After a hearty breakfast, we finally began our cycle! To get
to that point felt like an achievement in itself, and is in brilliant to know
all our efforts in planning have paid off (so far) and we have actually made it
to the start line. We paused outside the Colosseum for the obligatory snaps,
and then set off. We were escorted out by Duncan and Briony in a beautiful Alfa
Romeo, which was lucky indeed as it was a little confusing and our map was a
rather zoomed out!
It was fantastic cycling along the Tiber River, with many of
Rome’s famous monuments flashing by. We got on to Via Cassia, and felt like
true Roman legionaries setting off on some adventure to a far flung corner of
the empire (in our case Winchester).
The cycling started well in the cool of the morning, with
few hills and an easy route to follow. Unfortunately this blissful cycling was
not to last. The 25 miles coming up to Viterbo were packed with long climbs,
and the increasing heat of the day did little to help our cause. We eventually
reached Punta Del Lago where we stopped for lunch and a chance to escape the
heat of the day for a few hours. We realised by this point, that how often we
met the hearse was dictated by how long out water lasted. In the heat, it did
not last long!
We got going again at 2.30pm, where we were greeted by yet
more hilly bits. Thankfully what goes up must come down, so we had a nice final
7 mile cruise downhill into Viterbo. On our final run to our campsite in
Capodimonte, it was very very hot on account of the little shade.
On arrival we went for a swim in Lago Di Bolsena, with
roughly 1,000 Italians that are staying at the same campsite. Then it was back
to pasta for supper, made slightly more bearable by Jack’s warm Birthday
Prosecco.
What a great photo to see you all outside the Colosseum! Did you scare away all the tourists, we cannot believe it was so empty - guess it as very early!! The double picture is like spot the difference, Hector and I have found 3! Well done the Hearse for getting to Rome and out.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the ride today and wear lots of sun cream says Mum!