Vines, vines and more vines!

We finished our third day of biking a lot easier than yesterday. However, the morning was hard, due to the news from home. We awoke to hear of the horrifying bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Although it was 12:30 in the morning, I called Leigh (I knew she would be awake) just to make sure everyone was home safe. They were, but it did not lessen my heartache. What a tragedy.
So it was with an emotional weight that I began the day's ride. We headed off for Logrono, where we hoped to lessen some more physical weight. Paul wanted to find some lightweight casual shoes to replace his heavier leather ones. With that task accomplished we headed off to the post office where we shipped ahead another 15 pounds of we consider now excess stuff. (Besides patience and you are not in control, today's lesson from the Camino-you don't need as much stuff as you think!). I was very cocky that I was travelling as light as possible until I had to haul my stuff up hill, I am down to one biking short, three tops, one set of underwear, a toothbrush, camera and Ipod, plus cords. Paul similarly lightened his load.
After the post office, we headed out of town. Leaving is not an easy task as it was rush hour and drivers are not looking for bikes when they are in a hurry. One such driver made a left hand turn right into me. We both swerved hard and very narrowly avoided an early end to my trip. I was very shaken, Paul was mad. He yelled at the driver for not being more careful and wanting him to apologize for nearly running me over. When he wouldn't, Paul yelled at him and then took off after me. Never one to usually back down from a confrontation, I was too upset to deal with the idiot.
We finally got out of town and resumed our riding. The rest of the day was uneventful, if not downright beautiful. Our day was spent in the heart of the Rioja valley, filled with miles of vines as far as the eye could see...vines, vines and more vines. There were also fields of glorious sunflowers dancing in the breeze. We arrived at our evening destination hungry and tired.