Day 51 - Matera to Monopoli - 9 1/2 Weeks - Copenhagen to Lecce 2019

November 8, 2019

Day 51 - Matera to Monopoli

Gone Local

A few days ago I mentioned how a heated towel rack really makes the day for Kirsten. Well today went a step up from that ... no heated towel rack ... but a clothesline off the balcony of our B&B.

She's now really hanging like a local!

We've decided to do a 'Mark of Zoro' route down the heel of Puglia . Today's ride was the top of the Z, an easterly run from Matera to the east coast resort of Monopoli. Aside from liking the name (Thanks for the Free Parking!) it's a fairly interesting and laid back resort on the Adriatic. Net downhill on good roads and we even had a bit of a tailwind.

About 40 km into the ride we came across our first Trulli ... the classic Puglia cone topped buildings. This one was a plain and simple one in a field, still being used as a farm shed. A few km's later we started to come across multi-room versions and some that look like they've been converted into lux B&B's.

Not much else to comment on today's ride ... great ride through olive groves and fruit trees until we got within about 7 km of Monopoli ... then the sight of the Adriatic spreading out before us changed the feel completely. It felt great to be back by the sea. First time since Rostock way back in September. Then it was the cold and rainy Baltic. Today was the warm and sunny Adriatic. 'Nuff said!

Monopoli has a really nice laid back feel yo it. I can see it might be different in the peak of tourist season, but right now it’s great.

Super dinner at Il Brigante, fresh off the boat seafood and great local wine.

Song of the Day .... Outsiders by Au/Ra ... feels like being a tourist in November!

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Setting off from Matera under brilliant blue sky and warm sun

Our first 40 km's of riding were on very quiet (deserted) roads, many lined with well maintained dry stone fences

Olive harvest underway - I guess late October and November is olive season everywhere in Italy

Our first Trulli - we are truly in Puglia now - bad dad pun I know

A few km's later we come across a multi room version

... and even better , the blue blue Adriatic streching out before us!

Checking into the Casa Cimino B&B at 2:30 - really quick run from Matera, 3 1/2 hours cycle time - net down hill with a bit of a tailwind!

Lovely harbour town - real working harbour too

Lots of fishing boats with crew working on their boats and gear

Sun is setting earlier every day this was taken at about 5:30 and completely dark out!

Very nice walk around the outer harbour in Monopoli

remains of an old cannon placement converted into a viewpoint

Very nice to have the sound and smell of the sea again

Signing off from the wonderfully laid back town of Monopoli

Today's ride: 79 km (49 miles)
Total: 3,019 km (1,875 miles)

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Scott AndersonYou two are making us homesick! We’re counting down the years until we can go back to Puglia again ourselves.
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4 years ago