Day 90 - Malta Didn't Seem That Small To Me Today

The one down side to having a day off - it's that much harder to get up the next day!  Luckily it was a bit of a later start than usual today as it's the weekend.  During the week the pressure is always on to get up because you know you have to get to work by a certain time.  At the weekend you can relax a bit and know the only clock ticking is the one that gets you home sooner, so you can actually try and enjoy what's left of the day.

So, up for a 6am meeting with Evan - it may not be quite as dark as usual, but unbelievably humid already - it's so sticky that you can't move without feeling weary even at this early hour.  There's not even the usual respite of the breeze once on the bike - it's like someone has turned the dial up overnight.

To try and break the monotony, we go for a Tour of Malta - a short wait while we see if another of the team will show.  Nope.  It's a great way to avoid seeing the same stuff over and over, but it did mean a few more big hills than I'd have liked before a big ride tomorrow.  

Climbing Manikata hill (mountain) I was sure my heart rate was going to exceed 100% of maximum and leap screaming out of my chest before running back down the hill as far away from me as it could get!  You've all seen Alien right?

We hit 70km by the time we reached Mellieha - you know it's been an early start when you can't find anywhere open for breakfast after 3 hours cycling!  Eventually we found someone prepared to feed us - machine coffee and yesterdays ham and processed cheese baguette - a feast fit for a king!  But the water was cold and oh, so good.  

One question - "Which bl**dy fool picked the bottom of a really steep hill to stop for breakfast???" Oh yes, me.  Note to self - big hill climbs aren't the best way to re-start after a 30 minute break!

By the time we complete the lap we're on 95km - very conscious that the temperature is already pushing towards 40 in the sun, and we have a big day tomorrow I call time and head back home and we've done 102km instead of 120km.  I'll take that thanks.

Stretch, rehydrate, rehydrate, rehydrate and fall in pool.  11.30 am and the day can finally begin :) 

Day 90 - Saturday Ride 100km by andybotha at Garmin Connect - Details

And that final iPod song? 


21 Guns by Green Day - fabulous