PatriciaK's Italian ebike tour adventure 🇮🇹🚴🇮🇹

[tomjasz]

Is Brunello as spendy in country?

 

[Art Deco]

Speaking of "spendy" what are you seeing as far as food and fuel prices for the locals? I think you are on a package tour, but you must have seen some prices somewhere. And speak and read some Italian.

 

[PatriciaK]

Today was the longest ride of the week ... But not THAT long ! What the heck is wrong with Ride With GPS?! It was about 61 kilometers, not 96.5, and my top speed certainly was NOT over 2000 (yes, thousand!) MPH!

Anyway...

Another beautiful, sunny day, but we had quite a head wind throughout the ride. I even had to put my windbreaker on, though temps were in the low 70s.

There were 2 falls today - the first, my tour friends (the same one who got robbed in Rome) lost momentum on a steep hill, and feel into a thorn bush. Fortunately, aside from a few scrapes, she's ok. The second, near the end of the ride, one of the ladies was riding through some sand on a beachside trail, and it just grabbed her tires and down she went! Again, fortunately, she was not hurt - just covered with sand!

I whacked my leg twice with my pedal, and have 2 huge ugly bruises as a result. I think we're a at the point where people are starting to get tired after a couple of long riding days, and accidents are happening. The age range in this group is late 50s through 80 (the wine drinking German guy), skewing towards the elder end of the spectrum, and the pace may be taking its toll. Tomorrow is "only" 40k, and our cooking class. I am seriously considering skipping the ride and taking the van to and from the class!

Internet not great at this particular hotel, so the rest ofthe pictures will have to wait... I'm kknackered(so much so that I skipped dinner ) and my knees and hips are a bit sore, so I'm going to sleep!

 

[PatriciaK]

PS, haven't seen gas prices, but (restaurant) food and wine seem about the same as a few years ago - maybe a little higher. Puglia is not Brunello country .

 

[retiredNH]

Thank you for the update, and a reminder to look carefully at the route plan for a tour.

 

[J.R.]

View attachment 138296

Today was the longest ride of the week ... But not THAT long ! What the heck is wrong with Ride With GPS?! It was about 61 kilometers, not 96.5, and my top speed certainly was NOT over 2000 (yes, thousand!) MPH!

Anyway...

Another beautiful, sunny day, but we had quite a head wind throughout the ride. I even had to put my windbreaker on, though temps were in the low 70s.

There were 2 falls today - the first, my tour friends (the same one who got robbed in Rome) lost momentum on a steep hill, and feel into a thorn bush. Fortunately, aside from a few scrapes, she's ok. The second, near the end of the ride, one of the ladies was riding through some sand on a beachside trail, and it just grabbed her tires and down she went! Again, fortunately, she was not hurt - just covered with sand!

I whacked my leg twice with my pedal, and have 2 huge ugly bruises as a result. I think we're a at the point where people are starting to get tired after a couple of long riding days, and accidents are happening. The age range in this group is late 50s through 80 (the wine drinking German guy), skewing towards the elder end of the spectrum, and the pace may be taking its toll. Tomorrow is "only" 40k, and our cooking class. I am seriously considering skipping the ride and taking the van to and from the class!

Internet not great at this particular hotel, so the rest ofthe pictures will have to wait... I'm kknackered(so much so that I skipped dinner ) and my knees and hips are a bit sore, so I'm going to sleep!

Smiles not miles! Sounds like you'll have plenty to experience whether you ride or take a break. Enjoy your day!

 

[Art Deco]

PS, haven't seen gas prices, but (restaurant) food and wine seem about the same as a few years ago - maybe a little higher. Puglia is not Brunello country .

Thanks. I ve been wondering about contential Europe. I can see what's happening in Britain. But I don't read Italian or French.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

View attachment 138296

Today was the longest ride of the week ... But not THAT long ! What the heck is wrong with Ride With GPS?! It was about 61 kilometers, not 96.5, and my top speed certainly was NOT over 2000 (yes, thousand!) MPH!

Pat, that's why people often complain when use phone sport tracker apps. It is probably the unit conversion fault (61 miles make roughly 98 km) for the distance. and a GPS fault for the maximum speed (the latter issue can even be found in GPS cycling computers).

Anyway...

Another beautiful, sunny day, but we had quite a head wind throughout the ride. I even had to put my windbreaker on, though temps were in the low 70s.

Still a warm country! We had 6 C, wind and raining in my area today!

There were 2 falls today

I whacked my leg twice with my pedal, and have 2 huge ugly bruises as a result.

I sympathise with you! The sand crash... our province of Mazovia in Poland is sandy, so I know the issue very well. I used to hurt my legs with MTB pedals often; now I do a lot to avoid such things happen!

Ride On!

Thanks. I ve been wondering about contential Europe. I can see what's happening in Britain. But I don't read Italian or French.

From my perspective, Europe and the UK have become extremely expensive. I paid the equivalent of US$1.64 per a litre of diesel oil recently (it is 6.20 dollar a gallon). Because of low level of income in Poland, it is a dramatically high price!

 

[PatriciaK]

Ok full disclosure for today... My knees and hips were really bothering me last night after our long ride, and I felt like I was coming down with a cold (or, the dreaded COVID). I was so uncomfortable that I left our group dinner before the antipasto was served, went to bed, and skipped the ride today. Spent most of the day napping, with my legs elevated. Don't have COVID. I'm feeling much better, and am confident I can do the last 52k to finish the ride tomorrow .

I hated missing the cooking class (I'll share pictures from friends when I have better Internet), but really wanted to finish the ride and did not think I could do so if I pushed it today .

I did sit out and doze by the dipping pool:

 

[Djangodog]

Ok full disclosure for today... My knees and hips were really bothering me last night after our long ride, and I felt like I was coming down with a cold (or, the dreaded COVID). I was so uncomfortable that I left our group dinner before the antipasto was served, went to bed, and skipped the ride today. Spent most of the day napping, with my legs elevated. Don't have COVID. I'm feeling much better, and am confident I can do the last 52k to finish the ride tomorrow .

I hated missing the cooking class (I'll share pictures from friends when I have better Internet), but really wanted to finish the ride and did not think I could do so if I pushed it today .

I did sit out and doze by the dipping pool:

View attachment 138387

At least it wasn’t covid. I hope that the 52k goes well and that you can end the trip on a high note.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Ok full disclosure for today... My knees and hips were really bothering me last night after our long ride, and I felt like I was coming down with a cold (or, the dreaded COVID). I was so uncomfortable that I left our group dinner before the antipasto was served, went to bed, and skipped the ride today. Spent most of the day napping, with my legs elevated. Don't have COVID. I'm feeling much better, and am confident I can do the last 52k to finish the ride tomorrow .

I hated missing the cooking class (I'll share pictures from friends when I have better Internet), but really wanted to finish the ride and did not think I could do so if I pushed it today .

I did sit out and doze by the dipping pool:

View attachment 138387

Hope you feel better. If you aren't used to the miles it isn't surprising to feel kind of debilitated after a few days of hard riding. Nothing wrong with a zero day.

 

[Art Deco]

Ok full disclosure for today... My knees and hips were really bothering me last night after our long ride, and I felt like I was coming down with a cold (or, the dreaded COVID). I was so uncomfortable that I left our group dinner before the antipasto was served, went to bed, and skipped the ride today. Spent most of the day napping, with my legs elevated. Don't have COVID. I'm feeling much better, and am confident I can do the last 52k to finish the ride tomorrow .

I hated missing the cooking class (I'll share pictures from friends when I have better Internet), but really wanted to finish the ride and did not think I could do so if I pushed it today .

I did sit out and doze by the dipping pool:

View attachment 138387

"A woman has to know her limitations " apologies to Dirty Harry. Much better to take a day of rest rather than a miserable ride.

 

[BlackHand]

Good for you for listening to your body. Hope the rest helps you enjoy the remainder of your trip.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Ok full disclosure for today... My knees and hips were really bothering me last night after our long ride, and I felt like I was coming down with a cold (or, the dreaded COVID). I was so uncomfortable that I left our group dinner before the antipasto was served, went to bed, and skipped the ride today. Spent most of the day napping, with my legs elevated. Don't have COVID. I'm feeling much better, and am confident I can do the last 52k to finish the ride tomorrow .

I hated missing the cooking class (I'll share pictures from friends when I have better Internet), but really wanted to finish the ride and did not think I could do so if I pushed it today .

I did sit out and doze by the dipping pool:

View attachment 138387

Sounds like a Sambuca deficiency

 

[rayray]

Sounds like a Sambuca deficiency

You made a good decision! Like you said, being tired leads to accidents.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I'm so glad you have no COVID, Pat! Certainly, the rides you are taking now are far longer than the ones you used to do at home! Good travel today!

 

[Rexlion]

Almost over, eh? Sounds like you are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Again! (Only, a different tunnel this time. Not this tunnel....)

 

[PatriciaK]

Siamo finito (we're finished) !!!



One last beautiful day from Gallipoli to Lecce, where we started.

City traffic was hell getting out of Gallipoli and into Lecce, but other than that, we're continued on mostly good back roads. Had one last wine tasting along the way...a wonderful end to a FABulous tour!



Capped off the evening with a final dinner - the food was plentiful, the wine was flowing, and we had our own live concert at the restaurant.

This really was a wonderful week! I'll write more of a summary in the next few days, but I'm really looking forward to doing something like this again, soon !

 

[Djangodog]

Thank you for taking us along, (virtually anyway), and for taking the time to share your adventure. Safe travels.

 

[Marci jo]

Siamo finito (we're finished) !!!

View attachment 138478

One last beautiful day from Gallipoli to Lecce, where we started.

City traffic was hell getting out of Gallipoli and into Lecce, but other than that, we're continued on mostly good back roads. Had one last wine tasting along the way...a wonderful end to a FABulous tour!

View attachment 138479

Capped off the evening with a final dinner - the food was plentiful, the wine was flowing, and we had our own live concert at the restaurant.

This really was a wonderful week! I'll write more of a summary in the next few days, but I'm really looking forward to doing something like this again, soon !

View attachment 138480
View attachment 138481
View attachment 138482

wow, what a fabulous adventure.