Sunday, July 18, 2004
Sunday, July 18 - Annecy, France - Day 2
Jim and I stopped in for early check-in and bike fittings with our trip guides Sunday morning. We met Enriquo, Alexandro (Alex), Suzie and Gabe. They were all friendly, fit and jabbering in Italian from the moment we met them! They also spoke English for our benefit. We also met a few of our fellow “Tour-mates.
After a quick bike check (the guides worked fast!) We headed into downtown Annecy to check out the “old centre” and get a bite to eat. We caught the end of the Sunday morning marketplace, got a tasty ham and cheese pannini to share, and took some pictures.
At 2:30 we met with the entire group for our first ride, a nice 25K loop around Lake Annecy with one small Col climb and a beautiful descent. I quickly learned that I was to be the Lantern Rouge (caboose, back of the pack) of this small group of 30 riders but I was not too concerned since I learned long ago to ride my own pace.
Dinner was at Hotel Imperial Palace and was a grand mix of potato dishes (carbo loading) with meat and without, fresh salad with cheese and walnuts, plenty of wine and a large choice of fresh local cheeses and fruit pies and chocolate cakes for desert. We lumbered, entirely too full, out of dinner and into bed, anticipating the next days ride.
After a quick bike check (the guides worked fast!) We headed into downtown Annecy to check out the “old centre” and get a bite to eat. We caught the end of the Sunday morning marketplace, got a tasty ham and cheese pannini to share, and took some pictures.
At 2:30 we met with the entire group for our first ride, a nice 25K loop around Lake Annecy with one small Col climb and a beautiful descent. I quickly learned that I was to be the Lantern Rouge (caboose, back of the pack) of this small group of 30 riders but I was not too concerned since I learned long ago to ride my own pace.
Dinner was at Hotel Imperial Palace and was a grand mix of potato dishes (carbo loading) with meat and without, fresh salad with cheese and walnuts, plenty of wine and a large choice of fresh local cheeses and fruit pies and chocolate cakes for desert. We lumbered, entirely too full, out of dinner and into bed, anticipating the next days ride.
# posted by Holly : 12:39 PM
