Day 36 Thu 16/06 - Early Ride into Rome

Today Disatnce : 59.6 km   Total: 1769.1 km                                                                                            Today Temp : 20 - 30°c                                                                                                                        Today Spending : 16.51 euro    Total: 571.09 euro                                                                                   Time on Bike : 3 hr  25 min                                                                                                                  Today Ave Speed: 17.4 kmh   Max: 61.5 kmh                                                                                          Today Ave Climb: 3%       Max: 18%                                                                                                       Trip Altitude : 556 m    Max: 299 m

To our surprise,the olive farm owner came to his farm as early as 6.30 am in his old car, but then I was already awake, as he came out from his car, I approached him trying to explain why we landed and camp in his farm and we will be leaving in a short while.From his friendly expression and hand langugge,I knew he was trying to tell me " No problem,no problem,take your time!" With no worry and hurry,we continued to cook our breakfast and was started rolling at 7.10am, our earliest so far. Mostly downhills for the 1st 35 km, and the traffic became heavy once we joined the SS2 main road to Rome, more like a Dual carriage highway now,but fortunately there is enough shoulder for us.We turn into Prima Porta which is just outside the ring to look for Tiber Camping, but gave up completely and settled for Happy Village Camping instead. 9.5 euro per person with 1 euro gov tax, we managed to bargain for tent free. There is a shuttle bus service provided by the camping to a train station to the Rome centro.

Giant Tent

And our tents

Day 35 Wed 15/06 - Wild Camping on Olive Farm after Vignanello

Today Disatnce : 93.2 km    Total: 1709.3 km                                                                                           Today Temp : 20 - 30°c                                                                                                                          Today Spending : 5.8 euro    Total: 555.08 euro                                                                                      Time on Bike : 5 hr  54 min                                                                                                                      Today Ave Speed: 15.8 kmh    Max: 60 kmh                                                                                      Today Ave Climb: 3%       Max: 16%                                                                                                     Trip Altitude :1089 m     Max: 533 m

After bidding goodbye to Matt and Andrew,we started the ride early 8.45 am on opposite directions.We are heading Rome while Matt and Andrew is heading the way we came.Our target today originally is to find camping in Viterbo, and is supposed to pass thru 3 lakes: Lake Boisena,Lake Di Vico and Lake Bracciano, but in the end we only managed to see Lake Boisena where many campings offering best views of the lake, but it was rather too early for us to end the day, expecially for Ivan/Annie, so we moves on hopping the other 2 lakes will offer the same lakeviews,but somehow or rather at Viterbo after shopping at incoop supermarket,I suggested to take a smaller road S204 which is nearer to the lakes than the SR2, when we were on S204 and at one stretch heading to the mountain, both wanted to turn back to Viterbo on SR2 , but one local cyclist advised to take the Soriano road which is longer but less hilly but will miss the 2 lakes that mentioned. This road is not touristic, so chances of finding camping is out. We filled up our bottles with a public tap at Vignanello and ends a long tiring ride wild camping in an olive farm.

Lake Boisena witl many Campings

Taking a rest while Ivan/Annie way in front

Catch up with Ivan/Annie at this bike shop

Still not ripe

Grapes planted on the road side

Olive Farm wild camping



Sunset



Day 34 Tue 14/06 - Restaurant Owner offer Free Camping near Acquapendente

Today Disatnce : 94.5 km   Total: 1616.1 km                                                                                           Today Temp : 21 - 28°c                                                                                                                        Today Spending : 27 euro   Total: 549.28 euro                                                                                           Time on Bike :  4 hr  54 min                                                                                                                   Today Ave Speed: 19.2 kmh      Max: 57 kmh                                                                                         Today Ave Climb: 3%      Max: 11%                                                                                                       Trip Altitude : 809 m     Max:522 m

Today's ride by far was the most uninspiring and boring on SR2 route, we were mostly riding on a barren plateau of 200-250m, no trees and rest place for us to really take a rest away from the hot burning sun,hardly any souls around except those comfortably inside their cars.And this continued for nearly 60 km, finally we saw one restaurant along the road which we quickly stop for a cool drinks and top up spare water, we almost runs out of water.I don't even remember passing thru any towns, or maybe they are too small that you didn't even realise it when you zoom pass, no wonder that my ave speed is quite high at 19.2 kmh.Anyway a boring day but ends in a happy note, it was in the 2nd restaurant that initially we stopped for some enquiries about next town?how far?any camping? preparing ourself for wild camp. But a smart Annie asked the owner on whether we can put up our tent in his wide grassy compound, surprisingly the answer is a "yes". Later joining us are 2 American young cyclists,Matt and Andrew,just started 2 days from Rome in opposite direction.Ivan/Annie joined them for dinner in the restaurant, while I prefer to own cook with foods already bought earlier.

2nd restaurant that offer free camping

Road in front of our camp



Vegetables farming



Tall pine tree to block the strong wind

Grassy free camping





Two American cyclists Matt and Andrew on the right

Day 33 Mon 13/06 - Rest Day in a Hilly Siena

Today Disatnce : 20 km     Total: 1521.6 km                                                                                              Today Temp : 20 - 28°c                                                                                                                           Today Spending : 31.5 euro    Total: 522.28 euro                                                                                     Time on Bike : 2 hr  50 min                                                                                                                      Today Ave Speed: 12.8 kmh   Max: 32.4 kmh                                                                                       Today Ave Climb: 3%     Max: 9%                                                                                                               Trip Altitude : 175 m     Max:330 m

Siena might not as well known compared to Pisa and Florence among the tourists,but Siena has its own beauty and charm.Located on several hill tops of over 300m in altitude,is 70 km south of Florence, offering differrent kind of landscape where streets and houses built on a very steep slope, rarely you will notice a single piece of  flat land, even the biggest square in town was built on a gentle slope.Walking along the narrow copperstone streets with many turns and junctions,can easily get lost in a circle or a dead end. There is an historic Old Wall in a rectangular shape just outside the centro where joggers and couples like to hang around.Spent 2 hr in the internet operated by a Bangladeshi for 3.5 euro. I left my sunglass on the table when i was shopping in the Pam supermarket 10.3 euro, so had to cycle another 5 km back to the internet,fortunately it was still there, eventhough the sunglass is cheap which i bought before i started, I find it very comfortable wearing and it has been faithfully with me so far,some sort of sendimental value.

She must be a famous Lady in Italy

Filming in action

Walking the narrow street in Siena centro

Walking the narrow street in Siena centro

Tourist just love the place

Main Tower at the Square



Sloppy square where people sits around



Fountain at the square

Beautiful Church

Close up on the beautiful church

Day 32 Sun 12/06 - Rolling and Rolling into Siena

Today Disatnce : 72.8 km   Total: 1501.6 km                                                                                            Today Temp : 21 - 28°c                                                                                                                         Today Spending : 16.5 euro   Total: 490.78 euro                                                                                         Time on Bike :  5 hr  04 min                                                                                                                   Today Ave Speed: 14.3 kmh    Max: 71 kmh                                                                                      Today Ave Climb: 4%              Max:  17%                                                                                                 Trip Altitude :  1111 m      Max:363 m

Today marks actually 1 month of our cycling adventure since started in Paris on 12 May.The weather have so far been kind to us on the past few days.Ivan/Annie have grown stronger each day and so far no problems on their bikes.As for me,generally ok except for occasionally toothache,and the recumbent bike has one puncture at the front tire,plus some minor adjustments here and there.Today's ride on a very hot day with countless small rolling hills,and on one of the downhill stretch,I acheieved a personal best of 71 kmh. We are always on route SR2 which will go all the way down to Rome.Most shops we passed were closed as it was a Sunday,but we managed to buy some foods in the incoop supermarket,just in time before it closed at 1 pm. The effect of pedalling up down up down really tiring as I am carrying more weight than Ivan/Annie.When we finally reached the camping in Siena,it was already 5 pm. The cost is 9.5 euro per person and 5.7 euro per tent with a 10% discount, thats comes out to 13.7 euro for me.Camping in Italy is double the price compared to France.

An ancient castle on top of the hill on the way to Siena



Grapes yard near the caste




Purple wild flower along the road



Siena Town

Siena town

Old Wall in Siena

Scenery look down from the wall

Jogging lane on the Wall

Performance square with rock seating in the Wall



Campground in Siena 13.7 euro



Campground another angle