inside tonight. The sun on the outside terrace was too bright and too hot the night before. Dorlene presented Alison a framed embroidery of a Spanish women in a long pink dress. Dorlene made it and we all signed it for Alison.

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