Day 25: Gangi to Petralia Soprana

36 km (22 miles) – Total so far: 1,635 km (1,016 miles)

Warning from the “head of breakfasts” this morning – “Big storms (with a capital B) are on their way”. In the past three and a half weeks all the rain there has been was squally drizzle for a few hours in the mountains coming into Tuscany. I am a big fan of storms when watching from a bar, less so on the bike. Hence plans changed, and an early finish programmed.

Down a bit, right a bit, left a bit, up a lot, right a bit, left a bit, up a lot, down a bit and up a lot. Pretty much the story of the day. Sounds like the Golden Shot for those old enough to remember that great show. Spectacular scenery, and more temperate today with cloud around.

Relative to the Italians and the Olympics, although not actually a current sport currently, were you aware that the previous Olympics Hide and Seek World Record was broken in Italy, Sardinia actually, by a Paraguayan, with the time 11 years, 2 months, 26 days, 9 hours, 3 minutes, 27 seconds.

Distance 36.1 km, Max Speed 48.1 km/hr, Moving average 14.1 km/hr, Moving time 2 hrs 35 mins, Left Gangi at 9:45 hrs, arrived at Petralia Soprana at 13:05 hrs. Elevation gained 520 metres, Elevation here at Petralia Soprana 1147 metres asl.

Looking back at Gangi.

Looks like we’re in for nasty weather…

Arriving into Peralia Soprana, at 1147 metres asl

I was burned out from exhaustion buried in the hail
Poisoned in the bushes and blown out on the trail
Hunted like a crocodile ravaged in the corn
“Come in” she said
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm”.

Time to take shelter…

Lost in the centre of Peralia…

Views of Petralia Soprana –
Originally a Greek settlement in the 3rd Century AD the Romans spent more than 700 years here:
– apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?