River Deep Mountain High

We were blessed with another warm and sunny day again today. After yesterday's hike down the mountain my legs needed a rest from hiking so we decided to cycle instead. And it just so happened that this morning we were collecting our new e-bikes.

I got a mountain e-bike about 8 years ago, before they were even a thing back home but were starting to be popular here out of necessity as everywhere you go involves a steep incline (followed by a sharp decline!). Technology has moved on so much since then so Gavin decided it was time to get a new e-bike - it is half as light with more than 50% improvement in battery power than my old bike, plus it has some very nice features like a 'walk' mode. The thing about mountain e-bikes is that they are very heavy so when you need to push them it takes some effort, but with the new 'walk' mode it powers the back wheel to make the pushing easier. Gavin has never had one and he decided that the time has come for him to also get one so now we can cycle back up the steep hill from the village to the apartment with ease plus manage all the steep trails around the here.

After collecting the bikes Gavin, Meriel and I set off on a bike ride up the valley, with Meriel on my old e-bike. It was the first time we have taken Xena on a cycle, and as it was about 10km each way so we took it very slowly and having rests near streams for her to have water to drink. She was very good - she was on the lead on the small section that was road, and once we were on the trail she trotted next to the bikes off the lead. At our destination there is a very popular mountain restaurant with a large outdoor terrace where we had a cold drink and a rest before returning home.

Meriel made quesadillas for lunch and then I spent the afternoon reading my book with Xena sleeping next to me. Late in the afternoon Gavin and Adam played a quick 9 holes of golf which they enjoyed. Poor Luke has been stuck at lectures and studying all day, although he did get up early and go to the gym at 7am - it is a very small one with all the Covid safety measures in place and he was the only person there!

I thought this image would qualify for David's challenge of song titles. River Deep Mountain High was first released in in 1966 by Ike and Tina Turner and has been covered many times over the years. It ranks highly as one of the greatest songs of all time and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Extras of Meriel and Xena and also the new bike! Now it has started thundering again as we have our regular evening storm.