ReneKMueller.com: 2008: Europe *

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During the night it didn't rain, 7:00 awake, 8:30 departure, further downhill, Vicovaro comes only after about 10km, soon Tivoli, beautiful, fast and make a few photos. From a plateau down to Rome, more traffic, more, very much traffic. I am in the center of the city for 20min, and still signs "Centro". I drive intuitively from east to west, until I cross the river Tevere, this divides Rome in 1/3 to 2/3 West / East. I follow the river north and reach Via Cassia, this leads outside the city. Viterbo direction and Siena. It is hilly and I do not like as much as a few days ago. The ascents before and after Avezzano were exhausting for the knees. Sufri is very beautiful, like Caprarica, which I ride through and 2km away detour in a forest, and a quiet forest with beautiful trees, except for aircraft noise from the Rome airport. Thanks!

2008/05/12 07:50

Tivoli
2008/05/12 09:52

Roma
2008/05/12 12:16

Roma
2008/05/12 12:22

Roma
2008/05/12 12:38

2008/05/12 14:27

2008/05/12 17:35

2008/05/12 17:36

2008/05/12 17:38

2008/05/12 17:39

2008/05/12 19:29

Awake 6:00, 6:20 rain, short sections without rain and decide to stay at the same place and a day of rest. Throughout the day 2-3 hours of rain, with 1-2 hours without rain. Getting some sleep. In the evening it stops to rain.

Ride at 9:00, still traffic. Highway to Viterbo north, then branches off to shop in the city. It is clear sky with some clouds, a pleasure to ride, not too cold, not too hot. Up to Montefiascone, behind the magnificent views of the Lake Bolsena, great. It is hilly, tiresome. After Viterbo less traffic, to San Lorenzo Nuovo almost no traffic, 900m long tunnel without problems. Then beautiful landscapes of Tuscany, simply wonderful! Although I would like to go to Siena, I think San Quirico d'Orca and turn on a river transition for my sleeping place, slightly exposed, so I put up the tent very late. Thanks!

2008/05/14 08:51

2008/05/14 08:55

2008/05/14 09:54

2008/05/14 09:57

2008/05/14 10:06

2008/05/14 11:39

Monte Fiascone
2008/05/14 11:58

2008/05/14 12:12

Lago di Bolsano
2008/05/14 12:18

2008/05/14 13:35

San Lorenzo Nuovo
2008/05/14 13:52

San Lorenzo Nuovo
2008/05/14 13:58

2008/05/14 16:25

2008/05/14 16:26

2008/05/14 16:55

2008/05/14 16:56

2008/05/14 17:03

2008/05/14 17:05

2008/05/14 17:18

2008/05/14 17:19

2008/05/14 17:20

2008/05/14 17:24

2008/05/14 17:25

Near Siena, Tuscany
2008/05/14 17:31

2008/05/14 17:31

2008/05/14 17:32

2008/05/14 19:07

8:15 to go, the tent partly packed yet still moist, it is foggy and humid, the sun barely penetrates, ideal for travel, pleasantly cool. Passing S. Quirico - there are still a few miles, hilly conditions to Siena. Reaching city limit of Siena at 11:20, the city is on a hill, so I ride into the city, many tourists, they behave funny - I am impressed by the city, slightly less than expected - they say Siena is the most beautiful city in the world or so. Well, after an hour more, trying to find the northern exit - not to be found, so around the city, after an hour up and down I'm back in the south, and ride the fast road to "Siena Nord", probably not for bikes allowed, but no prohibition signs. From there, 500m back toward Siena to finally "Monteriggioni" sign found, that road I take. Tiresome signalizations of the streets to Siena around. I try to buy some water, but I find no supermarket, and other shops are closed from 13:00 to 14:30 - and I'm thursty. I buy 3dl Ice Tea in a McDonalds - and I pay Euro 2.50 - almost my entire budget for the day spent. In Poggiponsi I shop finally: 2x 2l water (a 0.17 euro), 2l Icetea (0.85 €), 1kg cereals (1.89 €), 2 boxes bars (1.35 €), 200g cheese (1.15 €) Total etc. 8.50 €. In Ponte a Elsa arrived I pass through straight, but then I return the 1-2km back direction Pisa. Outside (100m to sign) of Ponte a Elsa I turn onto the road embankment of the river Elsa, whose valley today I went through in parts. 500m further and my beautiful place; unfortunately, I can't swim in the Elsa, too gloomy. Thanks!

2008/05/15 07:11

Siena
2008/05/15 11:22

Siena
2008/05/15 11:27

Siena
2008/05/15 11:28

Siena
2008/05/15 11:37

Siena
2008/05/15 11:53

Siena
2008/05/15 11:58

2008/05/15 12:00

Siena
2008/05/15 12:43

2008/05/15 18:51

2008/05/15 18:52

8:20 to go, it is overcast, foggy, the sun barely penetrates. Hilly to Pisa, which I like much better, Arvo river, old houses, and the Leaning Tower, along with impressive beautiful building (church), hundreds of tourists, hardly imaginable how much people will be at high season. 10:30, soon continue to Viareggio, where I awkwardly ride to Torre de Lago, in the hope on a beautiful beach - unfortunately it is also an impasse, the 9km back again - from Viareggio near the sea toward Forte di Marni, Marina di Massa, where it begins to rain heavily, I put on the rain gear, jacket and trousers and continue, after 2 hours it ends to rain. In Marina di Carrera, I ride twice in a hole, a 10-15cm deep hole filled with muddy water so I can't see the hole, but with such a maneuver it broke a spoke, and another wobble in the rear wheel. Fast finding a bicycle mechanic, and 150m further, I will find one. After 40min waiting until the store opens, and 10min repair, wheel centered, not as clean or exactly as before, but OK. Euro 5 it costs. Next the direction of La Spezia, but not to ride through as last time, because I want to try a different route, via Follo and Borghetto, rather than to La Spezia itself. Shortly before Ameglia I meat Danny from the UK (myspace.com/danny_s

) who rides since 3 years with bicycle & trailer on the road and performs art (music, fire show) to have an income. After a short conversation further via Arcolla, Vezzano, Follo, Oltro Vara and Borghetto, and 1-2km outside I find my sleeping place, 20:00. Was a long day. Thanks!

Pisa
2008/05/16 10:20

Pisa
2008/05/16 10:25

Pisa, Leaning Tower
2008/05/16 10:39

Pisa
2008/05/16 10:41

Pisa
2008/05/16 10:46

Pisa
2008/05/16 10:49

Pisa
2008/05/16 11:04

Viareggio, Adria, Mediterean Sea
2008/05/16 12:48

Viareggio, Adria, Mediterean Sea
2008/05/16 12:49

Viareggio, Adria, Mediterean Sea
2008/05/16 12:50

Viareggio, Adria, Mediterean Sea
2008/05/16 12:52

Viareggio
2008/05/16 13:37

2008/05/16 20:04

2008/05/16 20:05

During the night it rained briefly, in the morning almost without interruption. So I take a "rain day" off, otherwise I would be full of energy and motivation to ride Passo di Bracco and, if possible, to Genova, but the whole day in the rain, not motivated to do so. At 13:00 for 3 hours overcast but no rain, take advantage of this to wash myself in the nearby river, plus a few clothes, which just dry a bit around, 17:00 before it rains again. I cook for the first time on the journey, pasta with river water, this just for cooking, and then all the germs die off - cooked enough for tomorrow night also.

2008/05/17 14:53

2008/05/17 14:54

2008/05/17 14:55

2008/05/17 17:30

8:15 departure, wet outdoor layer of the tent, regardless I pack and leave. After 1.75h and 16km at Passo di Bracco, then descent to Sestri Levante, it's rainy and the brakes are wet so that I ride very slow and carefully downhill. In Sestri Levante arrived, it pours, I wait until the worst is over, 30min. In the light rain I continue, with the following altitude profile:

The different tops are not too high, but a few of which make at the end of 1000Hm also on the day. I feel it, to Genoa, I am glad that it is flat again. 15:00 Genoa / Genova reached again heavy rain - the city on Sunday to pass through is great - I like it much better this time, it really enjoy passing through. I know that outside of Genova it's hard to find sites to camp in the wild, all is narrow and densely populated. In Albisole di Marina before Savona I find a site, on the river, but under a bridge. 20:30, a little late to dry all the cloths. At Genova the sky has been opened and the sun came through. Thanks!

Passo di Bracco (615m)
2008/05/18 09:58

2008/05/18 09:59

Routa
2008/05/18 14:02

2008/05/18 14:02

Genova
2008/05/18 15:39

Genova
2008/05/18 15:40

Genova
2008/05/18 16:02

Genova
2008/05/18 16:03

Genova
2008/05/18 16:07

2008/05/18 20:37

8:15 go, it remained dry during the night, clothes and tents dry. Savona reached and continue until Noli, where the SS1 (Via Aurelia) is interrupted, ie 200-300Hm detour to La Maine and then back down a steep but beautiful road, but hard for me, 15% or more slope, the first time I push the bike for the 200-300m until it is flatter again. From 10min coastal road it becomes an 1 hour detour, very beautiful, but very tiresome in the heat. Back on SS1 the cities line up together, Finale Ligure, Pierta Ligure, Loana, Borghetto, Alassio, Imperia, San Remo, where I shop again. In Ventimiglia, I see a river into the sea with a wide creek bed, and while looking for a sleeping place I meet Federico, a German-Swiss, and we discuss about 1 hour he recommends me to camp at the beach direct, but I feel I am too exposed there, and I prefer something closer to the citiy in a niche. Actually, I wanted to go to Cannes, but the detour has weakened on my strength and substance. On the evening I feel cold although it's certainly 15C, after dinner I get warmer. Thanks!

Noli
2008/05/19 10:40

Ventimiglia
2008/05/19 19:30

Ventimiglia, Rivera, Mediterean Sea
2008/05/19 19:32

2008/05/19 20:13

Depature at 8:15, in the night it rained and was windy, the tent is still a little wet, but pack and go nevertheless. 900m tunnel to Ventimiglia, a short tunnel and the open border Italy / France, Arrivederci Italia, Bonjour France! Menton, Monaco where preparations for the Formula 1 apparently are under way, grandstands are erected, this time I paid close attention to the confusing signs and I quickly pass by Monaco, slight slope to Nice, where I eat along the sea at noon. After Antibes little space for cycling to Antibes and Ivan des Pins or Golfe-Juan, bicylcle ban for a part to Cannes, ackward. 2000km reached! Then to Cannes, then above not near the sea, by bike is fine, moderately much traffic. Eventually I turn left to the sea for Theoule-sur-Mer, in the hope find my site to camp near Antheor I used 3 years ago. I feel tired and not so powerful, yawning often, too little sleep - so only 103km with a few small hills. Before Antheor it's beautiful, like red rocks in Sedona, Arizona (USA) - and just before the entrance Antheor site to camp, and it even starts to rain. Previously adjusting the rear brakes again, this failure otherwise brought me it ackward dangerous situations the last few days. 18:30 in the tent, going to sleep early. Thanks!