Safe Return Doubtful

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…

68 km (42 miles) – Total so far: 1,599 km (993 miles) The best riding of the Course today. Starting at 1100 metres it was up and down through some magnificent countryside with quiet roads and a cooling breeze to keep the temperature manageable. Although in the afternoon the breeze turned…

54 km (34 miles) – Total so far: 1,531 km (951 miles) No surprise therefore that on the toughest uphill of the tour, I was at the end short of water. Could be that this was her cunning, haglike double-play.  For 35 kilometres the road gradually climbed through a scarred and…

44 km (27 miles) – Total so far: 1,476 km (917 miles) Certainly it’s getting tougher to get out of bed at 7:30 hrs these days, in order to ride in the cooler period of the day. There are even times when that “comfort zone” looks attractive again. I have to…

87 km (54 miles) – Total so far: 1,433 km (890 miles) To Catania  Baggara Calabria looked okay at first impression last afternoon, but it wasn’t. Another Blackpool of the Tyrennhian coast. I suspected problems when it said on the door of the Hotel that the door strictly closed for he…

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,…

93 km (58 miles) – Total so far: 1,248 km (775 miles) Hilly morning and flatter afternoon with some surprise curvy rises coming at unwanted times.  I found it tough to get started today for the first time, but once riding no problems. It was hotter this afternoon than usual. My…

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…

78 km (48 miles) – Total so far: 1,076 km (668 miles) My plan today was one finished at 13:30 hrs, some chilled out quiet coastal village and catch up with the Test Match and start a new book.  This was a tough day, 7 times the road curled up into…

87 km (54 miles) – Total so far: 998 km (620 miles) This morning was the best riding of the tour so far; the climb up to the pass, and the road through Acerno to Montecorvino Rovella. The scenery was spectacular, steep forested hills, and the trees gave enough shade so…