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