SATURDAY, DAY 30

SATURDAY, DAY 30


FINITO.  

WE COMPLETED THE 1,700 MILE, 132,000 GAIN IN ELEVATION, HANNIBAL TOUR FROM BARCELONA TO ROME.

WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT OUR FRIENDS, LIAM, RACHAEL, STEPHEN AND TIM JOINED US ON THIS INCREDIBLE TOUR.  WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT JOURNEY.

I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF MY RIDING PARTNER.  THIS WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TOUR THAT TESTED OUR CYCLING ABILITIES TO THE LIMITS; MICHELLE PERFORMED LIKE A SEASONED PROFESSIONAL, FLYING ON THE FLATS AND LEADING ME UP SEVERAL OF THE TOUR DE FRANCES BIGGEST CLIMBS.

WE WILL SPEND THE DAY TOMORROW GETTING OUR BIKES PACKED UP AND ENJOYING THE INCREDIBLE ITALIAN FOOD (AND GELATO) BEFORE WE HEAD HOME MONDAY MORNING.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE KIDS AND GRAND KIDS!!!

BEST TO ALL,

M AND BIG

FRIDAY, DAY 29

FRIDAY, DAY 29

TODAY WE RODE FROM TODI TO FORCONE A DISTANCE 66 MILES WITH AN ELEVATION GAIN OF 5,300 FEET.

WE ARE LESS THAN 40 MILES FROM ROME.  EVERYONE IS TIRED AND READY TO GET OFF OUR BIKES.  IT’S BEEN A LONG AND DIFFICULT TOUR BUT WE’RE PLEASED IN OUR ABILITY TO TACKLE AND COMPLETE THIS RIDE.

TODAYS RIDE STARTED OUT FLAT FOR 20 MILES, THEN CAME THE FIRST “BUMP” WHICH LASTED 6 MILES; THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A DOWNHILL BUT THEN CAME THE FINAL TOUR CLIMB, A 12 MILE BEAST WITH GRADIENTS TO 15%.  OUCH.  A FINAL DOWNHILL ON LESS THAN AVERAGE RODE SURFACES BROUGHT US TO OUR HOTEL.

WE WILL SLEEP IN TOMORROW, HAVE BREAKFAST AT 8:00AM AND DEPART FOR ROME AT 10:00.  WE SHOULD ARRIVE IN ROME BEFORE 1:00 PM IN TIME FOR FINAL PHOTOS AND LUNCH.

MICHELLE PRE-ARRANGED FOR PERFECT WEATHER FOR OUR TOUR AND SHE CAME THROUGH WITH FLYING COLORS.  TOMORROW IS SUPPOSED TO BE ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY.

CIAO, CIAO,

M AND BIG

THURSDAY, DAY 28

THURSDAY. DAY 28

TODAY WE RODE FROM CORTONA TO TODI A DISTANCE OF 60 MILES WITH AN ELEVATION GAIN OF “ONLY” 3,600 FEET.

WE PASSED LAKE TRASIMENE THE SCENE OF ONE OF HANNIBALS GREATEST VICTORIES AGAINST THE ROMANS.  WE STOPPED IN THE TOWN OF TUORO WHICH HAS A HANNIBAL MUSUEM DEDICATE TO THIS BATTLE.  VERY INTERESTING.  BEN KANE, ONE OF OUR LEADERS IS A HISTORIAN AND HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL NOVELS ABOUT HANNIBAL.  HE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE AUTHORITIES ON HANNIBAL.

WE ARE IN THE HEART OF UMBRIA.  THE ROADS ARE AMONG THE WORST WE’VE COME ACROSS BUT THEY ARE LINED WITH BEAUTIFUL AND VERY OLD OLIVE TREES.

THE FINAL MILE OF TODAYS RIDE WAS UP A 16% GRADE TO OUR HILLTOP HOTEL IN TODI.  THIS CLIMB WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING CLIMB WE’VE EVER ATTEMPTED.  IT WAS AS IF WE WERE CLIMBING A WALL!

ONE MORE RIDE TOMORROW AND THEN INTO ROME ON SATURDAY.

CIAO,

M AND BIG

WEDNESDAY, DAY 27

WEDNESDAY, DAY 27

OUR ROUTE TODAY TOOK US TO THE HILLTOP TOWN OF CORTONA, A DISTANCE OF 64 MILES WITH AN ELEVATION GAIN OF ALMOST 6,000 FEET.  WE VISITED CORTONA ON THE CAESAR TOUR WHEN WE RODE FROM LONDON TO ROME.

WHEN RIDING IN TUSCANY YOU ARE EITHER GOING UP HILL OR DOWN HILL, THERE IS VERY LITTLE THAT IS FLAT IN THIS SECTION OF ITALY.

WE ARE ONLY 150 MILES FROM ROME WHICH WILL BE COVERED IN THE NEXT 3 DAYS.

WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OFF OUR BIKES.

CIAO,

M AND BIG

TUESDAY, DAY 26

TUESDAY, DAY 26

WE RODE FROM FIESOLE (FLORENCE) TO SIENA TODAY A DISTANCE OF 62 MILES WITH AN ELEVATION GAIN OF 6,000 FEET.

TODAY WAS A PRETTY SPECIL DAY IN OUR CYCLING LIVES.  WE RODE WITH A CYCLING SUPERSTAR, FABIANA LUPERINI.  FABIANA WON THE WOMENS GIRO D’ITALIA A RECORD 5 TIMES (4 CONSECUTIVE YEARS) AND ONCE AGAIN IN 2008.

I ASKED FOR A LITTLE COACHING ON HOW TO BECOME A BETTER CLIMBER.  SHE GAVE ME THE FORMULA:  WEIGH 2.2 POUNDS TIMES YOUR HEIGHT IN INCHES WHICH, FOR ME TRANSLATES INTO 2.2 X 73 = 160.6 POUNDS!!  I NEED TO LOSE 35 POUNDS!!!

WE CROSSED THE ARNO RIVER AND ENTERED THE CHIANTI HILLS WHICH IS FILLED WITH VINEYARDS, OLIVE TREES AND WONDERFUL HILL TOWNS.  THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE TODAYS RIDE IS THROUGH OUR PICTURES.

WE HAVE 4 MORE DAYS OF RIDING BEFORE WE REACH ROMA.

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