Today would be an easy run up the coast with an occasional tailwind followed by a ride inland to Bitonto. I really didn’t know what to expect.
I had to pay tourist tax of 6 euros but only had a 5 or a 20, and I had to leave it in the apartment. I messaged the host and said I’d grab a coffee and get the one euro for her. When I came to pay at the cafe, they had no change – aaagghhh ! As I was researching my next option, the host messaged me and said not to worry. Honestly, this tourist tax should be included in the price. It’s everywhere and these days I hate carrying change.
I rode through town and past the iconic beach. It wasnt exactly warm but there was one person swimming, the first I’ve seen in months.
Out of town and along the coast, it was another service road today, generally a few hundred metres from the sea except for one diversion. This time, a resort seems to have recently taken over the service roads on both sides of the freeway and blocked them off with boom gates. Normally, I’d just ride through but there were security guards. They told me that a day ago, it was ok to ride through. I said – great, I’ll come back yesterday. Not happy.
That meant riding another 5 or 6 KMs. I wasn’t happy and ranted for a few minutes. The Google lady in my phone told me not to talk to her like that. I told her to stop listening.
I actually enjoyed the diversion. It was more smallish lanes and olive trees. I rejoined the coast and zoomed into Bari. The first 35kms were quick and enjoyable with the tailwind, so I was early in Bari and decided to look around. It’s another nice place.
I found a panini place in town, parked and sat outside with some typically tasty Italian food. An old guy and his wife walked up the narrow street. He was puffing a durrie and tried to walk into the panini shop but was sent out. So he stood directly facing the door and for 5 minutes blew his exhaust fumes into the shop, finished his cigarette, threw it on the ground and left. Nice !
I left and headed towards Bitonto not know what to expect when I got there nor what to expect on the way. There was a section of the trail that hugged the boundary of a military area and when I got there, I thought better, and found another way. A few kms later, it started to rain quite heavily but by the time I’d got the waterproofs on and the pack covered, it petered out to a light drizzle.
I approached Bitonto, and Gee it looked nice. Smooth-ish cobbled streets (yes they exist), walls, old buildings – what else could a tourist ask for ? I then entered the labyrinth of tiny lanes to get to the BnB. What an interesting place, and I’ve never heard mention of it before.
I messaged the host and while I was waiting, Yaya from The Gambia came and had a chat. He knows the host, Vincenzo who is the president of Yaya’s local football club. What a great conversation. Where are you from – Australia – Mark Viduka ! And the conversation went to Australian football. After 10 minutes, I realised that he knew the iconic footballers from most countries..it’s his way of steering the conversation to his favourite topic. A great technique that I’d see again soon.
Vincenzo is a great guy + loves cycling, do he checked the bike over thoroughly and told me to go to his brother-in-law’s restaurant.
