To Montrbello Della Battaglia, Spain

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We are going lower in elevation. It's only going to get hotter - until it gets wetter. Don't look at the rain forecast for Venice . . . I negotiated with Jacinto to get up a half hour earlier - at 6:30. Up does not mean moving. He had coffee issues this morning. There were three coffee pots in the place. Jacinto overflowed one, then he went straight to the Nescafe. He said Nescafe isn't as good in Italy as it is in Mexico. I think perhaps the company in Mexico is what makes instant coffee taste good!

We were rolling by 8:30. The sky was overcast and remained that way until we started the big climb up to our overnight location. The weather was pleasant riding all day.

We started out riding through the country. We didn't realize Alessandria was a major city until our host acted surprised we were passing through. Yep, directly through the center. I tucked in behind Jacinto and he did a good job getting us through.

So far, it seems to us that drivers don't give the priority to bicycles and pedestrians as they do in France. Indeed, in the central plaza in Alessandria, there was a man walking across the street, right in the middle, and a car cut him off. The man had a choice hand movement for that car. But, if you are assertive, and take your place, cars give it without honking. Crossing Alexsandria was busy, but I never felt it was a problem. After we got out of town, we crossed the A Road (interstate?). That was a little busy for comfort. Jacinto said that was worse than going through town, because of the semis.

Terrain today was flat, except for a climb at the beginning, and one at the end. We agreed ice would be nice about mile 20, when we've had a chance to drink down our water some. Jacinto won't stop at gas stations now, after yesterday's experience when they told him it was closed, except it sure looked open. We stopped at a grocery only 10 miles from the finish. Jacinto bought ice and a couple of oranges. We went a few miles more, and he stopped at a Burger King. Didn't I want a Whopper? Truthfully, no. But, sure, let's stop. It was another order at the kiosk situations. Except now we have experience. We were able to make our selections and pay with no trouble. I told Jacinto we should take it to go, because we had that big climb at the end. Jacinto ordered a soda to drink. I don't think he's recovered from the experience. His drink had no ice at all. He didn't even finish it! Sodas are supposed to have ice!

Jacinto told me he thought the mapping was wrong. Look at how flat it is, how could we have a big climb. Ha. See that castle on the hill, that's where we are going. There was a 100 foot climb, it leveled off, then we had the big climb.

We are staying at an agriturismo, where they fix us farm to table type meals. I wonder what they would say if they knew we have Burger King in our panniers. Would we get tossed out?

A woman about my age showed Jacinto around, and then brought in her daughter for reinforcements on the language. Dinner isn't until 8 PM. It is a VERY good thing we have Burger King to tide us over. I understood the original woman to say we are having tartar for dinner. I hope I understood wrong. The starter is an antipasta.

Here we are in our air conditioned room - enjoying the life. Our bikes are parked under a tree downstairs. I hope it doesn't rain on them. I'll include a dinner report later. Because I had trouble with the internet last night, I wanted to get this up early.

xxx

Jacinto prepares to coast back down past the castle remains.

Our country view this morning was overcast almost the entire day. It was humid, but comfortable.

There are so many eye catching gates and windows.

What town doesn’t need a decomposing tower in the center?

This was the common method of powering irrigation pumps in this area. Noisy, but the done thing.

Bicycle speed is just right for catching details.

These are not plane trees, but the idea is the same.

Jacinto was worried because the terrain is too flat. This was taken from the steep climb at the end. 300 feet in one mile. I was not looking forward to this, and wanted to abandon our prepaid stay. I told Jacinto it would be work $100. to me to not have to do that climb in the heat at the end of a 50 mile day. I lost that one. In the end, it wasn't bad. Although the sun did come out special for the climb.

This donkey brayed so loudly when Jacinto stopped to take his photo. It was smile inducing.

Our bedroom at the agriturismo Angelina.

You’ve got to love the cobblestones. They make the experience real.

Once again, we’ve chosen a pee spot next to this plant that Bill warned me about in 2023. I don’t remember the name, but I remember the warning. There was a large patch.

Today's ride: 50 miles (80 km)
Total: 937 miles (1,508 km)

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