We are pilgrims again! But first may I take a moment to apologize to all cyclists for my suggestion that to be a mere biker is somehow less worthy. I have always held in high regard all people who move through the world on two self propelled wheels. I also think smears of bike grease on the back of the calves when dining out are ... Read More
Ruth:Today we went to St. Peter's Square, the final destination of the Via Francigena and the end of our 2800 km pilgrimage to to Rome. It's Wednesday, which means we were not alone. We joined at least 10,000 others keen on catching a glimpse of the Pope.Wednesday is when he holds his weekly public audience. The adoring crowds treated him like a rock star. You could ... Read More
Cyclists have no fear there is a calm and beautiful way into Rome on Bicycle! Gord and made it from Innsbruck to Rome in just over 1800 kms!If you are a cyclist on the Via Francigena, or just cycling into Rome from the North or East, it is worth a few more kilometres and hills to go in on the Euro Velo 5. Gord and I ... Read More
Gordon: We left the Via Francigena for a couple of days to visit the UNESCO world heritage site at Tarquinia. This was an important Etruscan city and it has received it's UNESCO designation for the tombs that they left. What a treasure trove. Hundreds of tombs have been found in the area, and many have wall frescos.A number of the tombs can be visited in ... Read More
After leaving Sienna we have spent the last two days exploring the Val d' Orcia with its marvellous hill towns.The valley was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site as "an exceptional reflection of the way the landscape was re-written in Renaissance times to reflect the ideals of good governance and to create an aesthetically pleasing picture. In other words it was a landscape manufactured for ... Read More
There has been a rivalry between Florence and Siena for hundreds of years and it continues today, with many tourists weighing in with strong feelings about their preference. Gord and I are not going to visit Florence on this trip, but we are very impressed with Siena. We have always leaned towards the Gothic over the Renaissance and Siena is a gothic gem. We are staying ... Read More
Ruth: After a long and tough day of climbing we made it to San Gimignano. Each day we normally plan our route and choose between the Euro Velo 5, the Via Francigena or the route suggested by my map app pocket earth. Today we did a bit of everything from rough single track mountain biking to long steep climbs on the the wrong road. We ... Read More
Ruth: We are spending two nights in Lucca to enjoy the sights and sounds of this marvellous place. Last night it was Opera (this is the home town of Puccini) and tonight it is the Santa Croce Festival where the whole town is lit up with candles as the cross is paraded through town. Not just any cross, however, this one is believed to have ... Read More
Gordon: While I do not share her enthusiasm for vast expanses of tedious sand, Ruth loves a beach. So it was with some excitement that Ruth approached the coast near Massa to find ... that someone owns the beach. We cycled for a number of kilometres along the coast, looking at an almost continuous wall of restaurants, bars, change rooms and parking areas. Occasionally we ... Read More
Ruth: Ah, we are entering in Tuscany where almost all the Italian Movies we have ever watched were filmed. A land that is always bathed in the pre sunset light, and where everyone owns a villa. Then why are my hands and feet numb and why can't I see the road. We had our mountain road to ourselves as we climbed up and over the ... Read More