Day 11: Orvieto to Cassino – by train – Cassino to Venafro

28 km (17 miles) – Total so far: 28 km (17 miles)

“Hot chili peppers in the blistering sun Dust on my face and my cape”

Not sure why anyone would want to live here. Sweltering and humid, mountains around it but its not very high up itself. Remember the name, Venafro, and do your best to avoid it. It is on a plain surrounded by mountains, and I am promised gets quite cool in the evenings. It saw a lot of action in the 2nd war when it was besieged for 2 years by Germans coming over the mountains in the north. The city dates back to at least 88 BC.

Successful train day; purpose to divert around Rome and get in some more interesting places (hopefully tomorrow) and cooler hills. Trains very cheap – not the high speed variety, but not slow. 13 Euros for Orvieto to Cassino. 3.5 euros for the bike to go anywhere, however long the journey. I was in Rome for 30 minutes, busy station of course, Rome Termini.

Then a quick ride gently uphill out of Cassino, and reminded me of one of my favourite Dylan songs, lyrics quoted at the start (Romance in Durango).

Province wise – in Lazio at Cassino, then briefly (overnight) in Molise, and tomorrow into Calabria from early morning.

More photos tomorrow.

Max Speed 45.1 km/hr coming down out of Orvieto. Moving time 1 hr 47 mins. Moving average 17.1 km/hr.