SUNDAY, DAY 3

TODAY WAS A DIFFICULT DAY.

AFTER A NIGHT IN A BEAUTIFUL HOTEL AND A WONDERFUL BREAKFAST, WE HEADED OUT FOR OUR 70 MILE, 5300 ELEVATION GAIN RIDE.

THE FIRST 50 MILES OF THE RIDE WE EXTREMELY FLAT BUT THE REMAINING 20 WAS COMPRISED OF A 12 MILE CLIMB AVERAGING 7 - 8 % GRADIENT AND THE FINAL 8 ON A NARROW DESCENT ON A NOT SO WONDERFUL ROAD.  I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN’T MENTION THE TEMPERATURE FLIRTED WITH 100F FOR MOST OF THE AFTERNOON.

WE LEFT OUR HOTEL AT 9:30 THIS MORNING AND ARRIVED IN CERET, FRANCE AT 5;30.  THE BORDER BETWEEN SPAIN AND FRANCE WAS NON EXISTENT,,,,,,,,,,NO WELCOME TO FRANCE SIGNS, NO CHECK POINTS, NOTHING TO SHOW WHERE YOU ACTUALLY CROSSED FROM SPAIN INTO FRANCE.

THE TEAM ENJOYED A FEW BEERS FOLLOWING THE RIDE, I HAD MY COKE A COLA.
M AND I DECIDED TO TAKE A NAP BEFORE OUR EVENING ROUTE RAP TO DISCUSS TOMORROWS ITINERARY.   WHEN I WENT TO GET UP, MY LEGS STARTED TO CRAMP UNCONTROLLABLY.  MY RESIDENT EMT WAS A LIFESAVER KEEPING ME FROM INJURING MYSELF MORE WHEN I PASSED OUT TWICE.  THE HANNIBAL TEAM (DR. STEPHEN YATES, BRUNO, MARCO AND LIAM HELPED GET ME INTO BED AND BROUGHT IN BANANAS, HYDRATION TABLETS, SALTED POTATO CHIPS AND TUMS TO HELP CONTROL THE CRAMPING.  AFTER ABOUT 1 HOUR I STARTED FEELING BETTER BUT STILL WARY OF STANDING UP AND PUTTING WEIGHT ON MY LEGS.  PROBABLY WON’T RIDE TOMORROW TO ALLOW THE CRAMPS TO SETTLE DOWN.

I’M PRAYING FOR A COMFORTABLE NIGHT AND NO TRIPS TO THE HOSPITAL.

LOVE TO ALL,

M AND BIG

RESERVOIR 

BEAUTIFUL OLIVE TREE

GULF OF ROSES

M AN LIAM ENJOYING A COFFEE BREAK

WONDERFUL LUNCH PREPARED BY CHEF MARCO