Easy Day

After an easy day of exercises for my knee and riding on the trainer yesterday, I headed out today with Chris and Chris for a low pace three hour ride. Aside from a bit of rain and stubbornly cold temperatures, we had a pleasant jaunt over our default climb of Beniarés. Unfortunately, to avoid rain on the other side of the pass, we turned back instead of completing the full loop which DuBois has affectionately named "Las Mandarinas". As the title suggests, the final part of the route carries us by a grove of Clementine Orange trees which we take the liberty of sampling each time we pass. Last time I picked up around 15 of these little citrus gems from the ground and spent the rest of the week enjoying the best oranges I've ever tasted for breakfast every morning.

On the way back, my knee seemed to sense the end of our training session for the day and began hurting. As our topographical situation demands an unavoidable final ascent before entering Alcoy, DuBois undertook the chivalrous task of giving me a bit of a push up hill to ease my articular strain. Rolling in to town I split off with the other Chris to go visit Isaac, my Venezuelan friend who I roomed with two years ago (Speaking of Venezuelan roomates, the word on the street is that Jackson is going to be riding for Aqua Sapone of Italy). I talked to him about papers and visas and other such bureaucratic nonsense in regard to finding work. The highlight of my day was to discover that his boss may need another part-time mechanic within a month or so. I would be working 3-4 hours a day 5 days a week. I have my fingers crossed.

It is very cold here without heat. This afternoon's task is to find tahini in order to make Hummus.

So far the highlight of my week has been to hear that I get to talk to KO from India this Saturday!

-SWS