They’ve done it! They’ve completed the ride of a lifetime and I couldn’t be prouder! My only regrets are that Tom, Michael and I are not there to celebrate with them! What an amazing effort by an amazing group of guys! And they couldn’t have done it without the fabulous support of John…really “Bravo to you all”! Punctures, landslides, rockfalls the whole shooting match…and today the pedals even fell off (one anyway and Richard W again)!
I am reliably informed that the guys are like zombies for the first hour after the ride until they have replenished. Tonight they skipped snacks and went straight out to the restaurant. It’s like an episode of The Cycling Dead, apparently! They were late in due to a combination of distance (another 100-miler), flying pedals and being directionally challenged! Apparently they got “Komooted” once again and were sent on a gravel path through a forest on their way into Como. That reduced their speed significantly.
They left from one lake (Garda) and arrived at another (Como) with some stunning scenery in-between!
Dinner was on me, so the team went upmarket! It was a celebration of a great month and involved copious quantities of wine (I know because they video-called me while waiting for the Limoncellos to arrive!). Fizzy wine to begin (a 2014 Emozione by Villa Franciacorta) followed by a 2018 Vertigo by Livio Felluga. Starters were mixed seafood and a Sicilian shrimp pasta, mains were a flaming sea bass prepared at the table and a sea bream in a Sicilian sauce. Dessert was a pistachio and lemon soufflé, a pistachio and chocolate cake and a very tasty cheese.
I reflected that it was remarkable that nobody had fallen out with anybody of the group despite the close proximity(!) and John did say that he had demonstrated the patience of a saint! They all reminded me that, in fact, I was the only one to have strong words and that only when we lost Richard S!
In a year where charities are struggling to raise funds, it was very special to be able to raise nearly $220,000 for two fabulous causes. Without the team completing the ride it would have felt like a fraud! A lifetime of memories and, I expect, lifelong friendships will have developed over the last month. I just wish I had been there for longer.
My broken, plated and screwed wrist and our story of 4 different planned routes and relocation to Europe just add to the color of the overall effort which took 10 months to plan, train for and execute!
I will wish you all farewell as I wind up the blog; it has been a lot of fun to do. I thank all of you who made kind and generous donations and wish you a safe end to the year. There will be more cycle rides, there will be more fun and laughter, there will be many more friendships to craft and, whilst not a religious person, I find myself praying to St. Anthony that our lost sense of normality and reason will once again be found!
Over and out! And my favorite wine was the Brunello….go buy some!
Data: 101 miles (162km), elevation 3,617 feet (1,096m). Grand Total: 2,149 miles (3,438km), elevation 92,289 feet (28,322m).