Mallorca, Day 4
Monday, 19 MarchToday was day four of my first series during my training camp on Mallorca and it worked out really well. I went out with Pepi again today and we wanted to pass Santa Maria and head to Inca along the Cami Muro. It took some searching at times as the sign markers are not always there where you or I might expect them to be. But after 2h30 we made it to Inca. It was going to be the longest ride of camp so far at for a midday stop after that long it was shaping up to be just that. But Inca was cool and a cafe was perfect with a great "Americano" which I think is a large watered down espresso. Not sure but it hits the spot.
The hotel is much quieter today than the last days. Seems some larger groups have departed. Meals are a more decent affair. I was worried at the breakfast bar with so many hands all reaching and cutting breads that there would be a few fingers in those bread rolls.After lunch we headed back a different way and crossed a really cool town where I got a pic but nothing else. One of the drawbacks of road cycling. One is not really apt to take the time to visit the local tourist center while on a 100+ kilometer ride - the day is already going to be long enough. But I did grab a picture of Pepi leaving me behind.
The last 90 minutes back were all with the wind at our backs and somewhat downhill too. I felt like I was cheating at times, just coasting along. But when we made it back to Arenal I decided to "tack on" a few more. Like I had not been on enough with 90km already, I was thinking of two guys in Christchurch whose podcast about long distance triathlon ( dang that IMTalk ) I have been a supporter of for years. Their training camps or some called "epic camp" had the concept of the daily to do but for those wanting bonus points would 'tack on' a few more. That was exactly what was going through my head at 4pm.
I tacked on a ride to Palma up past the Cathedral and back all in a gale wind. That added another 35k just just over an hour. At that point I was cooked. But heck tomorrow is a rest day.I made it to dinner a bit late due to the extra effort, and after one plate I gave up. I am really tired now. It is just past 7:30pm and my eyes are falling shut. I want to chat with the family in 20 minutes and I hope to make that. It has been a good few days. I have done more biking in 4 days than I have done in 2 months. But I think that is the point of a camp. It has halftime, or Bergfest. I expect now the second half to be even tougher. There are some epic rides still to do. Now is the time and the place. As I keep telling Pepi each time he questioned if we were taking the right turn here and there, "der Weg ist das Ziel" = Carpe Diem, or as Jimmy Buffet might say, 'if the wind is blowing west, you go west'. Enjoy the ride.Tomorrow is tourist day. Can I leave the bike hanging for a day? My lower quadrant is telling me that might be a good idea.Till then! Andrew
Stats: 6h18m, 125km, 131 avg HR, temp 16C, 615 m climbing, 3500 calories spent, PE mediumCamp Sub-TTL 17h35m, 356km, 2560m, 11350cal
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