We left The Poggio and our beautiful view early in the morning the day after the race. Deciding to drive all the way home in one day we took to the peage. As we passed thru – or over – Genova we got to go on the rebuilt viaduct. It only opened four days prior to replace the old one that tragically collapsed two years ago, killing 43 people.
The trip took us past Carrara….
…as well as Trasimeno…
…we made good time and arrived safely back to Papiano in late afternoon.
I’ve been for a few nice rides, the longest of which was 28 km. I finally actually stopped in Olmeto, which I’ve ridden thru many times before – there is a nice shrine as well as a small war memorial outside the church.
The weather’s been mostly sunny and hot, but we did have a bit of a storm yesterday evening.
We took a day-trip to Trasimeno, intending to try out the other restaurant in Monte Buono, but they don’t allow dogs, even outside, so we went on to our usual – Il Ristoro – and had a lovely meal under the trees.
Last Friday Antonio had another dinner at the bar and this one was even more well attended than the pig-roast last month.
We started with a pasta dish, followed by roast pork in a bun, then roasted corn-on-the cob all washed down, of course, with vino rosso.
It was especially nice that many of the younger folks attended, and in addition to the live singer the crowd got into the dancing – a good time was had by all.
A couple of days ago we got the cellar cleared out by some local fellows. As usual we’d asked Antonio if he knew anyone who could do it, and of course he did.
They arrived right around 9 in the morning and it was a good three and a half hours or more work for them. There was so much junk just stuffed in there – old cupboards, bags of crap, loads of old boards, a couple of sinks and a broken sewing machine – years and years of garbage.
One of the only ‘keepers’ is what seems to be a genuine Louis Vuitton handbag – might be good to tote something in if I’m feeling snobbish.
The worst part of the cleanout was five barrels that were buried under the layers of boards – turned out they were full of sand. It took a very long time to empty them one wheelbarrow at a time, as they were crumbling at the bottom and couldn’t be moved while full.
We felt bad, as we hadn’t known about the sand, and offered an additional 50 euros for the extra time and effort – the fellows seemed very appreciative. When they were done they even swept the floor – an excellent job! It would have taken Colin and I forever to clear the space, and we are so grateful to have it done.
We again took the paege, making our way south to the coast then west along to Santo Stefano al Mare and to a campground that we’ve stayed at before. I can’t say how lovely it was to have a nice hot shower, and on top of that – clean laundry!
There are several resident kittens that quickly became my dear little friends since I just had to feed them – doesn’t make up for how much I miss my own Sly guy back home, but helps a bit.
I had wi-fi for the first time in a week so tried to catch up on emails, etc, and even posted a blog, but it seems to not have worked.
After giving the kitties a large breakfast the next morning we were on our way to the Poggio.
We got a perfect spot in the parking lot above the race course right in a corner overlooking the Sea. (Note about photo: this was taken through a chain-link fence, so the blurry lines are part of the fence, but this was our actual view)
We had a delicious cappuccino at the cafe/bar on the corner, and chatted a bit with one of the older gentlemen we’d met here last year. He asked if we were german – he worked in Germany for two years and speaks a little german, but we managed to have a short conversation with my italian.
Returning to the bar later in the afternoon we had a drink and enjoyed a small complimentary plate of appies before going back to the campervan for a salmon and rice dinner.
It had been a fairly hot day, but the almost constant breeze from the sea helped a bit and my solo walk in the evening was very pleasant.
Race day came with sunshine and blue skies. We’re somewhat surprised that there is only one other campervan in the parking area – it’s been recently resurfaced, which is great, and it is pretty full, but cars, not campers. Last year – end of March, of course – there were dozens of campervans.
We had our cappuccino at a different cafe/bar, then took a little walk around the village before visiting the wine shop – the one with the hoses in the wall – then the other cafe.
There are some other fans here, but nothing like last year, and we’re all pretty good about the face masks and/or distancing, etc. To compare I’ve included a photo from last year taken at a similar time race-wise to this year:
He was very polite and apologetic, but we weren’t allowed to use flashes. Colin re-located further down and around the corner, but I stayed where I was, just around and down a bit from the crest of the Poggio.
The tv heli appeared about five minutes before the first racer – Alaphilippe! – followed closely by Wout van Aert (winner of Strade Bianche).
There were only a few seconds before more and more riders passed – and I finally got a shot of Nibali.
I also got decent shots of Michael Matthews – who had a torn shoulder – as well as Belgian champion Naesen.
After many of the racers had passed I got ready to sneak across the road to watch the end of the race on tv in the bar – just then Colin came up the hill to do the same thing. The Poggio is just 4 km from the finish, and it’s all hairpin turns downhill then a bit of flat road to the end in Sanremo.
Another wonderful race day!
Before leaving Montemagno we took a couple of short walks up and down the road. 
There are several large homes with great views, and most of them have guard dogs, or at least signs for them.
This year’s Milano-Torino is much flatter than most previous years and we’re near one of the few minor climbs.
We parked at a nice wide spot right on the road with a good view below us, as well as along to the town of Grana.
As usual the racers were preceeded by motocops.
There was a breakaway of six riders who passed our spot at 4:24, with about a three minute lead.
The peloton blew by in one single group – I think it’s the fastest race passing I’ve seen yet – first rider in the breakaway to last of all about three minutes total.
There was one single rider a little bit behind who must have had a mechanical or something, then they were gone.
We were able to hit the road very quickly, having little to pack up, and took the paege towards Torino. Because we were on the motorway we managed to bypass the end of the race and made it to Cavour in a couple of hours, stopping in Pinerolo for groceries.
Feeling hungry we decided to go out for dinner – I did remember some of the roads and paths so we were able to make our way easily on foot with the doggies to the town centre. My favourite cafe was closed so we went next to a restaurant that had been recommended to me three years ago, but I’d never actually gone to.
‘Ristorante La Posta’ was worth the three year wait – it was excellent. We had a lovely table outside, surrounded by beautiful flowering shrubs. We started with a shared antipasti of salmon tartare on shredded apple, then for my main course I enjoyed the gnocchi with cheese sauce – very delicious, with enough leftover for tomorrow’s lunch.
La Posta has been in existence since the 1700s and has at least one Michelin star, so it’s not surprising it was so enjoyable.
There was a lovely swimming pool just outside a large, very crowded restaurant. I made use of the free wi-fi for a bit, then had a fairly early night. Thankfully it was a bit cooler than the previous couple of evenings had been.
The next day’s travel was almost across the Apennines to a campground we’d stayed at two years ago just outside the village of Zocca. This time we didn’t have quite as frustrating a time finding it, although the gps was, once again, not totally accurate.
The old dog is still there, but is moving a bit more slowly.
We pre-ordered dinner, and were both very pleased. I think it’s the same chef who was very new to the place two years ago, and they still have a lovely organic garden for many of the meal’s ingredients.
My lasagna was obviously handmade, and was delicious – no meat or tomatoes, but zuchinni and cream sauce – very nice, and just the right amount.
After only one night we were on our way again, this time taking the paege to make better time – although at times we were barely moving because of roadworks and on/off ramp backups at every large city we passed.
When I went to bed Mo was full across my pillow – as I tried to nudge her over she growled and snapped at me! After mollifying her and almost falling asleep we were kept awake by a prolonged lightening and thunder storm.
Before leaving Conzano the next morning we had a nice walk around the village. 
There’s an art exhibit all summer and the artworks are all over the place – it was very different and made for an interesting morning.
We eventually made a wrong turn – the pink arrows weren’t up yet to guide us – and we ended up in Casorzo, where we stopped for a quick snack just outside the town.
It was a rest-stop and had fantastic views, as well as some wall art of fairy tales.
We then made our way to the town of Montemagno, which has a castle – the oldest part is from the 12th century, with major additions in the 13th and 18th centuries.
We walked up and around it, but it was all closed up – it did have, of course, more incredible views.
We parked for the night in a large flat parking lot next to a pasta and sauce making place – Colin popped in and checked with them and they didn’t mind us being there.
We got to see the sun rise – it was a very quiet and beautiful morning.
By the afternoon it was again brutally hot, reaching at least 40 but there was no shade or relief to be had. We put the campervan’s awning out but had to retract it because of the wind.
During the day amateur riders did, as usual, come up the road, and more than one rider and car stopped because of our flags. 
One group of three Italian men that stopped stayed for a bit to chat – they even brought out a bottle of local Chianti that they opened and shared with us. They all live near Rimini and Colin has their phone number so he can call them during the Giro in October and maybe get together.
The race didn’t arrive until almost 5:30, and the dust was flying. I got a pretty good photo of Wout van Aert, who was the eventual winner.
At one point I moved down the road a short way for a different view and 
I was well off the road as the verge was over two feet wide and had just been cut so I shouldn’t have been in any danger. Thankfully death was avoided, but – damn!!
I also got photos of a fairly tired looking Peter Sagan, and a very dusty Michael Woods.
We started packing up as soon as the last racer passed – there wasn’t much to do. We’ll have to sweep a bit later as there’s fine white dust everywhere.
I did manage to snag a nice pink route marking arrow for my collection – it’s now placed in the left-back window.
We followed two sections of the white roads and decided to go back on race day to partway along the longest section, which starts just outside the town of Asciano. 
Having a general idea of where we were going to watch from we went back to the town to a park-for-the-night site and settled for the evening.
The next morning we walked around the town a bit, and had a very nice cappuccino at an outdoor cafe. 
On the way Colin pointed out a building the had lots of windows – but some of them weren’t real, just painted on!
It was a very hot day – I tried to have a nap in the afternoon since my energy was so sapped but only managed to doze a bit. 
We went back into the town in the evening and had dinner – I had the ‘pork plate’ that was five or six different kinds of pork meat, all of which was just delicious.
I did have a bit of assistance from Mo, but managed to do a pretty good job of it.
On Saturday night Antonio had a special dinner down at the bar, and we were asked days before if we’d like to attend. Tables were set up outside all along the street and dozens of people attended
We sat at a table with John and Janet, the brits we’d met first a few months ago. They’ve owned their house here for seven years now and know many of the locals – they also speak fluent italian, and are very friendly and welcoming to us. Also at our table were Aldo and Mario who each have houses near J&J across the ‘valley’ from us.
The dinner was roast pork, which came whole – minus the bones, but including the head.
It was a lovely evening – lots of families, live music, good conversation, and the star of the night, the pork, which was just delicious.
It was a lovely evening all around – I hope there’s another one someday.
The geese across from us are getting bigger – there must be a ‘head goose’ as they always move in a bunch. If you see one, you know the others are all nearby.
One day we were sitting having our morning cappuccino at the bar when a family went by on a vespa – no one wearing a helmet, even the child.
The local fellows have done more work on the previously overgrown land below us – it’s completely cleared and flattened, and we’re a bit curious what’s going to be done with it.
We had a load of firewood delivered by a friend of Antonio’s, and it took us three days to move it all one wheelbarrow at a time from the parking area below us, up the steps and piled neatly in the storage area off the terrace.
We could only manage an hour or so at a time because of the heat, and luckily Angelo helped as well.
I’ve had a couple of really nice rides, but the exciting thing is that we’re leaving tomorrow to see our first race of the season – Strade Bianche! It was the one I came over for so long ago, and was cancelled/delayed the day after I arrived. After that it’s up north for two more – fingers crossed.
A few days ago we were heading home from our morning cappuccino in the bar when we stopped to look into the garden at the end of the post office building. The fellow had been clearing the place up and we peered over the stone wall to see what progress had been made.
Suddenly we saw a movement, albeit a slow one- it was a tortoise! A couple of days later we stopped again, and saw that there were two of them. Then the next day the owner of the garden was there and Colin started chatting with him. The slightly larger tortoise is female, and is 50 years old (!) and the other one is the male and is 30.
There are also a bunch of little ones of various ages – he rounded up three of them to show us, each a year apart in age. He’s got a nice little fence to protect his tomato plants – apparently they are a favourite snack
Another day we were walking down to the bar and when we were descending the 78 steps under the arch we saw that a few of the local fellows were doing some more work, both outside and inside.
We chatted for a bit, then one of them took me inside to show me the little chapel that’s right above the arch.
I also got a better view of the painting under the arch – he indicated that it was six hundred years old!
I went for a very nice ride one morning before it got too hot – the sunflowers are out and many of the fields have been cut, bailed and re-ploughed for a second planting.
We went out one night to try to catch sight, and maybe some photos of the comet, but even though we knew where to look for it we didn’t get a glimpse.
However the hundreds of fireflies flitting around in the bushes along the walk back home made up for it.
We started out by taking the road up behind the village of Mascioni – the one I’d seen the horses on the day before. No horses this time, but it did wind up, around and down until you could see another part of the lake.
We turned the other direction, however, and wound our way generally west, through the town of Montereale, then further on to a more main road. 
After a bit we stopped for a cappuccino and a quick bite to eat in the town of Terme di Cotilia. As soon as I got out of the campervan I said ‘I don’t like it here – it stinks’, and we realized we’d parked right outside the hot springs and it smells like sulphur/rotten eggs.
In the morning the light was excellent – mist rising and birds chirping – very lovely and quiet. 
I walked around a bit and saw a cat, then a little further a couple more. I thought – oh, there are three, no – four.
In the end I counted seven fairly young ones all at the far end of the campground – it looked like more of a permanent place rather than a short-term one.
On our way again we had a fairly easy drive home to Papiano, stopping in Marsciano for groceries along the way. As we passed through the village we stopped at the bar for a drink before even going up to the house. Our welcome by Antonio and some of the ‘regulars’ was so warm and friendly – almost as if we’re ‘home’!
So appropriate – Italy and sunglasses – such is my life right now….sigh!
The drive from Pescopennataro to Lago di Campotosto was beautiful. We stopped in Sulmona for a few groceries, then continued north/northwest, skirting L’Aquila and on deeper into the mountains. 
The lake is gorgeous and the campground has a lovely view – we arrived mid-afternoon, so just settled in and relaxed for the rest of the day. It’s much cooler up in the mountains of course, and I’d actually put my long pants on for the first time in weeks.
The next morning I got on the bike and took a ride around, taking a wrong turn or two. 
The first side trip was right up into the centre of the village of Mascioni – all steep, narrow cobbled streets. Going up was way easier than going down – I made my way down as slowly as possible and did my best to stay upright.
After successfully negotiating the cobbles back down I took another side road that was a dead end. Back to the main road I ended up going behind the village and up into the hills above.
I thought that if I kept going I might eventually reach another part of the lake, but after quite a ways out I decided to turn back just after I saw a group of beautiful wild horses. Or maybe they weren’t wild, but there were no fences.
After going back down all the way to the lake I headed along the shore road to the end of the bridge, where there were several campervans parked as well as a cafe/concession stand.
I asked for a cappuccino but the fellow said he was waiting for the milk delivery – could be 10 minutes or so.
I waited for a bit, but realized that if I didn’t get going soon I wouldn’t be able to make myself move, so left without my caffeine jolt.
The ride back to the campground wasn’t difficult until the last several hundred meters – even with max assistance I had to work very hard to make it up – dodging a couple of walkers and a dog (nice dog – not on a leash but very well behaved).
Upon reaching the campervan at the top level of the terraced campground I saw two other riders about to leave – I panted ‘even with the assistance its hard work!’ and the guy answered me in english. He’s in fact from Ireland and his lady friend is from Perugia – Colin joined us for a nice chat before they went on their ride.
We had pre-arranged to have lunch in the campground’s restaurant and it was very good. A really nice antipasto consisting of beans, cheeses and meats, followed by a primo of spaghetti with ragu. We passed on the secondo, although we could smell it and were tempted, but too full.
Sally McKenzie's European Adventures 