27 April 2022
It was so good to get on the bikes and venture forth.
So liberating to be finally on the road. After Covid worries…Putin worries…flight worries etc….it is now all about the journey!
After six weeks off the bike, we elected to avoid the high Alpine passes…and instead headed East for a relatively gentle day of coastal riding to Laigueglia. A lovely village Alan and I remember fondly from the last ride.
Less than five minutes in…and we arrived at the Italian border…with dozens of police waiting to pick up illegal immigrants…but who waved us through with big smiles on their faces.
We missed a few turnoffs onto the cycle trail…but managed to catch a good chunk of it (a rail trail…with lots of tunnels: very nice riding!)
Funnily enough we had met a lady Gendarme on the train yesterday…who was visiting friends in Italy. “What do you think of the French people” she asked. They can be great. And they can be downright rude…we replied honestly. She thought the Italians were much friendlier. And I cannot disagree.
Great hotel for the night (got that one right!)…& we both braved the chilly Mediterranean waters with a swim on its “private” beach….before enjoying our first Italian ’aperitivo’! (..all free with beer!)
We returned to the same restaurant we found three years ago…but it was under new management…and not as good at all.
Funny picture…you need to keep at least 1m apart in the lift:
…when the lift is only 800mm wide!
