Well today’s the last day I have my set out routine, and after I post this I get to think about tomorrows ride and getting over that finish line (and into the swimming pool).
I had a sneaky feeling today could be tough. I didn’t however anticipate it being just as hard as it was. I was thinking about what to put in the blog tonight within the first 2 or 3 miles. I got the coastal road and had views of the coastline with massive cliff faces and the sea to my left. I wish I hadn’t thought about it to be honest as today’s ride has been anything but nice. I would have taken more photos of the views I saw this morning but there was a big mist coming in off the sea and it was evening fogging up my glasses.
At one point today riding through Ejido I wish I wasn’t on the road bike and had a full on suspension mountain bike! The road was terrible. I haven’t rode on anything as lumpy and bumpy as that the whole trip.I also got stitched up at a vending machine today. They have machines that let you buy litre and a half bottles of water. So I put my money in and didn’t get nothing out. A lesson learnt and one that I will only need learning once.
Today would have been a perfect day to be doing the ride with a support team. I was dying out there at some points, not only from the ride but also from the heat. At about 2 o’clock the heat was so severe that I wish I could have been riding in my underpants! I was fortunate enough to be riding towards a tunnel. I must have gone through 2 miles worth of tunnels today, however I didn’t stop to get my bike lights out before hand. Just decided to push on and pedal faster through them.Two things happened day several times. The first was me nearly reaching breaking point. Not a nice feeling but the legs just wanted to give up. The other was riding round a corner and having such a strong wind in the face that it stopped me dead in my track.
I thought I heard rocks falling from the cliffs at one point today, wasn’t until I looked back that I saw my first deer of the ride. Its only taken 30 days, but after seeing hundreds of deer signs it was about time I got to see one. I was lucky to see two, young deer at that looking for the nearest tree to shade under.I got really tired today at the 70 mile mark. I think its all starting to take its toll on me now. But I decided I needed to pull my finger out and crack on. I don’t know if you have been noticing but my average mph has been dropping the last few days and I’m guessing my mind is telling my body that its nearly all over and fatigue is kicking in.
I have only just realised that I have broken my max speed record. I didn’t even realise. I’m a little bit gutted about it as before today I knew the stretch of road which I broke it on, even got a photo. Where as today I don’t know where it was. Nevermind, nearly 44mph, that’s quick!Today has felt a bit like a Rocky moment, I’m climbing up those steps and only a few from reaching the top. Tomorrow I get to reach that top and reflect on what has been an amazing experience.
Today’s journey was 81.69 miles, riding time of 6:47:45, max speed 43.74 mph, avg speed 12.02 mph, 4907 calories, 9.5 litres so far.
I Just Felt Like Cycling 