Tour of Sardinia 2008

We meet Sandro and Marco at the Hotel de Plam in Olbia.  Some of the group have been here 3 days.  The Bucktons, Rockells & Fortunas only arrive the night before having spent the last 3 days exploring the Amalfi Coast and shopping in Amalfi, Positano & Sorrento.  Sandro Explains the route and everyone listens intently.

We move all of about 3 metres before "Murphy's Law" kicked in.  Mary "Banana" Bonanno's STI cable snaps and the head of it is stuck in the gear lever.  Normally this would mean an automatic relegation to the "Sag Wagon" and a trip to the local bike shop at the next stop.  We are all surprised however, when Marco whips out the tool kit complete with new gear cables and proceeds to fix Banana's bike.  Just another example of the professionalism of Dolcevita Tours.  Thanks Sandro and Marco.

Finally with cable fixed, we roll out and head north for Palau some 50 kilometres away

I had always wondered in negotiations with Sandro, why he was not keen on the Prologue stage.  5 minutes into the ride confirmed his reservations.  Traffic was unbelievable with motor scooters whizzing in and out between cars and lots of close calls.  Should have been a little frightening but on the contrary, it was exhilarating. 

It wasn't long before we left the hustle and bustle of busy Olbia and settled back to enjoy the fabulous scenic roads on the way north to Palau.  Looking back and putting myself in Sandro's shoes, I too would have been concerned not knowing the riding level and ability of the Randwick Botany riders.  However after he and Marco had ridden with us for a couple of days, I'm sure he would have been happy to throw anything at us (and indeed tried to !).

Palau as seen from the van.

Sue points the way to the hotel

Here they come

Dave "Knuckles" Crampton (background) and I ride in.

The Bunch heads for the Hotel Palau

Charles rides into town

Grant points the way.

Marko is pretty pleased.

Pat Naughton points the way

Richard Westmoreland throws a U turn for a photo

Stuart King arrives

Wait for Banana

That didn't hurt much.  Well I didn't think so until Andy screamed out in pain.  Not sure if it was a cramp or Birra Grande withdrawals.

Dale looked a bit hot and dry alsobut we needn't have worried.  No sooner than we sat down at the end of the ride than Sandro had organised some nice cold birras.

There were smiles all round as we reflected on our first ride (for most anyway) in Sardinia.

There were some tall stories.

There were some new friends.

The view from the front of the hotel

The view from our rooms

After we packed our bikes and our bags away it was down to the pool.

After a nice dip in the pool, the boys commenced "Carbo-loading" for tomorrow's stage

There was even more tall stories and more "carbo-loading"

Pat & Sue were the winners though.