11 May 2022
What a day!!
By far the shortest day of the trip was planned today!!
So a slow star seemed just fine……which got even slower when we arrived at the ferry…to be told that only four bikes were allowed on each (half hourly) ferry! So an hour of waiting…and eventually we were on our way to Punte Sabbioni…and back to the “main” land!
But then…….as you will see from the map…we got completely mis-mothered! (And not really by Google)…..!
Each of those prongs was a dead end requiring a long back track! So….the planned…easy…46km…from PS to Caorle became 88km!!!!
And this…..after our second misdirection…..and none of the signs were correct!! Classic!
So…30+ km into our ride…and we were all but back where we started!!
The issue – it turns out – was that we were “following” lots of cyclists doing a well known circular route (which required a ferry!)…which was – to be fair – very lovely, through the wetlands of the Venice delta.
And….I have now visited Italy many times…and cycled many thousands of kms (you see everything!)…but I had never seen a buffalo!! All those mozzarella pizzas etc! Today…at last..I just had to take a photo!!
A future bike path…is looking good….! But not yet quite ready…so more backtracking!!
Interesting toll bridge en route……
….and look at those “whitebait” nets, and support structures!!! Incredible!!
Once we did reach the coast route…we were faced with…20km?..could have been more….of the “Lido di Jesolo”. Just an awful string of beachside hotels (all with “private” beaches)….and all deserted! A ghost town of hotel after hotel after hotel…and they are still building more!!! Quite incredible really (that they can evidently make their return in three (..possibly less?)..months per year!! The Italian Riviera at its absolute worst!!
Those distances aside…it was a good day. Mostly on cycle paths…and altogether good…with very fine weather.
As we approached Caorle (well spoken about…so we were looking forward to it)…the hotels started again…and the same pattern emerges..extending for some kms each side of the town itself. Thankfully again deserted…allowing the small old town to be very pleasant really! Very bright and colourful! (..but I am not sure I’d want to be here when the kms of adjacent hotels were full!!).
We even swam in the sea upon arrival…but “swimming” might be a bit of a stretch…for the water simply was not deep enough.
And how is this for an accompanient to apperitivo!!
And for tea? Chinese!! Time for a change…and very good it was too!! One for Alan!!
Glad to hear the Chinese food hit the spot Neil!