Days 13, 14 and 15 - everyone knows it's windy

Day 13 - 105 km

Wind can be a real scourge.  It can scour landscapes, strip land of life, shape rock, erode shorelines, etch surfaces, displace items, impede communications,, weaponize sand grains, denude trees, scatter piles, and generally muck things up.

Wind can also be a blessing. It gives life to sailors, camp fires, gliders and kites.

This was a "muck things up" wind day. 

It was a shorter day today; just over 100km. Things progressed nicely along our seashore route. Cars and traffic featured quite prominently in the morning, slowing process and fraying nerves. Then came the heat. Dry bulb measurements probably put the temperature in the low thirties celsíous, but the real effect is far stronger when factoring in road and ashfault warming, and the real temperature was closer to 40 degrees.

'Heat' is the new headwind, and has become a fresh factor in our riding. Still, better than ice.

We limp into the small town of Nissan broken and bedraggled, having fought the last 10km up a hill, in the heat and bullied by a particularly strong headwind. This is a hard day for everyone.

Day 14

Well, now we add a new challenge: traffic.

This is the second day of mighty winds - head winds and tail winds. We are tossed around the road like leaflets, which is a problembnow that the road is filled with fast-moving cars. Bad day for riding and particularly tough for Alison. In solidarity, she and I ride together in the van and bypass a particularly dangerous 9 mile stretch of highway. Turns out to be a good thing, as it takes some of the sting out of riding for Alison, and saves me from having my light frame hoisted skyward when attempting to cross a harshly wind-raked causeway. Respect for those who made the trek.

Still, wind and traffic stole the show today.

Day 15

I loved this day.  

We cross into Spain in the morning, passing quickly through the unmanned border control stations.

Spain is very different, including the call girls who solicit at the rest stops along the highway.

We see the return of hills and feel the threat of the Pyrenees mountains that now surround us. I like the hills and enjoy the climbs that are on our route.

Lunch today includes a sangria, as they all will henceforth.

An oasis appears at the 90th km, as Julian's bother appears roadside with cold water, lemonade and Madelines.

We are now very close to Barcelona and I am overtaken by a sudden sadness as I come to recognize that this is all about to end. 

We have an award ceremony in the evening, which is hilarious. And I have my standard two dinners, which helps cut the enoi but in truth I will quite miss this assembly of champions, each with a great story and international flair.

Tomorrow, I see my wife, and all will be good.