Thursday 08 June 2023.
105miles today.
Left Rimini at c. 09:00 in 25C sunny skies and riding like only an Italian can (within my own limitations). I headed north aiming for the Imola turn-off which I got but had a very repetitive "chat" with the toll machine because no autostrada tickets were issued at Rimini Nord! Eventually a 2.30 Euro bill appeared, which I paid, and I was on my way on the backroads to Mugello!
Once I had left Imola proper there was hardly a level or straight piece of road until Scarperia (village next to the Mugello circuit).
About 10 miles from Imola on the usual, for today, hilltop pass and winding roads I came to road works with 4 Italian bikers waiting there. Workmen were still trying to clear trees and mud from the road as a result of the Emilia - Romagna floods a few weeks ago. Most had slid "through" the armco barrier and further down the hillside but there was still a massive pile of mud (dry at least) and loads of tree debris on one lane of the mountain pass road. I saw a quite a few more affected areas but this was, by far, the worst. Fortunately, I only had to wait about ten minutes.
This route took me over the Passo Della Giogo (a new one to me) and, as expected, everything wss lush and green and a joy to ride through in a t-shirt at 25C!
I am now at my converted 14th Century monastery for the next 4 nights and the website advertised snack bar doesn't exist!
(I'm typing this in the shade as it's 35C out there now!!!!)
It's a lovely place but about 2km from a shop, bar, restaurant, etc. Their website states they have a bar and a snack bar but, it turns out, they don't have the snack bar anymore (the restaurant, apparently, went a while ago as they couldn't get the staff.)
I found the local Co-op (2.5km away) and bought suitable provisions. I shall have a main meal at the circuit early afternoon and just nibble pizza and crisps at night.
This place, I've been told, is full for the weekend but, at the moment, I'm here all alone, as usual.
Let's see what transpires!
Photos to follow from phone.
