Day 11: The Worst, the Best!

Today was the worst of days and the best of days.

We decided to go off route and find our own way to Urbino. OMG! We started out on a very steep road up to a tiny hamlet with huge panoramas. I hadn’t expected such a hard start to the day and I’m still quite sick, so it was hard. Then we dropped down to the river and found a cafe for coffee. Whew. A double espresso really helps.

We rode through a small town that was quite charming and had the stations of the cross along the main street.

Then some ordinary roads, a short stretch of “strada bianca” (unpaved roads) to get away from the highway.

Then up! The first few hundred metres were very steep. Then it got steeper: 18%. Some of us walked our bikes. Then it got even steeper: 20%!! All of us walked.

And yet we went on, into a beautiful nature preserve. Still up, but gentle. We kept going. Sunshine mostly but windy. I hadn’t eaten enough and was feeling the effort. It was hard. We kept going because what was the alternative?

We stopped at a curve in the road where a bunch of trails went off into the forest and ate everything we had with us. Not very much as it turned out.

But we kept going. And then, as if a mirage, I saw parked cars and a small building and people eating at tables. OMG! We were saved: we could get lunch!!!

By the time we got there, we only had 13km to go, mostly downhill. How delightful! So we had pasta, roast lamb, wine, dessert, coffee… And it was easy to ride to Urbino.

I was so happy to see the restaurant and to get a good meal. So very happy!!