Day 28: Misilmeri to Palermo

32 km (20 miles) – Total so far: 1,806 km (1,122 miles)

The newsreader in the original version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory announces, “there must be more important things in the world than this, but I can’t think what they are right now.”

One last climb over the flank of Monte Grifone before the big descent into,the island’s capital and my ultimate destination. Perhaps it’s the days catching up with me, but the hill felt like the steepest so far.

Up to 350 meters, and down to outskirts with several weeks or garbage built up and it was hold your nose for as long as possible. Hardly the greatest welcome, 3 kilometres of trash basically. Once in town things are smarter however.

Then the inevitable anti-climax of finishing, and upcoming return to normality.

Another Tour consigned to the annals.

I have a couple of days here to find a bike box and perhaps a beer. I will post some “best of” and “worst of” moments tomorrow. Firstly a spot of lunch, and change of shirt. I may be a little out of place here though, as the fashion part of my wardrobe has been left at home.

To finish with the words of Marco Polo – “I haven’t told half of it.”

Distance 31.5 km, Max speed 47.0 km/hr, Moving time 1 hr 48 mins, Moving average 16.5 km/hr, Left Meri at 10:15 hrs, arrived Palermo at 12:35 hrs. Elevation gained 207 metres.