El Mejor Agua

(A few weeks ago)

Beautifully sunny and windy for today’s 4.5 hour ride. Did a loop with Sam through awesome tunnels, sometimes half a mile long, and along great countryside. Then did yesterday’s ride in reverse, stealing four tangerines along the way. At the tops of the climbs, you zip up your shirt and put your glasses back on and look back at the valley you came from, and you feel light enough to climb another mountain. But it’s time to descend.

Felix (El Canario) pointed out a water fountain a few days ago in a small town we often pass through. I rolled up to it, filled my bottle, and glanced up to see a (really) old man walking towards me. He launched into a speech glorifying the quality of the water from this very fountain, talking about how it is the “milk” of the town (I think I heard him right), how it comes down from the mountains and travels underneath the buildings, and that people from all over come to drink from it. I had a great time chatting with him, and as I pulled away I had a taste from my bottle and it really might be the best water I’ve ever had.