MAJORCA 2006 CYCLING TRIP

Arrival.

Palma airport was quiet as we arrived late in the evening. This trip was arranged by Lou booking flights and accommodation separately on the internet. I had stayed in Porto Polenca before so I had a pretty good idea where the hotel was located and also the whereabouts of shops bars and beach etc.

The taxi ride to the resort was straight foreword and cheap, booked separately again much better than the airport services and very reliable. On arrival at the hotel we were asked to leave the bikes downstairs in the basement. We were not impressed but being late we agreed and were then taken to our room.

Perfect, bath and shower in gorgeous bathroom, small kitchen area and balcony overlooking one of the best pools I have ever seen.

The hotel is only about two hundred metres from the main square where bars and restaurants are located and the same distance from the beach and sea front café's.

Perfect place to stay we thought with no problem with transport for riding and nights out.

Porto Pollenca is a relatively small resort with many small café bars and shops but no real “bang bang” night clubs with hoards of drunken yobs to keep you awake at night.

Nice beach though but on this visit we did not spend any time there as we rode all day most days and relaxation and recovery was spent poolside.

DAY 1 Thursday 20, 04, 06

Formentor lighthouse and local area. (52 miles)

Apartment-Cap de Formentor-Porto Pollenca-Alcudia-Pollenca-Calla Sant Vincent-Apartment

Up early around seven. After leaving bikes in their bags downstairs the previous night on arrival, we were keen to unpack and make sure all was well after flight and transfer. To our pleasant surprise both were fine and built ready for use shortly after breakfast. What a great storage area under hotel. A hundred or more purpose built hooks for hanging bikes all complete with locks and chains free of charge. Work benches with vices and suspended seat and handle bar clamps to help with assembly and repairs. Quick wash and change into kit then back downstairs through reception for a quick peep at weather forecast. Horror. Heavy showers and thunder storms. Hmm yeh right, the sun was out and not a cloud in the sky. Time to test out the bikes and check shifters, so a small potter around town to familiarise ourselves was planned. We had not been out five minutes when a group of around twenty cyclists passed us in the other direction. Before we knew it we had done an about twiz and were chasing to catch them. Fooled by the mixture of replica kit we politely said hello as we rode into the middle of the group, morgen and many other unfamiliar words were our reply. German cycling club. Well with not much chance of conversation and the pace being a bit how shall we say, similar to my current cyclo cross pace we decided to ride on ahead.

After a short while, a sign for Formentor appeared. This was one of our planned rides for early in the trip so we decided to carry on. Straight out of Porto Pollenca to a roundabout, turn right then “oh my god, look at that hill”. Not that bad really, nice gradient and a few hairpins after a long straight climb. With a few metres to the summit a parking area came into view, specially set out as a photo spot for the tourists. Next to this parking area I spotted a white line painted across the road. Now how can I get into my big ring for the sprint without being sussed? No time I thought, just hit top gear in small ring and go for it. Yes one nil to me. Pathetic isn't it? Yes I know, but all good fun and who wants to be beaten to the top by a woman.

A few miles further on, we spotted a sign for a tunnel. We had been told about these terrifying things from other riders before leaving home, dark dismal scary things with ditches each side. Allegedly some riders had entered and been lost for ever according to some stories. Soon the tunnel entrance was visible. At the side of the road was a small lay by so we stopped to fix lights onto clips and prepare for what was about to come. From the lay by we could see the tunnel entrance but because the road was at an angle we could not see through. After a few moments of mental preparation, we re mounted and started towards the opening in the rock. Shock, as we entered the tunnel we could see straight through. It was so far to the other side, must have been all of fifty foot. Not worth stopping for I thought. All those warnings and worry for this.

Seriously though, from a safety point of view it is worth stopping to put lights on as it is quite dark in the middle.

Scenery is truly breathtaking especially after a few months whacking up and down the A6 in the dark and rain.Rest of the ride out to the light house was fantastic. Undulating hairpins both up and down. Not a bad first day ride, out to Formentor light house, back to Porto Polenca, along coast road to Alcudia, out along quiet back roads to Polenca town, up to st Vincent then back to hotel. 52 miles, ridden mostly in sunshine. On arrival back quick shower, chill out for on hour then downstairs for evening meal.

The words “well if that was heavy showers and thunderstorms, it can pi** down all week” came from someone.

While in Alcudia, we met a couple from the midlands. After talking for a while over a coffee, they informed us that a group from Cardiff rode out from their hotel each morning, and told us where they meet in the evening.

Armed with this information we headed over to the bar, yes bar, hoping to find a group to ride with the next day. Not quite sure which of the many establishments the Cardiff group met at, we sat at the front of a bar overlooking the hotel. Little did we know it was two for one hour. Two beers were ordered and used to getting small beers, you can imagine our surprise when four pints arrived at the table. Ah well, we will just have to drink them poor us! Half way through the first beer the group from Wales arrived and I approached one bloke I knew asking if they would mind if we joined them in the morning. “The more the merrier” he replied then went to order with the rest of his group. Just imagine for a minute, Cardiff Ajax sat on one side of the patio with coffee, tea and some kind of chilled chocolate drinks, us Red Rose sat opposite, doubled up on pints and not yet eight o'clock. Good impression or what? “Better not overdo it tonight if we are riding in the morning” someone said, last thing I remember about that night actually!!!!!

DAY 2 Friday 21, 04, 06

Arta with Cardif Ajax then potter. (67 miles)

Appartment-Alcudia-Manacor-Petra-Sineu (lunch)-Muro-sa Pobla-Pollenca-Porto Pollenca .

Morning already? Surely not, only just gone to sleep.

Yes up at seven after unplanned late night. Not recommended preparation for long days riding but too late now. Quick shower and change then down for breakfast. Like true athletes, bowl of muesli and fruit juice. Hmm fruit juice, I wonder if anyone will mind if we fill our bottles from juice dispenser? Done and got away with it, as we did for the rest of the week. Better hurry up or we will be late meeting the group. We arrived at the hotel to meet the group from Wales about ten minutes early. Still dehydrated a visit to the shop for fluids was in order. After a while the group assembled at the front of the hotel looking fresher than we were feeling. Then we were informed that the fastest group had set off an hour earlier for a long fast ride into the mountains. Good I thought, feeling like this we would be better with the potter group. Many of this group were on a rest day so a flat steady ride was agreed and off we set.

Out to Alcudia on the coast road was a bit slow for us so we discussed the days ride and decided to do our own thing when we reached Arta.

The main road out is mainly flat with a few gentle undulations, not to busy but cycle lane is great. On this ride we were shown a small short cut to miss the busy town centre of Alcudia which we used every time we passed this way for the following rides. Weather was again perfect, hotter than the previous day so sleeveless top was in order. Today was the first day we realised how many cyclists were on the island. Groups travelling along the road in both directions and of all abilities and ages.

Shortly after leaving Alcudia I noticed a strange sillowet approaching in the opposite direction and being un familiar, my curiosity got me looking and trying to determine what it was. Travelling quite fast and all black, wheels but no noise, cycle helmet but stood up prone.

This strange object soon revealed it's self as we got closer. A young mother with the best and most sophisticated looking push chair I have ever seen. It looked like it had been made by some formula one team and the young lady also in an all black skin suit roller blading while pushing this space age carbon machine. Still can not believe how fast she was travelling. Glad she was travelling in the opposite direction or there was a danger she would have passed us.

Along the road out to Arta is a small town Can Picafort. The group decided to stop here to visit quite a decent cycle shop where some bought souvenirs such as race caps etc. This is a well stocked shop and together with the shop in Alcudia we had found the day before, left us re assured that we would have no problems should we need spares or any new kit.

Back to the ride. At this point a few of the group decided that this was far enough for the day after riding hard the day before so the group split into two. Our group carried on heading towards Arta and after a few miles one of their hidden away café stops was reached. Nice stop, coffee, coke and bottle fill. This was as far as the group was going for the day so out came the map… (hmmm we will get to that later) and we planned with them where we would continue on our own. “Turn left here down the road and you will meet up with this road etc .etc.

Off we set heading towards Manacor. Gorgeous weather and stunning scenery, roads now getting a little lumpier.

Lunch was planned for a place called Sineu, looked great on map and right distance for us so why not. Through a lovely little typical Spanish village Petra and we arrived at our destination. Two or three nice little café bars in a quiet and scenic town with cyclists everywhere. We found a couple of empty seats and waited to give our order. All the menus and boards outside were in Spanish so we had a little difficulty deciding what to have. The waitress spoke some English and offered a cyclist special. Cheese and ham sandwich coffee and coke, we agreed then sat in the glorious sunshine waiting to munch our much needed nosh. I wish you could have seen Lou's face when the food arrived.

Two large pieces of Majorcan bread, (dryish and quite heavy) one with ham and one with cheese. Yes that is what we ordered but there was enough oil pored over to run my car for a week. That and the fact that it was that raw Spanish ham, she was not impressed in the slightest. Being fair though it was well presented, cheap and just before leaving the waitress brought over some bottles of water for the bikes.

We had got slightly lost, well not lost exactly, on the way and after studying the map decided that some new roads had been built after the map we had been given before leaving was printed. Caution was needed if we were to avoid some of these new and busier roads.

Out to Muro then on to Sa Pobla then home. This should have been straight forward and was till we got there. We decided to take a detour not on the map as it looked to be heading in the right direction and we thought we were a bit closer to Polenca than we were. First few miles were ok, ambling along in the countryside then a main road appeared. Right turn seemed logical but it was a busy (not compared to home) road and a small road straight on seemed more appealing.

This road got rougher and rougher to the point it turned into a dirt track so we turned around and headed back along the main road.

This road was having a lot of work carried out on it and after a while without signs we began to wonder where we were heading, as we expected to be back by now.

Un familiar hills began to worry us and the question “are we heading in the right direction? was asked”. Looking at the position of the sun, I decided we were heading from west to east and at some point we must hit the coast so we continued until we finally found the signs for home.

The rest of the ride back was good though, back on the smaller country roads and some we learned were used later in the week. Good days riding after all so down for evening meal then plan the following days ride. “Tomorrow we will start riding the hills and the classic rides we planned”. Early to bed ready for next day, no beer tonight.

DAY 3 Saturday 22, 04, 06

Into the hills. (95 miles)

Apartment- Pollenca- Lluc-- Lloseta-- Orient- Bunyola- Coll de Soller-Soller- Es Port (lunch) - Soller- Puig Major (the big one) - Lluc- Pollenca-Apartment .

Up early and after speaking to the group we rode with the day before we were looking forward to the ride. Breakfast time saw us taking on more and more as the week went on and knowing we had a big day ahead, loads of cereal and bread went in. Bottles were filled in our usual cheeky manor from fresh fruit dispenser and diluted with chilled water, then off to the bike garage to set off.

Speaking with some of the women from Cardiff the day before they described the ride out to Lluc as a gentle climb and we thought we had an easy potter out to the start of our lap. The planned ride for the day was supposed to be a clockwise lap taking in Coll de Soller and Puig Major. This was to be the longest and hardest ride of the week and did end up being so.

Out to Pollenca along the scenic roads then the signs for Lluc pointed us along a road that went slightly up. Another glorious day of sunshine, possibly hotter than the two previous and after a beer free early night we felt good.

The road out of Pollenca rises slowly for a few miles nice and steady with just a couple of twists and turns. In the distance we can see the mountains and hills we would be riding, what a stunning sight. We are now starting to sweat as this gentle ride out gets steeper and before long this turns into quite a decent climb. Not studying the map properly lead us to believe this first stage would not be hard. In reality it is a 570 metre climb from sea level where we set off from, but what a nice ride out. Again scenery in the mountains makes it so pleasurable.

On arrival at Lluc we saw many other cyclists as expected on these classic Majorcan routes and stopped at the café/garage at the top.

Re fill the bottle and take in some food in the form of a muesli bar then off again to start our lap. Of course after all that climbing you have the pleasure of a decent. Nice fast straights switching to tight hairpin switch backs. Loads of other riders at this point but all seem to be going the other way round. Our route was planned in fine detail with place names and turnings noted on a handy notepad so we would not need to keep stopping to look at map. Climb to Lluc- LH turn- Camari—2 nd right etc….

The problem was the map so kindly given to us was from some hotel years ago which although showed the classic routes, for some reason did not show all the other roads or junctions. This obviously caused severe problems when counting junctions.

In short, when we thought we should have been heading along a flattish road on our route, we ended up climbing the Orient unaware till we hit the summit and saw the sign at the café. Yes a 650 metre climb we had not intended to do. This was planned for another day but too late now we were here. Another quick drink and cake between us just in case, then off on our new corrected route.

Note book ditched, we decided it was better to ride with signs so off to next point we went. Again some spectacular hairpin switch backs on the way down, seriously good fun.

Bunyola was our next way point as the start of what should have been our first real climb and on arrival drinks bottles were topped up from local shop. This little town was absolutely heaving with cyclists from all over. Nice to see so many.

Shortly after leaving Bunyola the climb starts with no easy introduction. If you look on the map at the twists in the road the severity is apparent. Hairpin after hairpin all visible as you climb, this is so much fun.

Short steep climbing up, then more fun on the way down. Legs hurt on the way up, hands hurt from severe braking on the way down. Anyone going for a weeks riding here must fit new brake blocks, you will use them. Soller town, then straight to port/marina for lunch. Beautiful place sat in a small bay, what a nice place to have a meal among all the boats and sea front café bars. Lou and I are quite tired by now, 60 miles or so into ride after some serious climbs in the heat were beginning to show. I seem to remember someone suggesting a taxi as an option or returning via a flatter route. I lied and said I had not enough money for taxi and managed to talk her into finishing the lap because it was shorter than re tracing our ride.

We both knew that the final stage was the biggest but we underestimated by how much. Fed, watered and tired, we set off back to Soller for left turn to the big climb. Three or four miles along this road we saw a sign stating Lluc was 51km. Shock. I knew from the proper map we had bought that we would be climbing for at least half of it but said nothing. I saw Lou's face drop on seeing this sign and new then it was going to be a slog. 1200 metres higher and 15 or so miles on we finally reached the top. That was so tough especially after the climbs we had done earlier. My legs hurt, back hurt, arms hurt and worst of all, my bum was so sore. This ride was now not pleasant, wind in our face on the way down and still so far to go.

That evening we only just made it back in time for the meal. We had been in the saddle for nearly eight and a half hours and although most of it was enjoyable, the last couple of hours were awful.

It was a slog down hill into Lluc and Polenca with a headwind but on arrival back we both realised what an awesome ride it was and what satisfaction on completion we felt.

Tired and saddle sore to the point of drawing blood I could hardly walk. Quick shower, rush down for meal for big scoff then out for a couple of beers. Another early night was more than welcome even if the next day was a rest day.

DAY 4 Sunday 23, 04, 06

Rest day. (18 miles)

Apartment- Alcudia & potter around.

After the previous days hard riding it was decided to have an un planned day off. We would take it easy; have a lazy breakfast and an even lazier day. Still sore from the long ride, breakfast was not rushed and some time later a trip into Alcudia as tourists not cyclists was agreed. We rode out to coast road in normal clothes, tee shirt, ¾ pants and trainers thinking it was not worth getting into proper kit if we were going to mooch around shops and bars. Shortly after leaving on the coast road we caught up with a group who had just left the sports complex, in true lets show em fashion, we picked up the speed and passed just to make the point. Imagine how they must feel, out on a ride from a training camp only to be passed by a couple of holiday makers in tee shirt & trainers. That was our only effort for the day but after riding around, lunch here, tea there we still managed to clock up 19 miles for the day. Lunch by the way was at Tollo's Bar on the front at Porto Pol where we were staying, quite a famous place for cyclist. The owner used to or may be still does run the Majorcan cycling team and there is a white finish line right in front of the bar. Great for the “end of the day sprint” used most days by us.

Rest of the day spent chilling and healing by the pool.

By now we have done all the routes and climbs we planned at home bar one. The Sa Calobra, famous for its severity was all we had left to conquer as such. A fearsome climb of almost the height of Puig Major, well 800 metres but in a much shorter distance. I spoke with someone a few years ago who informed me of its reputation and the frequency at which riders get taxi rides out. The problem is that in order to ride it you must first ride out to Lluc, continue climbing to the junction where the turn off is, then descend to the coast. The steep climb is on the only way out, the road you have just been down.

This would be tomorrows challenge.

DAY 5 Monday 24, 04, 06

Wind spoils day. (70 miles)

Apartment- Lluc- Sa Calobra Junction- Lluc- Polenca- Humps road- Sa Pobla- Alcudia via Parque Nat & Reeds Road-Alcudia- Apartment.

Up early and big breakfast again. All keyed up and raring to go we notice quite a strong breeze as we set off. This time, along the straight road to Polenca, and off up the climb to Lluc. The climb this day seems easier and shorter than last time so perhaps the day off did us good.

As we climb the wind gets stronger and stronger but still does not seem to be a problem until well past Lluc and now on the north side of the mountains. Stop for photo taken by someone from another group then carry on to junction in road where we plan to descend to coast ready for climb. Louise is now concerned about carrying on because we are being blown about but we decide to carry on anyway. On arrival at the junction to Sa Calobra we see a small café with many cyclists sat outside. Someone asked us if we were English then informed us that it was unsafe to proceed and that a lady from another group had been blown off her bike. That was it, no chance of doing the ride now. We got talking to some other riders from the midlands who also had decided not to ride, then soon we discovered that the lady who fell was one of their group. After a coffee and discussion we all decided to alter ride plans, ride together and a route was decided.

I did notice that one of the fitter blokes from this group was wearing the national champ rings on his team jersey but did not recognise his name and thought better not to ask what he had won them for.

After all the planning we ended up on quite a nice but hard tempo type ride with this group. Somehow I found myself on the front for quite a few miles talking to the stripes bloke in the windiest part of the ride all day.

Not wanting to appear wimpy, I stuck it out and tried not to show how much it was hurting. Thankfully this soon came to an end and on arrival back at Alcudia we were invited back to their villa for coffee and to ride with them tomorrow. Perhaps I was forced to the front on purpose, to see if I could hack it with them before they asked I thought.

Got back to apartment and felt ok, had a good day even if it did not go to plan. We learned many new quiet roads from this group which we used in the following days. Local knowledge is great to have I suppose and makes for a good day out. Quite a high average speed over the type of roads today and feel it was a good workout.

Again after evening meal an early night and no beer (well not much) was in order, especial if riding with this group in the morning.

DAY 6 Tuesday 25, 04, 06

Just another ride. (56 ½ miles)

Apartment- Alcudia- Along marshes road to Sa Pobla- Buger- Campanet- Inca – Lloseta- Binamar- Manacor- Camari- Campanet- Humps road to Pollenca- Apartment.

Expecting a long hard ride, breakfast big and early again, then straight to bikes and off we rode. Ten minutes early we sat on a seat adjacent to the roundabout we arranged to meet at. After a short while we decided to ride out to the villa the others were staying at. We were met by hoops guy who informed us that they had two problems. Some of the group were not yet up and they had no water. He suggested meeting back at the roundabout some 45 minutes later and if they did not appear then we should do our own thing. What a disappointment.

Off we rode to kill some time in Alcudia while they sorted them self's out. Louise then suggested they may have had too much golden pop the night before and may feel under pressure to ride with us. We then decided to ride on our own anyway and just mooch about some new places we had not visited. With no map and no planned route we decided to ride from signs and see where we got. This was to be our last big ride day as we were flying home the next day.

It felt good now, disappointment disappeared and we had the whole day to enjoy, go where we wanted at a speed we felt happy with and no particular goal. Off we went just following signs to places we had not visited. As on most days it was not long before we encountered more cyclists and we soon ended up right in the middle of maybe thirty or more others all heading in our direction. This group stayed together to Sa Pobla then to the next small village I did not note the name. Shortly after the group split and we soon realised that it was a chance meeting of two other groups riding together that had been joined by a few couples all at the same time. We split from the remaining riders and headed to Buger, only because it was a place we had not visited before and we wanted to visit as many places as possible.

We finished this day satisfied that on our next visit we would know enough roads not to worry about where to go or what rides to do. A visit to Tollo's finished the ride with Spanish omelette and brucetta. That was just the perfect ending to the ride and of course winning the Tollo's sprint meant the meal and beer were on me.

DAY 7 Wednesday 26, 04, 06

Final few miles. (47 miles)

Apartment- Pollenca- Humps road to Selva- up to Lluc – Polenca- final meal at Tollo's – Apartment.

Forty two miles off our target four hundred. Still so saddle sore but determined to reach our goal. Things are slightly sketchy and opinions divided as so what I had for breakfast on this our last day. According to Lou, I had double egg, Bacon, Sausage etc, not sure myself, can't see me doing that! Packed early ready to leave after the ride, (Lou had arranged flights to maximise riding time) we got to the bike store nice and early again. We decided to ride up to Lluc the opposite way round to the week's previous rides. The route out took us along the scenic roads to Polenca then along the humps road to the very quiet and enjoyable roads we had discovered earlier in the week.

Again after not so many miles we caught up with two riders who turned out to be English.

This island is truly cycling heaven. Before we left home we were slightly concerned that we would spend the whole week riding alone and that it would end up boring rather like the lone cyclists you see at home. No chance here, we always found a group to ride with and after the first day we never went looking. We were now south of the main road to Alcudia and in an area we had not spent much time in. The next ten miles or so were spent chatting to our new riding partners about the usual how nice it is here and how courteous the drivers are. We discussed the pathetic attitude to cyclists at home and after solving all local problems, the ride then became slightly lumpy. I have been told by Lou that I have a problem keeping an even pace and that when riding with a steady group, when I get on the front I have a tendency to increase the pace. With this in mind and also the thought that we had slowly caught this pair I rode at the front two by two with one guy from the pair we caught. I don't know if it is just me but the pace seemed to increase mile by mile till we were all breathing a bit heavier and sweating more for what reason I don't know. We had caught this pair and slowed down, now we are travelling at sort of tempo speed again. One reason I feel is maybe there is some kind of ego thing happens when they got caught by a girl and she is going easy.

On that note I feel I must mention girls.

I have never seen so many fit women in my life!! No seriously, I was shocked every day to see so many good and not so good (fit) women riding bikes. Every day we saw groups of riders with not just one woman tagging along but maybe 15 to 25 % women riders. Also I was amazed that there were so many lone and groups of between three to seven women riding on their own. Yes serious dedicated women riders out riding and training, so good to see especially for Louise.

Also there was an international triathlon taking place the Saturday after we left and these athletes could be seen training each day but mainly on the flatter coast road.

Back to the ride. Discussions of how good this island is continued and stories of our previous rides were exchanged. After a while of climbing small lumpy bits we found a decent. I don't think of myself as being good at the down stuff but do enjoy it. Did a few fast corners trying my best not to go silly then looked back and found I was on my own. Shortly I was joined by Lou and the other two so I decided to let them set the pace from now on. The two other riders had a ride planned which did not suit our day's requirements so we said good bye and took off on our own.

Selva for a quick stop to fill our bottles and have a coke then into the climb. All week I had found myself at the front feeling strong and waiting slightly for Lou but today was going to be different.

We had ridden down this road from Lluc in the opposite direction many times, steeper than the other side and with more tight hairpins often seeing loads of others climbing the other way. Shortly into the climb I found myself behind and thinking will I be able to keep up this pace. Lou just seemed to spot a cyclist in front and have some kind of desire to catch and pass everyone. She was flying. It was so busy with loads of others riding the same route we never found ourselves alone. After informing her it was seven miles to the summit (slight exaggeration hoping she would steady the pace) it soon became apparent she was feeling good and had no intention of taking it easy. Hanging on to her wheel just and feeling tired and still so saddle sore we negotiated hairpin after hairpin climbing and climbing till gosh. We were passed by two riders whose speed at going up shocked us. They were travelling so fast and in a huge gear I decided to tell myself this must be the first few miles of their ride and the first ride of the holiday. Probably not true I know but it made me feel better at the time.

Lou had settled into a steadier pace or maybe I had recovered from the earlier part of the climb now and I was able to stay with her relatively easily. Talking in gasps, we laughed about me struggling and how she was flying. This took her mind off the fact that shortly a white line across the road would appear. Round a last hairpin, short straight then easy right hand turn, I spotted the garage/café where we bought drinks from on previous days. She did not recognise it going this way round and I knew the white finish line was only about thirty metres away.

Out from behind her wheel I came and before she even new, I was so far ahead she had no chance of beating me to this final climb of the trip.

“Sorry Lou, you just have to keep your whits about you. Better luck next time” I said loudly so others could hear. Little did they know how she nearly dropped me in the earlier part of the climb. That was it, final climb and big effort over. There was enough miles left in the run back to finish above our required four hundred so after stopping at the monastery for photo and coffee, it was the easy decent to Polenca for the last ice cream of the trip and back to the apartment to nurse my bum. The day was finished off with a last visit to Tollo's then back to the hotel to await our taxi.

Nice trip, perfect place to stay, great riding and would do it again any time…..