May 8 - prep

booking.com loves me.  We're both booking rooms in Europe as we're not even going to be together for part of this trip !  Two for the price of one !

I booked Spain yesterday, rooms before, during and after the Lleida-Leon-Lleida ride.  The day before I booked France/Aquitaine before, during and after - two room to cover me, Hamid and likely John Lee Ellis.  I have yet to do Italy, but that will be soon.  Bulgaria is handled by the organizer.

Spain wasn't easy.  There's no synchronization between the ride and where I might stop.  The 8am departure belies the fact that the first stage is 350 kms.  In fact, the stages are 350, 250, 250, 350.  It's roughly an out and back.  I booked rooms at 0 (start), 300, 600 (midpoint), 950 and 1200 (end).  They're all cancel-able. I might instead aim for 350, 700, 300, 200. 

Mark Thomas has a stress fracture in his foot, as a souvenir from Brazil.  I've got numbness in my right foot/toes, something that hasn't occurred since I got the custom footbeds.  I put that down to the 8km walk up Ubatuba.  I can't imagine stressing your foot from simply riding; there's no additional pressure.  Walking, however, in mostly rigid shoes, could be bad.

Sandy is also involved in prep.  Prep for a colonoscopy today.  She had a long night of drink and use the bathroom.  We leave in a few minutes for Palm Endoscopy Center.  Such fun !

Onward !