Safe Return Doubtful

97 km (61 miles) – Total so far: 1,345 km (836 miles)

Up and out of Paola on a hot morning. The weather forecast on TV last night was warning of temperatures of +40 C in the next couple of days. After that there was probably 60 kilometres of very flat, almost boring biking. The road passes beach town after beach town, and in this 60 k all were extremely seedy. Then a very welcome hilly 20 km section up to 200 metres and away from the coast. Farmland with olive groves and vineyards, and much more pleasant riding for at least a small part of the day!

Back to the sea, and have found a decent place to stay. Not such a big beach, but plenty of yachts and sailing boats.

The worst incident of the day, and no doubt the funniest for the reader; was that during the 60 k flat section I lost concentration and ran straight over quite a fresh roadkill. Although I tried to wipe most away with some grass, I’ve had bits of cat on me all day. Cat, as you can tell by the fur – there was little other way to tell.

I have pretty much abandoned camping around here, hopefully again in the Sicilian hills. Twice I’ve tried only. It’s not easy, if it’s a wildcamp security is an issue unless you put the tent up last thing at night, which I’ve done once. If its a campsite, the cost is more than a pension, and going with that the campsite party that goes on until the early hours, throughout which it is impossible to sleep. There’s the heat as well – even the least pension has a room fan and most have air-conditioning. In Spain there were always two of us which made it easier, but also I was probably tougher then! Costs for pension vary between 25 and 40 euros, if they are more expensive they have breakfast, and air con.

Max speed 50.9 km/hr, Moving average 19.5 km/hr, Moving time 5 hrs 7 mins. Left at 9:45 hrs, and arrived at 16:15 hrs. Elevation gained 360 metres.

First water stop of the day at Amantea.

To indicate how flat most of today was.

Water break at Falerna – a guy was asking me about where I was going – and said how easy it was because I had a motor on the bike – he was referring to my frame bag.