The mountain hide away and beyond.

I met some french cyclists in rome that where travelling to istanbull, it was one of the plans to carry on to istanbull and fter finding a gaggle of cyclists traveling the it seemed like a good plan to join them after comming from near Basel on my own it will be nice to have some company. We left roma on the train to Fossanova where we cycled on to a mountain retreat in the village of Pisterzo and the house of Dario a italian friend of the french. Hospitality has been as good as the views and fresh air. Its a relief to be back in the nature and outa the crazy but beautiful city of Roma.

The plan is to train to the east coast of Italy catch a boat to Split in Croatia and travel south to Dubrovnik and over the bumps to istanbull. I only hope that the weather isnt nasty with the highest peek at 1800 it makes me think of snow and ice but i think im as mad and the french to have a go. After all the tent is 4 seasons and the bag goes down to zero so all should be fine right. Stay tuned for the next stage in a mental journey.

Location : Via Provinciale, 04010 Prossedi Latina,

Critical mass Roma

I had a go rebuilding my wheel but something when terribly wrong and Idecided it wasn't the time to be playing with my front wheel, so i took it to the experts at bbike.it it was ready in 24 hours unlike pro bike who said it was going 2 weeks. The bike mechanic asked if i was going to critical mass on Friday after a short explanation I was sure I was going to go.
After meeting  fori impiriali for the.start we cycled around for 3 and a half hours causing chaos on the roads there was about 3-4 hundreds cyclist on all manner of bikes tandems tricycles tall bike and short. The ride finished with a party and drinks at one of the cicofficina where i met people from all over the world enthusiastic about cycling.

Location : Via dei Salentini, 4, 00185 Rome,

Bravo Roma with stops

Well I left on the 3 Sep and arrived  on 21 Nov that makes it 48 days and there must have been 10 rest days 2100 km to get here and a good few bumps. Weather has been good to me although there been roughly 5 wet days but I spent them in the luxury of a House in Como but theres been a few rain showers as a  I peddled along. The nights are getting chilly wondering how its going to be if I carry on to Brindisi across the Appenini where the altitudes get a lot higher. Planning to use via Appia to get to Benevento where i will change onto the Trajans way and head through Puglia to Brindisi where i plan to head back to England on the train and then fly on to New Zealand.

Location : Via dei Salentini, 4, 00185 Rome,

Take it easy and you might make it.

The front wheel bearings are on there last legs the cups are heavily worn, the cones have pitting and chatter marks the man at the bike shop did his best to find replacement parts but in the end just had to repack bearings and hope for the best. The hubs I have on the bike are Cannondale earth and every cone he had wasn't long enough to be able to get a spanner on it. He didn't speak a word of English and my Italian ain't up to speed yet so i pulled out my android phone and with the help of the google translate app we  where able to establish i was fucked or at least my front wheel was. Had 3 days rest while I waited for the bad news at il borgo hotel in Acquapendente only 25 euro a night right in the center of town just of main plaza so it wasn't all bad. Lovely place well worth stopping to check out old cobbled streets and narrow alleys. Only 83 km to Rome now and I'm trying to follow bike mechanics advice to take it easy and i get to this road in photo.

Location : 01027 Montefiascone Viterbo,

Francigena rain.

Despite waking early and getting ready to pack tent down the weather turned for the worst it was  the worst rain Ive had on this trip heavy rain last night and now looks like today as well, back in the sleeping bag hoping it will clear soon. The forecast was mainly sunnie but sky totally  white.
Worried about the mildew on the tent fly.  Pushed on through the rain to see blue sky over the hills in Acquapendente where I am now waiting for pizza the photo is from a sign along the Via Francigena a Georgian bridge that pilgrims would pass over but i didn't see it, just a new bridge. It was commissioned by one of the popes as it was one one the most dangerous parts of the pilgrimage, they obviously didn't have the crazy roads of north Italy Como to Parma especially. Pizza was great and found a cheep hotel only 25 euros a night charging phone and camera battery's. Only 120 to Rome now and the front wheel bearing seems to be making a bad noise better open it up in the morning and have a look feels tight but rough there was a bike shop on the way into town may have to get new bearings cups or cones we will see in the morning.    

Location : Vicolo Morelli, 8-12, 01021 Acquapendente Viterbo,

Slowly but surely

Had a bit of rain last night and seemed to take for ever for the fly to dry before setting off got away about lunch time easy roads after Siena hills only small and rolling forgot that it was Saturday and the shops close early so running a little low on food. More rain forecast for the evening and a little edgy about the camping spot I chose think I'm just behind a house so must try for early start to avoid any confrontation with the land owner. Im seeing many Francigena signs now so i guess they are pretty used to pilgrims pulling up and camping the night, weather that's a good thing I don't know only but its only 180km to Rome now and still no idea what to do next. Carry on to Brindisi? grease even? and how to get my bike back to the UK is another issue. With out spending a small fortune. Had thoughts of getting ferry to Spain and cycling to east coast and getting another ferry to Plymouth but I bet northern Spain is getting cold now. Hopefully it will all come clear within the next couple of days.

Location : 53024 Montalcino Sienna,

Rest in siena

Decided to take a rest day and see the sights of Siena, unloaded the panniers and set off this morning, oh what a delight to ride the bike up the steep hills of this city. Had a few people ask me for direction this sun tan or something must be making me look local. Many great sights like Florence, tall buildings and narrow cobbled streets.

The ortlieb bed mat got yet another leak in it so much for puncture proof its only used in the tent and cared for, wonder if a thermarest would have a better choice the seamseal seems to fix it well.

Location : Via Camporegio, 2, 53100 Sienna,

Siena

Woke this morning to the sounds of dogs and gun shots it had me quickly packing then tent and making my way to the road, lucky the owner of the lake I was camped next to didn't see me. I followed the SP112 then the SS222 to Siena, quiet roads and nice and hilly up and down the whole way with many cyclist out all giving nods and waves. I found a camp ground on the out skirts of Siena 15 euro a night the pitch is sandy and not very level oh well had a hot shower and a chance to charge my power monkey and phones. Going to have a quick look at Siena in the morning and then follow Via Enea silvio piccolom road, then onto SS2 south towards Rome. Found yet another tick on my armpit don't normally like to use deet or such products but it looks like i might have to use something.

Location : Strada di Scacciapensieri, 43, 53100 Sienna,

On to siena

Left Florence on the via de serragil road and passed through the city gates they must have anticipated 21 century high top buses cause they where enormous high wooden gates must have been more than 15 meters high easy. There was some pretty steep hills and just as i was reaching Impruneta there was a bunch of cyclist out for a ride we did the caio then one remarked in English that I was setting the pace I replied oh hello you speak English. Turns out they where visiting a Australian Friend and where from New Zealand we cycled along for a while nattering away. They stopped to admire the view and I carried on. Should have stopped with them and had a good chat but i regretfully didn't. I stopped in Impruneta at la Barazzina plaza for lunch, then dropping down the hill only to find the road I was meant to take had privado signs and a locked gate. The SP118 then took me up up and up with some great views of where id come. Once reaching the top I stopped for a break and found my self coming down a stony track to a lake where I had coffee then the rain started quickly afterwards, pitched the tent and ignored the privado signs just hoping for the best. I'm tucked away but there is house not far away over looking a vineyards bounty of grapes destined to be made in to Chianti wine I imagine. 

Location : 50026 San Casciano in Val di Pesa Florence,

Beautiful Florence

Woke this morning with blue Sky's and strong winds, the decent from the last nights camp was magic wonderful views and reasonable road surface with good cycleways to join the river Arno where it turned to gravel cycleway, but good all the same. Coming into Florence with a big park on my left. Spent the afternoon wandering the streets and looking for a guide book from here to Rome. Only to find out its not  been published yet. I think the route from Rome to brisindi is even more sketchy from what ive read.
Florence is truly magnificent many tourist wandering about with maps and snapping photos. Stopped to wash my clothes in a laundry and now just enjoying some food in plazza della signoria, pasta of course.   

Location : Piazza della Signoria, 19-red-22-red, 50122 Florence,

Toscana

Woke up this morning to check forecast rain in the afternoon, in the saddle by 9:30 to try and make good time legs feeling tired so no moving fast hope it not Lyme's disease from the tick bites. surely its just nearly 40 days of  cycling. Many ups and downs through the hills rewarded by fantastic view out to prato i think. Rain sure enough came about 1500 when it looked like a good down hill stretch got tent up pronto in acquerino cantagallo national park autumn is here f sure golden leaves blowing over the road.

Location : Via della Cascina, 51037 Montale Pistoia,

Ciclopista del sole

Got a guide book for the cycle route in Balogna but it only  covers the journey as far as florence, hopefully the next guide book is there. Tried to make route for Garmin using BRT but the map of Italy isn't great lots of small roads missing that the guide book mentions, so its a combination of Italian guide book and gps, although the route is low traffic it not the smoothest or the fastest. I have now reached the hills and crossing over to Florence passing lake Suviana into Toscana.

Location : Località Ca' Nova in Ponte, 40030 Grizzana Morandi Bologna,

Balogna

I seem to be ok with the tic bites tired legs but that could be all the cycling right been looking for the cyclopista del sole path it passes in this city so with a bit of luck and a trip to the book shop i should be happily cycling on quite roads again. Suns out and lovely weather. Fixed hole in sleeping mat with some seamseal that came with the mat no instructions so i just put a bit over,the hole no patch so ill see how it holds.

Location : Via de' Pignattari, 2, 40124 Bologna,

Testing times

The roads seem insane cycle paths like the surface of the moon if im lucky enought to find them. I now changing the route to follow cyclopista del sole and hope to find better cycling conditions. Hd freind make route on bikeroutetoaster and send as attchment but the gmail client on my xperia dont seem to have dl attchment.in the end buddie over at http://mye.co hosted gpx file and i downloaded it only to find laptop flat or broken. To add to that the ortlieb sleeping mat has a leak even tho i was careful with it so much for punctureproof and a tic has been living with me for about four days biting me on both ankles. Just noticed scabs on ankles last night and  tic 4-5 scabs so i guess hes been well fed while visiting me. Suns out and warm (^-^)

Location : Strada Pedemontana, 41049 Sassuolo Modena,

Busy roads nice parks

Been cycling on some pretty busy roads getting really tired of trucks roaring passed. Went off the route last night to find camping spot only to be trapped by river railway line and motorway must have cycled 20km outta my way in the interest of not back tracking.

Ive just stopped for coffee break in Reggio nell Emilla lovely park with free wifi but when i tried to sign in i was told my Sim is not acceptable, guess it the uk variety that did it. Oh well

Location : Via Gazzata, 4, 42121 Reggio Emilia RE,

On the road again

After a fantastic 4 day rest in Como while the wet weather passed, I hit the road with the start of the fine weather. That night I cycled on and on, but was unable to find a suitable place to put the tent after clocking up 75km and starting the day at 1500 I thought id better stop at the hotel that was at the end of week four it has been dark for a couple of hours by now and the roads seem dangerous even during daylight There was a good cycleway that lead me into Crema for about 6km.

The sky is blue this morning and looks as if I'm in for a hot day.

Location : Via Luigi Cadorna, 7, 26013 Crema Cremona,

At last

Taking a few days rest before leaving for Rome  I had some rain but its lovely and sunny now enjoying great Italian cuisine and hospitality. Had to repack my front wheel bearing. My bike started making a noise on the Gotthard pass where i just put oil inside and adjusted now running tight and smooth wondering what will happen once i get to Rome and the possibility of carrying on to Brindisi or possibility of going to Grease. South seems the only option with winter coming to northern Europe.

Location : Via del Galletto, 18b, 20020 Cogliate MB,