The Mocanitsa is Back!

Ruth: I first picked up the nickname Mocanitsa in Romania.  That’s their pet name for the narrow gauge steam engine that climbs up into the heights of the  Carpathian mountains. As I cycled up into those same mountains Gord started calling me his little Mocanitsa and the name stuck. 
Today with our bikes reassembled and the return of excellent weather we cycled into the corrugated eastern half of Santa Maria. The Azores are not a place for flat gentle rides. Even on Graciosa, the “flattest” of the archipelago, we spent most of our time climbing. Today we were out for over 5 hours (with stops) but only cycled a little over 30 kms. My Fitbit tells me that we climbed 967 meters. The Mocanitsa is back! 
We cycled up to the highest point on the island (Pico Alto, 590 metres) with views out in all directions.  Afterwards, we cycled down to a viewpoint over São Lourenço beach. The terraced slope with the village below was amazing.  We will take the hairpin road that drops down 300 meters to the beach another day. On route we stopped for lunch at a stone quarry that is now a picnic spot with a pond full of frogs. 
Gord was expressing some satisfaction that we had ventured further, making it a full day of riding.  I agreed that it was a great day, but that it was also fine to just cycle for half a day.  His affirmative grunt sounded unconvinced and when I questioned him he responded, “ sure, I guess, if you only want to live half an effing life!”Then he burst out laughing at his own line. He’s chuckling again as I read this to him. Self-humour, it really is the best.