OUR "FLAT" DAY -- NOT

 This is Grady's flat railbed country. Any railroad that ever ran here was a funicular. By day's end our little day jaunt was the equivalent of Sidney to Duncan, only over the Malahat 3 times, all in the mid-90's. A good bit of the time we were hopelessly lost, and every remote farm house had a pack of rabid dogs crashing into feeble fences in an effort to get at us. Not conducive to asking directions.  It was, however, beautiful country, much of it National Park, and back at the hotel we all fell into the pool. Thank goodness for Daryl's " suggestion" that we get a pool.

EN ROUTE TO RUTE

 We arrive in Rute and search out the Oficina Turismo which is, as usual, closed. Grady, in charge of todays trip over promised trails from abandoned railroad lines (therefore flat, don't you know) left all the maps in the hotel lobby while we fixed Laurie's 6th flat tire, he's through with candles and churches forever, and threw away the Koran. Here Grady assures us that he's got it all cased out,and its a level run. The cleaning lady showed up at the office and opened it up to give us maps. Rute is apparently famous for it Anise, and she pulled out a bottle with shot glasses. All but Laurie bellied up to the bar and a few shots later off we went. Ross claimed vision in his glass eye as he weaved down the road out of town.

HOTEL CIUDAD LUCENA

 Daryl's complaining finally wins the day and we book into a mountaintop hotel with a pool. The only access is up a horrible final hill, but anything to keep Daryl happy. Below is the breakfast spread. We were almost the only guests, beautiful 4 star modern hotel with all the amenities, 45 EUs each for big almost suite rooms with balconies over the central courtyard.

On to Lucena

There is such a thing as Blogger's Block and it is similar to the computer yips, at which time another team member steps in and has a go........As estimates have it we are gaining readership exponentially and therefore have a greater obligation to completeness and  accuracy.  I will therefore firstly explain that we are finally tuned athletes and cannot be responsible for the posting of blog entries out of order....as Ross says (constantly) it is what it is. ....We left off in Santaella, literally translating "Saint she", with a great statue in the Plaza devoted to Women, which we all toasted in the course of re-hydrating for the remainder of of our ride to Aguilar.  Again direct translation of Aguilar is eagle and sure enough for the 4th time that day we rode high up to the eyrie. Not only was the town on a hill, there was not a level street in the town. After no fewer than 3, including the local constabulary, advising us there was no hotel in town, we persevered and discovered a Pension next to a delightful tavern/restaurant, with a delightful  camonera who, at Laurie's urging ordered our dinner for us, as we seemed to be getting nowhere with explanationls. Exhausted we hit beds with the knowledge that the next day was only 25ks and we could afford a leisurely      start after a great breakfast at the same little place next door and the same delightful young lady serving.  Naturally having pedaled to the top of yet another Spanish feudal village hill top, you would think we might enjoy an equally long coast down...?  Well, Laurie had yet another flat before we could get out of the Pension, so we had to find a bike shop which turned out to be at the bottom of the incoming hill which meant, well, you get the picture. The rest of the trip was uneventful from  a negative stand point as we rode into a olive oil farm and got a mini tour of the operation from the owner. We are in Lucena which appears to be somewhat more protected from the economic malaise than what we have been seeing. W are all
learning lots even if, in around about way. Laurie announced that he had finally mastered the water fountain in the bathrooms but when we explained the function of the bidet he had to start over again. .....That is payback for taking and publishing a picture of me falling off my bike!...We are in a very smart hotel with a pool, so now Darryl's whining for a pool can stop....I'll pay for that. Tomorrow we are off for the first in a series of local rides of 70-100ks without panniers!

FLAT REPAIR - 4 IN ONE DAY

Laurie had stupidly ridden through a ditch to investigate ears of corn in a huge corn field. The ditch must have been filled with thorns that then pierced the kevlar tires like going through butter.

ROADRASH

Grady kindly demonstrates the proper technique for acquiring Roadrash. A typical village in the background.

HEADING SOUTH TO THE HILLS

We begin to enter intensive agricultural areas with small hilltop white villages huddled around old castles.