Having an absolute ball here in Lenola and loving it. The Friday that the clycle tour started Dianne and I got dropped at a beach town called Spalonga whilst Dave and Emma went to pick up the rest of the crew. We had a lovely morning sitting in our rented deck chairs under the umbrella's ducking off for the occasional swim. Of course I completely miss timed how long it would take before I got sun burnt so I got me a nice red belly that has only just left me some 4 days later. The night before had been the hotel owners 50th and suns 18th so we had all got completely written off and I think I went to bed around 4am. The beach was the perfect solution. So the Crew arrived that arvo and we all had a lunch together. The crew consists of James and Anne Dickey ( A training friend from Melb and his mum, they won the trip last year), 2 older couples all above 60, Dianne who has known Dave for 30 years and Rowena. No not me actually a Rowena. Very amusing to have my female namesake here and it leads to lots of confusion cos we both respond to every call. James, Emma and myself have become the A team riding large rides to meet the rest at the designated spot and the ride home each day has involved a chase down of Rowena who has become know to us as the rabbit. She gets a fair head start but she is pretty good on the bike so catching her has taken till today and a full tilt team time trial for 4km's. The first day we went to a town near by called Vallecorsa for some group photos. Turnned out the town was having a festival that day and we were all invited to stay for a large lunch and town tour. The lunch was great, as all food has been here in Italy but actually getting away to come home turned out to be some what difficutlt. After a church tour and some choir singing though we got away and back here for yet another large dinner. Day 2 was race day for the A team. The race was just outside Fondi which is the large town 10kms away at the base of the hill. There was some confusion over our entry and it turned out we could race but we would have no race numbers on. Didn't worry us but it did mean not being on the results either. James and I headed out for a practice lap and realised that the much talked about easy race was a bit of a myth. The course had the hardest climb I've ever ridden in a race with about 400 height meters at around a 15% to 20% gradient and then straight into a fast decent of road and rock garden sections. All up it was a 6km loop and we were to do 4 laps. There was pretty much no shade on the course and it was the hottest day since I had arrived. I really felt sorry for James still suffering jet lag and coming from the cold Melbourne weather. It also turned out they were not all novice riders had been expected. Yes Mum and Dad, Italy being the home of cycling had some bloody strong riders. The start was fast and furious with the first climb having us gasping for air. One guy rode off the front with a great show of power. I climbed in a bunch with 4 others and eventually topped the climb in 3rd with 2nd right in front. The decent however was taken at speeds I was not feeling safe on so I backed off a bit which left me some hard work to do on lap 2 to get back to the guys I was with. In the end I just wasn't going to take the risks on the descents and I couldn't bring them back enough on the climbs. The results were a bit unclear and I wasn't on them but I either finished in 3rd or 4th. I was completely spent at the end and the ride home was a tough one. James rode well but the heat and time off the bike got to him especially on the last lap. His riding much stronger now I must say and at times we have to tell each other to slow down as we both think the other is setting the pace. Emma rode well to beat her one other opponent who I at one stage saw walking a road corner on the down hill. Not quite the opposition that James and I had. We hung around and had a bit of a feed at the end and then got called up onto the podium at the presentations. At this point we were all presented with a 2kg piece of Salami each. Great so Ive now got 2kg's of Salami and Im a vegetarian. The group has some ideas of who I should give it to but Im not so convinced myself that its not being a bit dodgy. Will have to see. I think the hotel owner is a better option. That arvo we headed to Sperlonger and spent the arvo on the beach and swimming. Sensational thing to do after a big race I must say. So day 3 morning was pretty basic. The A team did a big ride and met the bunch for coffee. Miss timed our chase and then sat for a nice small lunch as that arvo we were invited to the hotel owners sisters house for dinner. Now that was a great night out. Got a tour of a few local historic sites, saw the cycloptic rocks and a lake and some other old s***. Then back for the feast. They hadent been told I was a vegetarian so the plan was to go hard on anydish that was vegetarian just in case it was the last. So after the entrée which was all vegi I was feeling pretty full. The next dish was a paster that had no meat and that had me right royaly hoping that I could sit out the 3rd dish. Well it was meat but it came accompanied with potatoes and string beans. Once Rosa knew I was vegi I then got a huge serve of them. Great another night spent hurting from eating too much. Dave pitched this trip at me as "you could ride all day and still gain weight" Well his not wrong. Just had a ride up to a hill top picnic spot where a church is. The A team went the long way and then gave the bunch a head start for the home trip. As I said it took a full time trial by James and myself to pick up the rabbit but with just 20meters to the sign we got her. So there went just an easy ride day. So Im having a ball and loving the tour to bits. It's a divers group and lots of fun is being had. Cant wait to fill you in on the rest of it, including the 8km time trial and the 500 meter 20% time trial in days to come. Bring on the hills I say.