This is hard.
Tactics changed slightly for the day as there was so much ascending to start that we were going nowhere fast. Our previous tactics was to stop ever hour to refill water bottles etc, but we hadn't gone far enough in first hour so decided to opt to cycling in 20 mile blocks.
The first hour yesterday I felt was hard. Very hard. Up mountains most of the way, very hot and my legs ached severely all over. After 1hr 45 we found a random hotel/restaurant in the middle of nowhere. I felt spent. Awful. And we'd been on the bikes for less than 2 hours. Things were not looking good.
Then we ate. It was 2pm about this time. I had asparagus risotto, Rob had tortellini. We also consumed 4 litres of water in 40 minutes as well, incredible how much water we need.
After we'd paid, we left. And I don't know what happened but for the next 67 miles I felt fantastic. Never better.
I don't know what they put in that rice but it sure perked me up! I had eaten very well in the morning and was not under fuelled.
I honestly felt I was done for that day, but as it turns out, I wasn't.
The views today I felt were better than any other day. I can't put my finger on why but it was that little bit more special to look at.
We are so lucky to be seeing all these places that not many other people would themselves. Even the Italians.
Everybody goes to Rome, to Siena, to Modena, to Como. But how do they get there? Fly! We see every stunning road, view, mountain range, hills, trees, people, animals etc. You simply can't see the real Italy, and all of it, by going to one place, and staying there. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying don't fly to Rome, I'm just highlighting the advantages to cycling all way down it, you see more! So, who's coming with me next year?
We arrived in Bolsena about 8:30pm. The road before Bolsena looked as though a downhill was coming up and you I knew if I was lucky that as I approached the blind summit I'd be able to see the massive lake (about 10 wide). And I did. Wow. We saw it from around 3 miles away and several hundred feet up. The water looked so blue, even that late at night.
As soon as we found the campsite. We had a beer. Robs dad went off Into town to buy Calzones for us all, an we watched the rest of the France vs Spain football match.
The tent is literally just a few metres from the edge of the lake. And it's stunning. We would like to have had time to have a swim but we want to be in Rome as early as possible.
It's just amazing how after 400 miles are yet to find a part of Italy that's isn't out of this world beautiful.
Today should be shorter, but I've learnt not to count my chickens......
See you in Rome
Ciao!
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