XIV. Yay, the first hills

Captain’s Log: Friday, 28 July
Distance: Bologna – Marzabotto – Gardeletta, 43km

After having a big breakfast with eggs (we had to use the facilities, I mean, if we have them, we use them), we left the hostel quite late. But we planned already three days for the way to Florence, so we were in no hurry.

After getting out of the city, we followed a bicycle route, thinking that it will lead us on a little street side by side the main road. What we did not know was that this route has been for mountain bikes. 

Some parts were even worse, especially downhill, but I needed both hands on the brakes, so I was not able to take any pictures of these spots. 

But the landscape was really beautiful.

So there were positive sides as well (*whistling* always look on the bright side of life).

We followed the main road afterwards anyway, and after a shot stop at a café for deciding which way we should take, we decided to drive up to Marzabotto, from where we take a look again. 

Since there has not been another road, we had to take the main road again, which was not the best decision we could make. There have been too many trucks on this road than that we could feel comfortable on it. So we decided to change the valley to one to the east, because there should be less traffic. 

Since Moritz did not want to take the many connection road because he thought there would be too much traffic as well, and since I did not want to take any more little Forststraße or mountain bike trail or whatever, we decided to split up and meet afterwards again.

The street I took did not have any traffic at all, just very few cars and one Motor Roller from the Netherlands with a ncie eldery couple, who stopped to ask me if there was any problem, since I was pushing up my bike. Yes, I had to push it up right the whole way, but in relation to, let’s say, the Soboth in Austria, this has been a Kinderspiel. Still exhausting though, but I managed. 

One italian guy passed me at some point with his car, and he came the way down maybe 10 minutes later to ask me if he should give me a ride. I friendly declined after asking how much further it would be. It has been only 2 more kilometres, so nothing, practically. I even had enough water with me.

After a short break on the top, I drove down quite quickly and with a smile on my face. I actually do not even mind pushing up anymore, I seem to be used to it already so well.

Moritz and I arrived almost at the same time in the village on the other side. I guess, if he would have had such a road as I had, he would have been faster, but he had indeed Forststraßen, Schotterstraßen and mountain bike routes. I was really glad that I decided to take the bigger street instead.

The next camping ground  was not far away fortunately, and since we were both exhausted and it has been way too hot the whole day, we did not take a look around anymore.