MA2 Off course - of course

Early start for our first day's riding.  I like Vivienne's style who begins the day with with a glass of cava from the buffet breakfast.  Vivienne is not riding, I think some of us were wondering if we have quite the right idea for the way to spend a holiday.  Cava for breakfast does sound very decadent!

Before we set off, Stuart our leader, gives a briefing.  He is very keen for us to practice riding together as a group.  This is the first time that there has been a social/Intros group on a VCC holiday and he wants to make sure everyone stays safe.

The first day is planned as an easy 50-60 miles and I think my favourite part of the day was the coffee stop at Muro and Laura ordering the cakes in her very best Spanish, which appeared to be speaking in English, but using a Spanish accent.

Manuel would have been proud!

We then head off to lunch, but we don't necessarily take the best route out of Maria and end up with some off roading.

This does result in our first puncture of the day

We then remain firmly off course for the rest of the day.

Most of the group have shiny new Garmins and were quite enjoying following the route on the Garmin,  but we end up resorting to checking out the trusty paper maps.

We have lunch at Petra which is a cyclist Mecca.

We have done 35 miles by this point and have the rest of the afternoon to complete the remaining 25 miles, so can look forward to a nice relaxed ride back again and finally with a tailwind.

As we head back through Alcudia we happen upon a bar, which unsurprisingly has other groups of VCC cyclists there.  It would have been rude not to stop for a beer (a large one!)

We started the day as a group of 11, but feel that we ended the day as a group of 12, as Shaun's alter ego Steve joins us.  (Stuart kept calling Shaun Steve, and Steve now feels like he is part of the group)

Finally, my second favourite part of the day a night cap of a Baileys decaf latte.  Lovely!