When Litchy blows a Fuse !

This tour (only rated 6/10) has been realtively tough in terms of climbing and heat and despite our idyllic setting on the beach at Sarander today was definitely going to be no different !

We launched straight into a bum busting 10% climb out of town that at least provided the benefit of regurgitating and re-eating ones recently consumed breakfast over and over again !

It's all stations up !

Finally out in the countryside all looked good until we rounded a corner to be hit with more substantial climbing, again 10% again granny granny with bucket loads of sweat to add !

It was here that Julia made her famed "when no sometimes means yes comment" when the team bus passed her just before a corner enquiring as to whether she needed a lift. She replied "no thanks".. and kicked herself after the bus disappeared to find herself confonted by more hills with now no choice but to bravely suffer her way to morning tea !

Our days total distance was only 60+kms but it covered 1100 metres in climbing taking us inland but high enough to still have wonderful views of the coastline !

Great coastal views

Our inevitable descents just simply led to more climbs one a 6km beauty that had a gut busting 17% section ! I walked while KTH rode later suffering for his brave effort !

With such a short day it was weird that our lunch stop would be only 4 kms from the finish when most of us were just dieing for an early finish and a swim. Henley nearly achieved this when he rocketed past our lunch stop only to be halted by the about to lunch group yelling at him !

View leaving Lunch !

With Kiwi Pere and Pommie Kev finding their mojo we soon arrived at our beachfont accommodation at Himare where all we could think about was having a beer and going for a swim !

Linda and Pete (Dilksy) after a hard day !

Most of us made our way across the rock strewn beach to plunge into the soothing waters although getting out was not so easy given the rough and steep pebbly surface.

Time for a swim !

H had to be rescued this time not from the water but from falling asleep on a deck chair with the gang concerned about his possible Zebra (sun burn) impersonation if we left him alone !

The accommodation sadly this time was not up to scratch, with poor service, an indifferent owner and a wiring system that must have been approved in India !

On two occasions in attempting to put in a plug to charge a device I succeeded in shorting the circuit in the room. After the first we waited 40 minutes after the 1 staff member on duty just simply walked off. The 2nd time the owner came up muttering something in Albanian which seemed to suggest he was having a go at us. He rattled around the key card in the power socket like that was going to fix the problem and then just walked off as well !

Finally with Arjan's involvement we were eventually able to get another room although just a little peeved at being treated like idiots !

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