Training Log Archive: Charlie

In the very chaotic airport in Split, awaiting a flight to Rome. We have been cycling the islands for the last week, living on a boat, with very spotty internet. Don’t know that I had any idea what to expect, so it was all a surprise. We cycled on four islands, first Brać, then Vis, Korčula, Hvar and then Brać again. The islands are all mountainous, so there was a lot of climbing, all of it hot as there is little to no shade, but very pleasant in those moments of shade. I will fill in when I get to good internet and retrieve my tracks. Very clean, wonderful swimming in perfectly clear salty water.

A little trouble with back and r leg, but the last day was my best and I finished strong and pain free, or mostly. Very nice people on the trip.

Last ride of the trip, from Postira to Splitska and Supetar, a long climb up to the middle of the island, and then a long stop to tour a gallery and have a traditional Peka lunch at Donji Humac. The gallery was a family affair, with limestone sculpture, painting, limestone architectural products, jewelry. they have their own gallery. The lunch was nice. Peka is more or less pot roast, very slow cooked meat and vegetables. Choice of either octopus or mixed meats, lamb, veal and chicken. So of course we had both, and then staggered back. When we were almost back we got talked into heading uphill another 3K to the charming little town of Dol, built in a tight little valley full of caves, and famous for walnut cake. I was still feeling pretty stuffed, but managed a half piece of walnut cake and it was pretty fabulous. Then back to the boat, and another nice swim. Very pleasant not to be taking my bike apart and packing it instead of swimming. I will not bring my own bike on one of these trips again!

This was by far my best day, and not much discomfort even on the climb. The day off really helped me a lot. Generally on these climbs, I started out near the back and picked people off on the way up, ending up in the first 2 or 3. This time I was well clear of everybody except Rhonda on her e-bike.

Not a lot of distance in total, about 280K, but every day had strenuous climbs and hot weather. Lots of stops to reconvene, or to get something to eat, etc., and I didn't much bother to turn my watch off for them, so the time is way off.

Dropped off the group in Bol, but R and I decided we didn't want to do the trip across Brać to Postira, so we just took the boat ride around and then went for a nice swim. Gave me, Rhonda and Kade a chance to rest up, and Kate wasn;t going anyway because she was pretty beat up from her fall the day before. found a nice hiking trail that goes between Postira and Bol, but too late to go very far with it by the time we found it.

The others came back a few hours later. We could see them arriving, some of us from the water, some from the outdoor tables in the shade next to the wine bar next to the beach.

The beaches are all pebbly, not a grain of sand anywhere, and can't say that I missed it. Very nice beach in Postira. Pretty pleasant.. Otherwise, Postira was less interesting than other towns, or maybe just a lot less going on.

Fairly hard ride out of Jelsa and through the charming little Vrboska, then a long climb up to lunch and a visit with the lavender lady, quite a favorite of the tour organizers and a charming person. She sold quite a bit of product, lavender related items and bicycle jerseys. After the lunch there was a choice of going down the big hill 10K to Hvar, looking around and then coming back, meaning another climb, going down to Hvar and getting a cab back, or just turning back. I was with the just turning back group, of which there were four of us. Four more went to Hvar and then took a cab all the way back to Jelsa, one under some duress because of a hard fall. Only two made the whole ride out and back. I was feeling pretty cooked, so really didn't want the extra hill, and Rhonda was ready to get back. The swimming in Jelsa was excellent!

On Hvar, from Suceraj in the east over to Jelsa, where we spent two nights. Had some chamois butt'r from one of the other cyclists which helped, but struggling still. Jelsa is quite a nice town.

On Korčula. We got dropped off by the boat at Prigradica, then a long ride along the island the long way to the old town of Korčula, where we looked at the old house where Marco Polo was born, had some ice cream, then the last 15 K to pick up the boat again at Racišce for the evening ride over to Hvar. A lot of climbing, not much shade, but I was hanging in there until Korčula, but the last 15 K or so really did me in. A fair amount of saddle chafing, sore back and just generally dragging toward the end.

Boat ride from Brać to Vis this morning, then on the bikes over a very sparky hill to Komviša on the other side of the island, where we had lunch and wandered around town. For lunch I had a pizza with tuna and anchovies which turned out to be a lot more tuna than I would have imagined, then back on the bikes again, back over another big climb and back to the boat at Vis.

Then we changed and walked around the other side of the harbor to a nice pebbly beach for some excellent swimming. The water is warm and way more buoyant than I am used to. Delightful.

C • Beach shoes 3