Fan bloody tastic route

Clear sunshine greeted us this morning, so the route we chose yesterday is good to go. We have every intention to be out the door by 7.30am but Dave is always slow to get going.......... I'm biting at the bit.

We have 104km to ride today, through lush forest, up gentle climbs to access our main climb of the day and a test of the legs, 24km in length with an average of 3% with a maximum of 7%, so not hard in terms of steepness, but its long. Before we hit the main climb though, the route is flowing up and down, through lush forest's, bushwalking sign posts dot the side of the road, as we spy large, limestone peaks in the near distance.  Temps are cool which makes for great riding. 

The main climb begins just outside the little town of Angles, and it's stunning. The road runs alongside the thundering Tar river, full of rapids and waterfalls, old stone arched bridges through a narrow long gorge with dense forest on either side.  'Robin Hood' country, Dave says as we ride in the opposite direction of the rushing water, the road rising steadily upwards all the way, the further we get into the gorge. 

We come across a most unusual retaining wall, centuries old, protecting the 18th Century old town of Osor, which sits far below the road, on the rivers edge.  I can only assume it is a retaining wall, as the mountainside behind the wall, is towering steep.

After a long up, we have a marvellous long downhill, the road twists and turns, we have it to ourselves, except for a couple of riders from Soudal Quickstep, whoosh, they were so fast through tight corners, gosh I wish I could ride like that.  Too nervous, life preservation is priority number one. 

We pass a forest of recently harvested cork trees, their fresh bark a contrast red against the green backdrop and see high mountains in the distance, I wonder what range that is, looks good climbing.

We stop along the way for a coffee 1.50 euro each, so cheap.  Our road meanders underneath the Autostrada road, weaving from side to side, as we hear large heavy trucks thundering overhead, through

lush forest until the road eventually, opens up to large plantations of rows and rows of potted trees, wholesale nurseries, I believe. 
 

The weather clouds are building in the distance, so we don't stop until we arrive back at our apartment building, where we sit in the sun at our local cafe and enjoy another coffee and Fanta each, 6 euro.  

So cheap.