Last Days of Italian Cycling

We are winging our way somewhere over the Adriatic Sea on our way to Athens, Greece at the time of this writing.  I know it has been awhile since we last made an entry.  I can’t say that we were “too busy” to write because there has been some down time since our last epistle, a more descriptive comment would be that we were simply “too tired”.  The week consisted of sleeping, overindulging on the breakfast buffet, riding, drinking cappuccino, returning for post ride beers, more buffet lunch, a nap, pre-dinner drinks followed by a sumptuous dinner that included multiple courses, more wine, then bed, sleep, repeat!  The only addition to this routine was Deborah’s occasional forays into the local shops in search of some Italian fashion. She did manage to snag a few.

The Belvedere In the Morning

I had trained somewhat for this trip and managed six rides for a total of 450 kilometres.  I lost track of the elevations climbed but suffice to say every ride left our seaside resort and climbed into the mountains.  Deborah translated her tennis training into bike riding and managed five rides for a total of over 250 kilometres.  I alternated between riding with the “Explorer” group led by Nola, Glen, and Phil, and the “Panorama” group where Deborah, Warren, and Marci joined me.  Linda and Diane stayed with the “Leisure” group. Keith never recovered from the first day and was his own guide for the week toodling around Riccione.

The Panoramas Pondering the Next Hill Climb

Unlike the Explorers - Panoramas Stop to View

Morning Gathering Spot to Start

Langois-Brown Senior's Racing Team- Thanks James!

One final comment about the bicycle riding.  A person cannot withdraw money from a bank without putting some in.  Try as I might to keep up to Phil, Glen and Nola, I simply could not.  I tried to ride my bike at least three times each week during the winter but most Saturdays when I was home sipping coffee and reading the newspaper, those three were taking a ride to Ryder Lake outside of Chilliwack.  It is a one-hour ride, straight up. I tried to climb with them in Riccione, but I was two to three hundred meters behind on any of the three to five kilometre hills.  On the fifteen-kilometre climbs … well you know the story from the last entry.  Next time I’ll try to tackle a few more long hills pre-trip so when it comes time to withdraw, there will be something there.

I can’t speak for Deborah but I was surprised when I put my jeans on last night before we packed.  Surprise, surprise, I had to struggle to close the clasp at my waist.  In a perfect world all that exercise should have balanced the over-intake but alas, the world is not fair.

Party Night at the Belvedere

Deborah & Nola

Body Painting

Warren (Ragnar) Got Into the Spirit

Keith & Marci

Dinner on the Pool Deck

There were too many highlights to list in their entirety.  Certainly the food, drink, and hosting by our hotel was first class.  The guides were both encouraging and helpful.  The inspiring scenery in the Italian hills was well worth the work it took to get to them.   There were certainly a lot of interesting people here to meet.  Most were Canadians but there were others from the U.S. (they call themselves Canadians over here), Malta, South Africa, Holland, Germany, Britain and elsewhere.  Every level of riding was represented from a woman that was a four time Iron Man Triathlon champion, in four different age brackets, to partners there simply to support their spouse and had never ridden.  Even Nola, Phil and Glen were warned not to join the elite “Road Bike” group populated by 20 and 30 something speedy climbing demons that never rode less than 100 kilometres a day at speeds averaging in the middle 30’s and climbs of over 2000 meters.  They are all crazy, hard body stick people with the exception of a man in his 70’s from South Africa that fits right in.

Guide Danilo Clowning at Lunch Spot on the Road

Best Ride - Seaside Exploring

Last & Longest Ride

Lastly the best highlight were the folks travelling in our group.  They make it a joy to tackle each day with a positive attitude toward what it might bring.  On the days when the body was not feeling 100% they were there in support.  As Deborah said, “we are a family, everyone looking out for one another.”

We waved goodbye to Marci and Keith this morning.  They are off to trek in the Dolomites in northern Italy.  

Looking forward to Greece.  Deborah and I have never been.  Our first few days will be spent in Athens sightseeing and then we are off to the islands of Santorini and Naxos, then over to Hydra to check out why Leonard Cohen spent so much time there.