Gran C Finale

We kept in the wind shadow of the mountains for most of our ride today and had a fabulous return outing up to San Bartolomé. A couple of years ago, I was in an iron deficit and my muscles were in multiple tight knots, like a vice around hips. Today, life uphill felt wonderful! 

We chatted to an Italian from Bologne (at the mirador on the left hand horizon) who was on his way to the summit and another guy (not far from this viewpoint) who was proving, on his 60th birthday, he could still make it to the top too. Although not a wind warning today, it was still predicted to be gusting to 70-80km/h up there so we hope they made it. 

The waiter in the cafe was exceptionally hospitable and even brought us an orange each to go with our tortilla. 

The roads were as phenomenal as we remembered them, and, with the weather still wild on the east, we cut straight down to the coast on a new road from Santa Lucia, another tremendously scenic area. 

Near the bottom, the wind was as ferocious as we've ever cycled. Somewhat unnerving for a while in the cross-wind but once on our tail, it was like we'd been whisked on a fast conveyor belt for the last, almost flat, eight miles home. We had a crazy average speed for that section, barely putting in any effort.

One poor soul was going the other way!