Today wasn’t the most picturesque of days today but we’re cycling in Tuscany so life isn’t too bad and I’m sure any complaints wouldn’t be given airtime.
Most of today was on urban roads, and the parts of the journey in the countryside were often through plant nurseries which though nice, don’t make for inspiring scenery. The main discovery of the day was that I have another person who kills me up hills. Recently it was Minou who took pity on me by waiting at the top. This time it’s Cathie, who despite the advantage of an e-bike, really did well up today’s climb.
She’s yet to become used to Italian drivers. I have to say that up here in the north, they are a considerate bunch and I don’t feel the least bit unsafe as they whizz by. I’ve done this bikepacking thing for a while though and what feels safe for me, can still be unnerving for Cathie. I also have the directions on my bike computer, so I’ll usually ride in front, but if the road is busy, I’ll stay at the back. The problem occurs when Cathie is in front and doesn’t feel great about the traffic, she speeds up to shorten the experience. All I see, is an e-bike accelerating into the distance … and it often accelerates up the wrong road while I shout feebly from a hundred metres back. After all I’ve done, this is the treatment I get ! 😁
We again had a late lunch and got into a bakery just before it shut. It was a bit more than a bakery – the food was fantastic – pasta and meatballs which is perfect fodder for hungry cyclists. It was exactly what we needed for the rest of the ride into Lucca.
The first thing that strikes you about Lucca is the walls. They’re amazing but as I ride around them, I quickly become disoriented. It happened to me previously and again today.
We planned a rest day today so we could catch up with some good friends who are coincidentally riding through Italy at the moment. Andy, Fiona, and Peter would arrive on our rest day, so we planned to catch up.
We had a wander around Lucca which is as beautiful as it is vast. It’s a maze of narrow streets and alleys, and right now, it’s quite chilly. A few weeks earlier, it was shorts-and-tshirt weather.
The rest day didn’t go as planned with Cathie being ill. She was better in the afternoon and the catch-up went ahead.