Day 18: Pisciotta to Maratea

79 km (49 miles) – Total so far: 1,155 km (718 miles)

After an awkward first 10 kilometres with too much traffic, all heading for the beach on a Saturday morning, the day had some great riding.

I opted for a mountain road winding through small villages away from the sea for 20 km, and it was cool and shaded generally, and without many cars. Mapster (app for iPad) is excellent. It has clear contours every 10 meters so great for avoiding gradients that are too steep.

From Sapri to Maratea is an excellent road also; it clings to the cliff and climbs up to 250 meters asl, winding along at roughly 200 meters asl, through several tunnels, before a rapid descent.

How many times I check things in the morning before leaving, age I think – always the Jackson Browne lyric which actually helps me to remember, “These as I seem to think a lot about the things that I forgot to do”.

I left Campania today after several days. Just after Policastro the Cilento Reserve finished, and into the arch and toes of the foot – Calabria.

Distance 79.3 kilometres, Max speed 45.0 km/hr, Moving time 5 hrs 11 mins, Moving average 15.7 km/hr. Elevation gained 960 metres. Left at 9:20 hrs, arrived at 15:55 hrs.

Rest stop after climb back into the hills – at Celle di Bulgheria

Quick stop at the most interesting view in Poilcastro Bellentino

Leaving Sapri – a stop-off for the yachts of the Med

I overtook something on this uphill – a snake – quite quickly actually. Just looked it up, and it was a Western Whip Snake – quite common here. Non-venomous, but extremely aggressive and a viscious bite.