My Biking Blog: July 2013

"La Bella Italia" Stage 11 Sapri - Paestum

Not the best weather on this stage with thunderstorm and rain for much of the second half of the ride. At our lunch stop at Ascea, the storms arrived and everyone needed to take cover under the shop awnings in the town square. Leaving lunch in the pouring rain was a tough call, however we all put our raingear on and pedalled off hoping for a break in the weather down the road. Most of the remaining 70kms the conditions were very uncomfortable. Kath and I had to shelter in a small café to wait for the rain to ease. Paestum campground was sodden so we were lucky to take a cabin. Best 30EU we spent on the trip! When we started again we manage the last 20kms in reasonable dry conditions. One of our good friends Liz MacKenzie had a fall today and broke a rib. Poor Liz, she had only 3 days to go until the finish of her tour in Rome. Nevertheless she is in good care at the hospital in Agropoli with her husband Peter and we are hoping they can join us in Pompeii in a couple of days. There are 5 riders of the 18 who left Palermo who have fallen, so the lesson is BE CAREFUL on the descents! Tomorrow we continue along the Amalfi Coast and hope for better conditions. Garmin Connect link LBI Stage 11

Hotel Marinara Sapri

Beachfront Sapri

Enjoying a few beers in Sapri after the ride from Sibari

Kath has a rest near Scario

Scario

more beers! Paestum

enroute to Mrina di Camerota

windy clifftops

shelter from the storm!

"La Bella Italia" Stage 10 Sibari - Sapri

A tough tough day of almost 150km with three big hills along the way. A thunderstorm threatened on the top of the first climb, but we managed to escape any heavy rain. The last climb took its toll on everyones energy reserves so the hotel bed in Sapri was most welcome. YouTube link La Bella Italia Stage 10 Garmin Connect link LBI Stage 10

approaching Morano

Liz at Morano

Morano is built all over a hillside

entering the national park and the first of the climbs

climbing after Castrovillari

tunnel at top of climb

"Deposito Recovero" waste recycling

coming down the other side

coffee stop

lunch near Mormanno

Mormanno

Lauria

"La Bella Italia" Stage 9 Villagio Mancuso - Sibari

This Giorgio Albanese a special day on the bike as the scenery was magnificent. The NP della Sila is a very pretty national park and the lunch stop at Lago Cecita was memorable. Fantastic descent into Sibari through San Giorgi Albanese. YouTube link La Bella Italia Stage 9 Garmin Connect link LBI Stage 9

"pulling your weight" Damian Ken Chrissie Liz and Peter

on the way to lunch stop Lorica

Lago Arvo

Damian with friend at Lorica

coffee stop Lorica

near lunch stop

Lago di Cicita

lunchstop Lago di Cicita

Marmot catches some sun

enroute to Sibari

hills above Sibari and the Ionian Sea

San Giorgio Albanese

"La Bella Italia" Stage 8 Pizzo - Villagio Mancuso

This was a real challenge as I lost the route after lunch and ended up taking a course through a very steep valley. The gradients on this climb were 25% and just killed me in the heat. I managed to find my way back onto the route and into Villagio Mancuso where a cold beer an dhotel bed were much appreciated. You Tube link La Bella Italia Stage 8 Garmin Connect link LBI Stage 8