SUNDAY, DAY 24

SUNDAY, DAY 24

OUCH!!

WE ARRIVED IN FLORENCE ABOUT 2:30 BUT NOT WITHOUT SOME “BUMPS AND BRUISES”.  ONLY 4 BIG CLIMBS TODAY BUT THEY WERE MONSTERS, NOT LIKE THE ALPS BUT SHORTER AND STEEPER.

OUR FINAL CLIMB REACHED GRADES OF 22% AND THE ROADS WERE HORRIBLE.  EACH OF US HAD TO WALK PART OF THE CLIMB BECAUSE OF THE GRADE / ROAD SURFACE.  THANKFULLY THE FINAL 9 MILES OF THE RIDE WERE MOSTLY DOWNHILL TO THE HOTEL.

WE’RE STAYING AT THE BEAUTIFUL HOTEL VILLA FIESOLE FIRENZE WHICH IS SITUATED JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

TOMORROW IS A MUCH NEEDED REST DAY.  WE’VE COME SOME 1,200 + MILES AND CLIMBED MORE THAN 100,000 FEET IN ELEVATION.  OUR FRIEND TIM WALMSLEY WHO WE RODE WITH ON THE CROSS COUNTRY TOUR, THE WEST COAST RIDE FROM CANADA TO MEXICO AND A STAGE OF THE CAESAR TRIP (LONDON TO ROME) WILL JOIN US FOR THE FINAL 6 DAYS OF THE TOUR.  IT WILL BE GREAT TO CATCH UP AND RIDE WITH TIM.

CIAO,

M AND BIG

“M” LOOKING SKINNY AND VERY FAST IN HER VENTOUX JERSEY.  SHE IS CRUSHING THIS TOUR EVEN ON THE 12 - 16% GRADES!