Daily Archives: July 1, 2012

A busy weekend on the bikes

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The cyclists have arrived in Preveza after a very tough 112 mile ride from Patra. We left at 6.00am and made good progress. Shortly after leaving Patra we crossed the magnificent new bridge, being so early we were the only people on it. Climbing the hills in 43c of heat really was an effort but with the assistance of the fabulous support crew of Roger & Sue providing much needed water and food we made it. We are all pretty exhausted.

We arrived at the road tunnel just outside Preveza at 5.00 pm and we allowed to cycle through it. Somehow I can’t see them allowing 12 cyclists to ride through the Dartford tunnel or over the bridge for that matter. Preveza is a really nice place with a great pleasure port and lots of restaurants.

My Garmin tells me we averaged just over 14 mph and the average temperature was 32.2 and peaked at 43.9.

A late start tomorrow (7.30am) as we only have 60 miles to Igoumenitsa  to catch the ferry to Ancona which doesn’t depart until 10.00pm.

Meanwhile in Italy

Readers probably know that Robin and Barbara Cooper are leading the advanced party and left the UK on 23 June to cycle the 1,500 miles in three weeks. They’ll be meeting the full group in Lucerne. They are now enjoying Italy and here’s the update from their weekend.

Saturday 30 June

We’ve made it from Faenza to Carpi in Italy via Bologna and the beautiful wine growing areas of Lambrusco wines. Immaculate fields, bringing in the wheat, picking fruit all rather lovely. Fantastic Italian architecture as you can see in the main square of Carpi. We’re staying in Via Karl Marx so waiting for the revolution to start any moment now.  We’ve clocked up 485 miles and still no punctures though one sore bot. Off to Crema tomorrow then navigating around Milan which should be fun! Went past a thermometer in the shade at 4pm showing 40 degrees so still no cooler. We realised last night something was wrong at dinner – we consumed 4 litres of water and two glasses of wine. Surely some mistake. It should be the other way round. We were very impressed with the 40 tonne lorry hurtling along about 50mph with a racing cyclist in his slip stream 2 feet behind going the same speed. Fully risk assessed we were sure. Also the motorbike doing a high speed wheelie the whole length of the road as far as the eye could see. �

1 July

After 90 miles today we’ve arrived in Crema east of Milan. Tomorrow Lake Como the ancestral home of Perry. Crazy hot again- over 40 most of the day. Lots of vineyards, sweetcorn, figs and wheat. But, as we now know. almost nothing open on a Sunday so very easy to run out of water which we did towards the end. Tonight is the football match but unlike England where many cars would have flags on – not one. An obvious opportunity for someone. I may even contact Alan Sugar about it. Today’s tune Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep and a bit of Whitney With the Greatest Love of All.  Most useless items on trip – arm and leg warmers. 580 miles cycled including detours and trying to find hotels. R and Bxx