Another blue day out there for the first day of our bike tour of this region. We have had only 4 hours of rain in 3 weeks.
After our scummy breakfast at our apartment in Peschici we hit the road with me driving for the first time. I enjoyed the challenge and the pleasure of cruising at 130 km on the fabulous autostrada. 34 degrees outside at times but a more pleasant 28 in Monopoli.
It is always an interesting orienteering exercise winding through the narrow streets of an historic centre trying to find your hotel. Staying in a lovely hotel that was part of a Castel right beside the piazza and adjacent to the harbour. Had a quick bite of lunch before our briefing and bike fit with Davide from Southern Visions. Great intro, trip notes, maps, cheat sheets and the touring bikes are superb.
Headed off for our 35 km shake down ride along the coast to the ruins of a 16th century BC Roman town called Egnazia. A fun rogaine exercise interpreting the detailed directions. Lovely ride by the sea passing crowded small beaches and crystal blue water. Highlights were the stone wall lanes, the neat crop plantings and passing the oldest olive trees on the planet - gnarly looking things planted in Roman times.
Home at 7.30pm after 4 hours out, a shower and another beautiful fish meal at a ristorante in the piazza. Baked dorado with olives and potatoes. Today we cycle to Conversano and will get away about 8.30am to avoid the heat.
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