Day7: Leggings versus designer jackets

On the seventh day of his ‘Once to the end of the world – and back’ tour Sigi Grabner sat on his bike for just under nine hours, and covered a remarkable 197 kilometers. In his blog the snowboard overall World Cup winner 2009 writes about his adventure.

”In Galicia it stormed the whole night through, but I wanted to ride the 80 kilometers at least from Lugo to Santiago de Compostela. Normally you would bed down in a four-star hotel for the night in this kind of weather, enjoy the wellness features and wait for the storm to pass … But that doesn’t happen on my tour, no way! When I think of Wings for Life and the good reason that I’m doing this I get really motivated. Considering that people are sitting in wheelchairs, what’s a little storm?

So, I continued onward! The storm may be a strong opponent for a road cyclist, but I like strong competition. It rained the whole way. There were constant strong squalls … and it was cold. The region has an Atlantic climate; it’s green and voluptuous like in the rain forests. Everything grows here. You see lemon and orange trees in the gardens; palm trees everywhere. It’s a rich region with beautiful houses and lots of people – much more populated than the scraggy hinterland I was riding through the last few days.

And then I got to Santiago de Compostela, the most famous pilgrimage destination in Europe since the Middle Ages. The cathedral is impressive, mainly the atmosphere surrounding it, and the people. There are all kinds here, from all around globe – pilgrims on foot or bike; they’re from Europe, Japan, South Africa, the USA, Australia … Unbelievable! I lit a candle for Karine Ruby and all athletes to help us always get back safe and healthy …

But in the end it’s a bit too touristy for me in Santiago. I’m not used to it after three days in solitude. I bought a lot of chocolate in a ‘chocolate factory’ and ate two whole blocks straight away. Spain’s fantastic chocolate!

Late in the evening I arrived at the ‘end of the world.’ The name originates from the Romans ‘finis terrae,’ and it really is at the end of the world. It’s dark and stormy and there are only three of us tourists on the whole peninsula; otherwise there’s nothing for miles. The man from the hotel told me that during ‘en alta temporada’ (July to August) it’s really hopping, but at the moment I’ve got the hotel and the good restaurant at the port all to myself. And at midnight at the end of the world I eat Merluzza con patates – the best fish I’ve had in a long time …”

Sigi Grabner – 09/06/09

Visit the official websites
www.sigigrabner.com
www.wingsforlife.com
www.redbull.com