7. Corinaldo to Ancona…to Adriatic Sea

I forgot to mention…at the bar last night, they were playing some cool music. Not that I could name any of it. But suddenly Iain burst into song…getting every word to the lyrics correct…of a song from about sixty years ago! He really is a freak when it comes to lyrical memory! Bill Withers did have a few great songs….but…really?

A slow start to the day…. with a huge breakfast supplied by dear Roby and Mama…who both joined my video chat with Liz.  What a charmer he was….!

It was less than three hours to Ancona….nice for the first bit as we departed Corinaldo….and then it got flatter and flatter until we met the sea at Senigallia. Thereafter it was almost dead straight and flat for over 30km. Not great cycling!

The first ten km was beside a string of “private” beaches (awful things in my opinion)…on a miserably long and uninteresting stretch of sand….followed by ten kms of this….

…….followed by ten kms of this….

…..including all the detritus which often collects beside big port cities. Not a pleasant finish!

Simple check in for our ferry….

….a coffee…and then we cycled off to board for our overnight trip to Durres in Albania! We joined the queue…and were somewhat surprised/concerned when the security man would not let us on. “Do you wanna go to Albania?”. Yes, we replied! And with a rueful smile he advised that this queue was for the boat to Igoumenitsa and Patras in Greece! Hahaha…..very funny really….and we chuckled all the way to the correct boat!!

Almost exclusively trucks…..and the two lone cyclists were greeted warmly.

Not a bad boat actually….actually a step up from the usual Greek/Italian standard (not hard!). The Albanians showing the Greeks how to run ships!! Ok an Italian registered boat…but very tidy…with great cabin…

…but interesting to see what they do not want in the toilet! Really……?

And it left Ancona bang on time! Beers….and Steal filled the evening…(I2/N1…alas!). Farewell Italia…until June!