Aug 14 - all's well that ends well

We spent a chunk of the day going to Malpensa airport trying to track down Jerry's bike.  My guess was that either in-their-face or checking the bags that came in overnight would produce results, but no dice.  Jerry was able to track down some useful numbers at Lufthansa but the best that they could do was send some emails advising of the priority.  Until someone, somewhere, scans the baggage tag it's just MIA.  Jerry was told that he could make a claim after five days ... great ... that would be in the middle of the ride.

We put a query into Fermo, the organizer, re renting a bike and he did get back to me this morning saying that would likely be possible tomorrow.  Today is a national holiday, the Catholic celebration of Assumption day.  Presumably everything is supposed to be closed but the grocery store was open.

So we came back to the hotel, bike-less but not quite hopeless.  Luckily there was still time.

Late in the day, pre-dinner, Jerry got an email that the bike had been tracked down and was at the airport.  They were planning on delivering it but failing that, we would make a trip to the airport.  By the time we got back from dinner, the hotel desk had received a call that it would be delivered late night and sure enough, it was there this morning.  Jerry put it together before breakfast and we did some test riding with a larger group finding the registration spot for tomorrow a.m. as well as the ride start, which is a km or so away. 

We've spent the last couple of hours setting up drop bags and bikes.  Is a 1600k that much different from a 1200k ?  No, but I'm never quite happy with how I'm organized.  This has the added complication of carrying an overnight or two of change of cycling clothes and shorts/t-s, all of which take up room and add weight.  With all the climbing on this ride, every ounce is an extra burden !

That's about it for the moment ... onward !