Man, what a day! I swear, Alpendurada really knows how to throw a curveball. Woke up this mornin’ thinkin’ it’d be just another chill day at the stables. But nah, life had other plans.
So, I’m at the stables on Rua da Igreja, right? Just me and my trusty steed, Flash. He’s a bit of a diva, but I love that horse. Anyway, I’m brushin’ him down, and outta nowhere, this kid runs in, all panicked. “Dude, the race is in trouble!” he yells. I’m like, “What do you mean trouble?” Turns out, the track at the Campo de Jogos is flooded. Like, seriously? It’s not even raining! Just a freakin’ mess.
I’m fumin’. I mean, I’ve been training for weeks. Weeks! And now, I gotta deal with this? So, I hop on my bike, zoom down Avenida da Liberdade, dodging cars like I’m in some kinda video game. I’m thinkin’, “If I don’t get there in time, I’m gonna lose my shot.”
Finally, I get to the track, and it’s chaos. People everywhere, shoutin’, runnin’ around like headless chickens. I spot my buddy Miguel, who’s also a jockey. He’s lookin’ just as lost as I am. “What’s the plan?” I ask him. He shrugs. “We wait, I guess?” Ugh, waiting is the worst.
Then, outta nowhere, the sun comes out. Like, seriously? It’s like the universe is playin’ tricks on us. The water starts to drain, and I’m thinkin’, “Maybe we’ll race after all!” I can feel the adrenaline kickin’ in.
But then, just when I’m gettin’ pumped, I hear this loud crash. I turn around, and some dude just knocked over a whole stack of hay bales. I mean, come on! Who does that? I’m ready to lose it. But then I see the guy’s face. He’s just as shocked as I am. We both start laughin’. It’s ridiculous.
Finally, the track is good to go. I’m on Flash, and we’re ready to roll. The crowd’s hyped, and I’m feelin’ like a rockstar. I can see the finish line, and it’s all I can think about. The race starts, and I’m off!
Man, the wind in my hair, the sound of hooves pounding the ground. It’s pure magic. I’m in the zone, just me and Flash. We’re flyin’ down Rua da Liberdade, and I can hear the crowd goin’ wild. I’m thinkin’, “This is it! This is what I live for!”
But then, disaster strikes. Some rookie jockey cuts me off. I’m like, “Dude, what are you doin’?” I almost fall off Flash. I’m furious. But I can’t let it get to me. I push through, and we’re neck and neck.
As we round the last corner, I can see the finish line. My heart’s racin’. I’m shoutin’ at Flash, “C’mon, buddy! Let’s go!” And he just takes off. We cross the line, and I can’t believe it. We did it!
I’m on cloud nine. The crowd’s goin’ nuts, and I’m just grinnin’ like an idiot. I hop off Flash, and he’s lookin’ at me like, “Yeah, I know I’m awesome.”
After the race, I’m chillin’ with Miguel at a café on Rua do Comércio. We’re laughin’ about the day’s craziness. I’m still buzzin’ from the win. “Dude, can you believe that flood?” I say. He just shakes his head, still chucklin’.
Alpendurada, man. It’s wild. One minute you’re dealin’ with floods, the next you’re a champ. I love this place. It’s got its quirks, but it’s home. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.