Day 420 to Day 425 – Pula

Day 420 to Day 425                                   12th September to 18th September

Pula – Apartment Biba £300 for 7 nights.

11 miles  (around Pula)  Average speed 6 mph Top speed 22 mph

 I was up at 7 but the rain was so heavy I didn’t leave the building til 8 when brekkie was served. I got soaked even just walking 40 metres to the covered breakfast bar. I had fresh bread, pate, jam and fruit tea and met Steve from London who’s been travelling for 4 years. We had a good chat over brekkie and when I told him about the cruise to Brazil he said he thought he knew most of the cheap ways to travel but couldn’t believe this deal.

Mayta from São Paulo put me onto pullmantur and I managed to get a 12 day cruise to Recife from Cadiz for £460. Nothing was confirmed but if it comes off it will be a terrific experience.

Then as the rain had stopped I checked out and left my stuff in the bike store while I went for a walk along the coast. At 10.30 I left and headed for the apartment. Bernie, who I was due to meet, had been taken into hospital, so I was on my own for a week in the apartment. It was unusual to have a base and I made the most of the washing machine and tv to rest up and relax for the week.

I found the apartment and met Biba, who was a great hostess. She offered me an apartment with kitchen for an extra 21 euros a week which was much better, as I wouldn’t have to eat out and could cook every night. Biba also gave me grapes and pomegranate from the garden, then I showered and went for a ride to see the sights of Pula.

 

The next few days I spent relaxing and sightseeing around Pula covering a meagre 36 miles in 4 days of cycling.

 

Then on Sunday 17th September (Day 424) I spent a great day watching the Ironman competition, riding 11 miles over the day at an average speed of 7.4 mph

I got up at 8.30, and had brekkie of omelette with cheese, mushroom and chorizo. Then I headed off to the port road to watch the cyclists passing and cycling alongside them on the pavement. I got some great photos as they were within touching distance and I was the only one there watching. I waited until the last cyclist passed and then went into town to buy vegetables  and gravy for a roast dinner. I got a very large twisted parsnip too.

Then I had just enough time to drop off my shopping and return to see the athletes arriving at the finish line. My programme, that I’d got the day before, meant I could identify them, which made it a bit more interesting. The finish line was inside the amphitheatre so I got to see inside the Colosseum for free too. There were people on guided tours, which made the stewards’ work a bit tricky, as they crossed the runners’ paths. It was brilliant to get some good photos, including some good shots of Zanardi. You could walk around and mingle with the athletes once they had finished and it was good to see how much effort they had exerted and the sheer exhaustion and euphoria of crossing the finish line.

(Ermintrude ; there is a gallery of all the photos from the Iron Man competition here)

Day 425  18th September

My last day in Pula just 3 miles cycling

I was up at 7.30 and had  brekkie of muesli and yoghurt with tea. A quiet day of packing and checking emails. I didn’t go out til 3 and then I found a hairdresser for a trim and bought some bits for dinner and a gas canister. I also changed kuna to euros after Biba, my lovely host, said I didn’t need to pay her the extra money for the apartment. No emails arrived and I spent a long time trying to check my hotmail account before having fish fingers, chips and beans for dinner. In bed by 11 and ready to catch the early morning boat to Venice.