From Bologna to Florence

I am re-typing this as my phone tells me that it has not posted and deleted the blog. Excuse me if this is a copy or not as funny as the original!

Thursday from Bologna to Florence ( that's Firenze to the Italians who can't spell!)
We set off early to miss the mad traffic but we didn't! The locals had heard about 3 Lycra-clad Gods cycling through the city but they were disappointed when they found us instead so tried to mow us down at every opportunity!
With hindsight choosing a new route in the bar the night before may have been a mistake. We set off from Bologna and after losing the traffic we turned a corner and went straight up, and I mean UP! I'm not the best map reader but if you see a name called Dante's Peak and you're cycling through it there's a bit of a clue! Needless to say after 10k of cycling up a hill I didn't need to, I did have a bit of a toys out of pram moment, I can't repeat the actual words but let's just say some Italians who heard picked up a bit of real English!
After we had dropped to the bottom of the extra hill we added in we started the climb proper.. 40k straight up, this was our first crossing of the Apennines, lovely!
Full marks to Pete Connelly who dragged us all up the hill, he was strong whilst the rest of us just wanted to go home!
We managed to get through the mountains in one piece but that was nothing compared to the traffic in Florence....every city seems to get worse!
We managed to get to one of Florence's tourist traps( sorry, locations of significant historical importance!) after we had fought off the hordes of American and Japanese tourists we managed to get 6in of space on Ponte Vecchio, just so Pete could prove to some of his ( careful with money) sponsors that he had done his bit. We got the photo and collapsed in the hotel , we had completed 130k that day and we were knackered!

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Team change and now through Tuscany

We had a new tram member join us for the final leg into Abruzzo, Martin. At the same time Pete had to catch a flight back home and you could tell he had mixed emotions, he wanted to get home and see his family after 9 days away but he also wanted to keep cycling as well. As we set off it was an emotional goodbye but I think Pete was ok because he had found the Armani shop and 'was just going for a look, honest!'
This morning I crossed the 2000km barrier and funnily enough it was climbing one of the hills of Tuscany. We have spent all day climbing up and down, up and down, up, up, then up and then down! We have covered another 130km today and we are absolutely knackered! We found a nice place on the side of Lake Tresimeno which is about 30km from Perugia. Tomorrow we climb again, can't wait! I nice baptism of fire for Martin, oh and apparently Terry's backside is in 'tatters'!



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A big day to Bologna

After yesterday's M25 episode we decided to add some miles and head to Bologna via the B roads of Italy. It has proven to be a good decision, we have seen the real Italy today. Lots of quiet sleepy villages and small towns with a bar complete with a set of blokes arguing over a game of cards.
Pete has also fixed his panniers, he was up at 6 o'clock armed with gaffer tape and bungees and has created a masterpiece that Isambard Brunell would have been proud of. I am happy to report that Pete has now carried his own bag
We have covered around 120km today and it has been hot, hot, hot! Temp was measured at 37c at 5pm tonight so went through a lot of water. I'm not looking for sympathy as I have been told that it's chucking it down at home, sorry.....honest!
We had lunch in Maranello today and I was looking for the Ferrari factory, I didn't see the factory but we spotted a couple of Ferraris, driven by an Italian Stallion, of course!
Terry literally had a bee in his bonnet when a bee flew into his helmet, there was a bit of a panic but we didn't laugh too much as he tried to get his helmet off in time, it's all about team spirit!
We are trying to do the 'local thing' so we have had Parma ham in Parma, we have had bolognese in Bologna and tomorrow in Florence we are having....chips (family show!)





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A long road to Parma

We have now arrived in Parma after travelling just over 120km down a long straight road called the Via Emilia. I have to say to that whilst I know that Italian drivers are mad I had heard a rumour that they respect cyclists. I can confirm that there is no respect for cyclists, you are just considered to be a more interesting moving target for them to aim at! Never, ever cycle on the road from Pavia to Parma! We have had to have a beer to calm our nerves.
Tomorrow we are plotting a route on quieter roads.
We had a disaster with Pete's pannier rack this morning, both supports snapped and we can't get a replacement. Obviously the rack didn't snap due to the weight of Pete's wardrobe! Terry had to carry one of Pete's bags and then we tried to find a solution. We had an interesting conversation in a toolshop, my Italian is okay for ordering food but does anyone know the Italian for 'jubilee clip'?
Trip total is now 1750km and well done to Pete who has now done 650km, although most of it was with someone else carrying his bags!


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Arona a real Italian city

We covered just over 120km today. I passed the 1500km mark and it was emotional, full
Marks to Chris who celebrated the moment with a handshake at 30km per hour but I did miss the the 100km hug from Tina ( T, you know what I mean).
It was a tough slog today. We are all sat talking about the day and muscles are aching but so what?
All the time I tried to explain the Italian way of 'passiagiata' which means to walk but dressed up in all your finery. We have sat here and watched them flowing up and down the street, difficult to explain but you would understand if you saw it. Maybe it was the way we were 100 years ago?
Is that good or bad, you decide? What I do know is that the whole family comes out for the Dominica Passagiatta (Sunday stroll). When it is is 25c you can understand, I think the Italians would freeze if they had a face a proper Lancastrian Summer's evening.
Th trip total is now 1520km!!
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The reward after a good morning's ride

We are now in Luino at the side of Lago Di Maggiore. We have covered 60km this morning and are just grabbing a quick pasta.






This is Joff soaking up the atmosphere.

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Benvenuti in Italia!

We have just crossed the border and are now in Italy!



This is me and Pete with our best fake smiles for the camera.

We have some pictures of the road down from the Gotthard Pass, it was 15km of cobbles, or tremolo in Italian which seems to fit how we all were feeling at the end






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