Trying to help a bit with the BRM 1000#

Published by Borja Lopez Rio on 2023-07-14 00:00:00

Yesterday evening, a few friends of mine and several other randonneurs left the usual Brevet start point at INEFG in Bastiagueiro. It was 20:00 and they were starting the last Brevet in Galicia for 2023, the BRM 1000 - Reviravolta a Castela.

Sadly I wasn’t there. The plan was to be there and do my first 1000 km Brevet, but things didn’t work out in the end.

But… I wanted to do something for them.

So, knowing they will have to pass by my home town, Lugo, near midnight, I did prepare a little something.

The idea came to mind a couple of days ago. I knew Lugo was going to be km 90-something and I thought that, after 4-5 hours of riding, maybe they would like to have a coffee stop and eat something. I told Dani about it, he discussed with a few of the others and soon all was settled.

So yesterday I did some calculations and, around 30-40 minutes before the time I was expecting them to be passing Lugo, I prepared lots of coffee and put it in one of those (big) insulated flasks to keep it warm. I also put some warm milk in a couple smaller insulated flasks and I packed up some food: a warm tortilla, bread buns, croissants, magdalenas (madeleines)… I also had two big bottles (5 liters each) of water.

We agreed to meet on the way out of Lugo, near a gas station by the road, so around 23:40 I put everything in the car and drove there. I parked the car and was sending Dani a message - “I’m at the meeting point, let me know if you prefer to stop somewhere else and I’ll drive there…” - and as soon as I hit the send button, I noticed their head lights coming towards me.

I did step out of the car and wave at them, so they could see me.

To be honest, itt was quite emotional to me to see them coming. I was happy to see them, also a bit sad I couldn’t be just riding with them.

I opened the trunk while they were arriving and parking their bikes. Then it was time to say hello, hug some people… you know, the usual kind of thing.

Then I started to serve coffee while they served food themselves.

Me on the left, serving coffee, with Dani by my side smiling, the others are either drinking or eating, while Ferreiro is taking the picture

When everybody had coffee served, I took a few pictures. It all felt like being in one of the usual quick coffee stops in a Brevet. We did chat for a while, about the adventure the were just beginning, what they will find on their way, then about stories from the previous Brevets we did this year… and about life in general.

Felipe, Dani, Fernando and Ferreiro, enjoying foods and drinks. Luis and Alfonso appear behind Ferreiro, all blurry because they were moving while I was taking the picture Luis, refilling one of his bottles with water, and Dani eating something while listening to a conversation

A couple of them asked me why wasn’t I doing this Brevet too, “Life, mostly, things got a bit complicated this time” - I replied - “I really wish I’d be on the bike with you on this one”.

Me and Dani, smiling at a few jokes from the others

I think they were a bit surprised by all the food, I’ve the sensation they were expecting just coffee and some water for refilling the bottles. I’m really happy they enjoyed the food, in the end they ate it (almost) all up!

After a few more jokes. They took a moment to put on some more layers/clothes, then gathered their things and left, leaving me there alone, wishing I could just hop on the synapse and follow them.

The guys, leaving after the short stop in Lugo, into the night with 910 km still to ride.

“There will be a next time” - I told myself. Then I packed everything and drove all the way back home.