mari-musing: I have been in my sickbed all day, with no news to tell, so I will relive my personal c
mari-musing: I have been in my sickbed all day, with no news to tell, so I will relive my personal cycling triumphs in Croatia instead: 1. Riding from Mljet to Dubrovnik. For most of this second leg of an 80km day I was solo - dropped on the steep climb from the ferry. The traffic became heavy as I got closer to the city; trucks and buses only a hair’s breadth away and no shoulder on the road. There were stretches where single railings were all that was between me and sheer drops below. I tried to focus on admiring the spectacular Adriatic island views but stress levels were high. I joined Rob at the lunch stop just shy of Dubrovnik and he took this picture as we rode out - one of my favourites - then I got lost in traffic 700m shy of the hotel. 2. The Crying Gate - ride out to Pucisca. Rob and I opted for the 52km ‘easy’ out-and-back today instead of the longer rides, given his shoulder pain. Described as ‘undulating’, the road was nice enough to begin with, while we traced the coastline, then it got nasty. This is unrelenting rocky country, where olive trees and vines grow out of stoney rubble. Rob hailed me as I crested one particularly horrible Cat 4 climb (1.5km, average grade of 7%, 11% in parts): “Not far now Mari!” I looked up and saw another ramp, just the same, and burst into tears, furious at my weakness and exhaustion. Looking for the nearest flattish spot, I hung over a gate and cried. Then I ate a jelly and figured if those stupid olive trees flourish in rock, then I could manage one more climb. The descent to Pucisca was steep and fast. I knew I wouldn’t be climbing out of that one in the heat. Pucisca was beautiful. We ate pizza, took photos and called the van when we were ready to leave. With that level of difficulty, I was happy with this day’s 26km.3. The Fang - last leg to Orebic. This was the third leg in a 100km day. ‘Just’ another Cat 4 climb, 10km up and 10km down - I dubbed it The Fang. It was the only segment I did in company from go to whoa. One of the tour party took pity on me and volunteered to coach me up, as the climb was challenging with no flat sections to catch breath. He did a good job; told me a story about how USS Constitution ‘kedged’ its way out of certain annihilation during the civil war with Britain, and explained how the technique could be employed in cycling and in life. Looking up and drawing each road marker to me, I didn’t falter and suddenly we were descending like bombs. Spectacular views were seared on my retina, a big bus was tailgating me, but I was on my drops and flying. We celebrated our arrival in Orebic, a graceful Venetian trading outpost where sea captains built their homes in the Barberry Coast pirate days - probably my favourite village - I could have stayed here a week.4. Ascent to the Misty Hinterlands - from Trogir to Split. We left Trogir in teaming rain and started climbing straight away. The traffic was as steady as the rain and both finally eased off when we hit the hinterlands. The topography took us relentlessly up and down but always climbing. The descent into Split was hazardous and pot-holed, and included a pitch black tunnel with cobbles like razor blades. Blind in the dark I screamed aloud the whole way through, hoping my tail-light could be seen and wishing we’d been warned to put our front lights on. (I’d meant to because of the rain, but the flurry of packing and an early departure to meet the ferry in Split, had me forget. I’m pretty sure I was the only one with a tail-light.) The final stretch to the ferry terminal was through a blessed car-free parkland, where we dodged pedestrians but could take cool, leafy breaths and relax our grip on the hoods. -- source link