Day 74 - Sabato 22 giugno 2013

From - Bologna
To - Monghidoro
Distance - 43km
Time - 3 hours
Total - 4301km

As with many things in life, the thought of something is usually worse than the real thing. It was the same for me today .....I was frightened of eating the Hostel breakfast again with the cornflakes in a cup and the dry bread. But I faced up to my fears and struggled through! I did ease the pain by eating a apple and a croissant that I had bought at a supermarket.

I was trying to maximise all the small advantages that I could to help me on my cycling today. This is something I learned from Dave Brailsford who is the manager of Team Sky Cycling Team. I put on my white shirt and white hat to reduce the heat from the sun and I showered using 'orange energy' shower gel! I'm sure the shower gel will do the trick today and make the cycling so much easier!!

I got started at 8am when the temperature was pleasant. By 9am it was 28 degrees. I pretty much cycled south from Bologna which was initially flat but it started to climb as I left the city. I went through Pianaro and then it started to get tough with hard gradients and lots of bends. Road igns told me to put on snow chains but i didn't take the advice. For the hills i used the power of positive thinking that the next bend would be the end of the hill but 'mind over matter' wasn't going to work today. At the top of the steep bit was a town called Livergnano. It was here that the cycling improved from two perspectives. Firstly, the hills were much more gradual and therefore I could admire the beautiful countryside. Secondly, I started cycling and chatting with a local 24 year old young man called Alessandro. He must have been doing his good deed for the day by helping an old man up the hill. He was excellent company and his English was very good and we talked about many things. He had studied in California but had never been to Britain. I told him how he would like the Lake District and he asked the difficult question about when is the best time of year to visit? I'm still trying to work out the answer to that question for myself! I suggested May but with the proviso that it can rain at any time of the year.

We cycled together all the way to my hotel a Monghidoro and he turned round and went back. He told me that there was a very steep part after Monghidoro and then it wouldn't be too bad onto Florence. Alessandro took my blog address, so hopefully he will look at it today.

Whilst talking I said that the only Italian pop star I knew was Zucchero who had a hit with Paul Young in the 80's called Senza Una Donna. So, that must be my song of the day. I have got a few Zucchero songs on my iPad but I don't think anyone would know them.

Monghidoro is at 850 metres above sea level which is about 2700 feet and is only a fairly small town. The hotel looks good. I nearly complained that there was no shower in my ensuite but avoided embarrassment when I found it hiding behind the bathroom door!

I had walk around town, its a pleasant place but a bit of a one horse town without the horse! I must say the air seems fresher and there is a breeze that helps the heat. It was only 32 degrees this afternoon but didn't feel too hot. The views all round are beautiful.

I had a conversation today with an Italian lady who explained why I continually get funny looks when I screw up my receipts and throw them away. It turns out that there is the Italian Financial Police who can stop you outside a shop and demand to see your receipt. If you haven't got one you can be taxed (probably a small fine) but the shop must give you a receipt and will be taxed a larger amount if they haven't. She said this is to make sure that sales are subject of tax and not just cash transactions that are not recorded. It eventually makes sense!

Not much night life here but Italy play Brazil at football so I intend to eat in and watch the football in the bar. I will support Brazil and see if I get a response!


Photo 1, Another Palazzio that I spotted on the way out of Bologna.
Photo 2, Nice countryside.
Photo 3, I think that's a view of Monghidoro in the distance.
Photo 4, Here's me making Alessandro look good! Nice legs, shame about he face! I'm talking about me, not sure about the legs actually!
Photo 5, I made another friend. More my age I think, he's from the 70's!
Photo 6, More countryside.
Photo 7, Closet I will get to a Lamborghini!
Photo 8, Monghidoro Main Street.
Photo 9, Local vino tastes good, it will be chianti next.