Bravery

Thunder and lightning yesterday meant that I kept dashing inside, and watching the Vuelta a Espana, the exciting professional cycling race that is currently in the Basque Country.

I’ve been a fan for years, as many of you know. I even pay stupid money to watch it on the extra channels on Sky. 

Yesterday it was worth every penny. I’ve been a fan of the Basque rider, Mikel Landa for years. I was so upset when, this May, he crashed horrendously in the Giro d’Italia and broke several vertebrae.  I couldn’t believe it when his name appeared on the list of current riders, and that he was well up the GC list. 

Yesterday he led the field in a breakaway as they approached Bilbao for the first time. He stormed ahead as they passed the Guggenheim museum. 

How could anyone have the strength and courage, so soon after such serious injuries, to storm ahead. The Basque fans cheered him on….a miracle ?

Sadly, he wasn’t to win Stage 11. Clearly his back was giving him serious pain, and he dropped back. Such amazing resilience and determination. 

Nobody won the stage. There were dangerous protests at the finishing line and they had to abandon the scheduled finish, taking the times at 3 km before the end. Safety first, of course. 

What has this to do with my photo ?

It’s Martin Sixsmith’s latest book. He was our wonderful guest speaker on the Irish cruise and, by popular demand, he gave an extra lecture, telling us about the bravery of an amazing woman who had been involved with the Dutch resistance…..

Such bravery.

I ordered the book from Staffordshire libraries while I was in his audience and I collected it this morning…..running between the showers.

And now, back to La Vuelta.