J25 – 1/11/2006






D25 – 74.0Km

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11
SAN MICHELE – + 3km after GRIGNO
74km – 10H30′
Departure at 7H50 to begin a new day.  After 15 Km Serge entered Trento before heading into the Dolomite Mountains by small, very uneven roads which were sunny and every so beautiful.  A long uphill lead Serge to Civezzano, a small village nested on a promontory.  After passing Pergine, there was another uphill and a descent by a road called “the bicycle” to Levico Terme (569M), a thermal station which is frequented in the winter for its spa. This splendid place has reconciled us with the region.  We really were not charmed by the South Tyrol which we came through further north.

Serge passed the village of Borgo at 15H00, his determination had not weakened and he went on.  Thanks to the sunshine he was able to take off his jacket and run in his sweat suit a good part of the day.  The temperature rose to 8°C at the warmest part of the afternoon.  Serge is not very talkative even though he does occasionally joke and smile at his followers.  They are continually trying to find out if he is all right and if he has had enough to eat because at the end of the day it becomes a real problem to know what to feed him.  For liquids there is no problem: water and more water, sometimes sparkling water for a change but no Coke because it can be hard to digest.  And yes, a good beer when he arrives in the evening.

As is often the case, Serge seems to have an objective in mind and we can assume that it is passing the 2000 kilometer mark, which is approaching.  He will probably do it during the weekend..

English translation by Lee Hecht


THE INCREDIBLE SERGE GIRARD’S CHALLENGE