09/12/2023 Bikepacking Spain Day 35 : Vuelta!

Wrapping up a great day viewing the Vuelta. Went to meet up with Chema (the guy I met yesterday) and his wife Chuss for afternoon coffee (them) and a Spanish Tortilla (Janet). I really appreciated their generosity and willingness to spend so much time with us foreigners. Also really like seeing Janet doing so well with her Spanish. She's bold now and goes up to strangers and talks to them about difficult concepts such as gun control in the US! Janet is always impressing me. --

Speaking of impressing me, I like how Janet decided to go for the best view while watching the bike racers. No one else attempted this (including me). She did eventually slide down the slope (she was ok). We both think we heard some teenagers laughing from the nearby bridge and saying something about "grandparents shouldn't be doing that". Janet just shrugged them off and laughed. Janet, you do you! Yeah!! --

Because of the shape of the course, we would get to see the riders pass by twice in two different locations. --

It wasn't a day without rain - but we went for it anyway - and glad we did! --

I just put my camera on "take 10 photos a second mode" and then tried to watch the racers with my eyes instead of via the screen (we get to do the screen thing every day from home, right)?! One ~6 year old girl standing next to me aptly pointed out, "there are more cars than cycles!" And she was right - it's quite a parade of motor cars until the bikes come. Then it is a fugacious moment where you must suck up every bit of enjoyment you can - because even if you position yourself at the top of an exhausting pitch, they are still gone in the blink of an eye. Luckily, this particular blink caught our favorite: Sepp. --

Go @Janet🙌🏻! I have often pondered, watching bike races from the roadside. They are gone in a blur and the sound of bees. I have been out of touch with the Vuelta so thrilled to see SEP still in

Nancy T.