bentonthealps: Jun 10, 2011

Friday, June 10, 2011

Day 28 Wed 08/06 - Flat Sunny Ride to Pisa

Today Disatnce : 56.5 km Total: 1297.9 km Today Temp : 20 - 26°c Today Spending : 30 euro Total: 413.58 euro Time on Bike : 2 hr 50 min Today Ave Speed: 19.9 kmh Max: 37.5 kmh Today Ave Climb:2% Max: 5% Trip Altitude :81 m Max:62 m

Except for a short spell of gloomy sky, we started the ride at 10.40am on SP21 road along the sea, no mountains,no rolling hills,absolutely flaaaaat! all the way 50 km to Pisa, world famous for its Leaning Tower.We saw many camping signs along the marina, but its too early to end the day. We really enjoy our ride today as the sun really shines after several days of miserable rain.The camping we are looking for is near the Leaning Tower called Torre Pendente Camping Village. We bought our necessary foods at the Pam supermarket just before the entrance to the campsite. This is by far the biggest camping that we came across, otherwise it won't be calling a "village", equipped with a swimming pool and a "bungalow " we rented for 53 euro and that comes out to 17.7 euro per person, slightly more expensive than we had stay before for 16 euro. Later 3 Indonesian students joins us as neighbour, they are studying in Germany and on their summer holiday here backpacking.

Torre Pendente Camping Village with simming pool

Our "bangolow" cost 53 euro

Logo of the cmapsite

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Different colors of hibicuss flowers

Own cooked spagette

Outside kitchen

Room with hotel setting but limited space

Day 27 Tue 07/06 - Train to La Spezia and Bike to Carrara camping

Today Disatnce : 52.7 km Total: 1241.4 km Today Temp : 18 - 22°c Today Spending :21 euro Total: 383.58 euro Time on Bike : 3 hr 25 min Today Ave Speed:15.4 kmh Max: 41.5 kmh Today Ave Climb: 4% Max: 20% Trip Altitude : 431 m Max: 332 m

We sometimes wonder whether the rain like us so much keeps on following where we go, or that we brought it here from Malaysia.This morning again the ride was delay and later interrupted after about 20km start.Ivan told me to opt for train again in the next station as Annie is still recovering from sickness, so we continue and rode until the next big town of Rapallo where there is a train station to catch the train to La Spezia, but we have a tough task to carry our bikes up the bike unfriendly stairs at 45° angle and 20 ft long,imagine if you are travelling solo.The ticket for a journey of 80 km cost 5.5 euro with bikes free of charge. The train comes with a special coach for bikes storage in the front together with the driver. The journey passed thru many tunnels,some were long but mostly short along the sea coast. At 3 pm arrived in La Spezia,again the nightmare to carry our bikes up and down the stairs.We rode for another 20km to Iron Gate Camping recommended by the Genova campsite owner, but was totally full, not even allow us to setup our tents.The receptionist told us there is another one In Camping Carrara, 5 km down the road, but a heavy downpour forced us to take shelter in a carwash and a much needed cup of hot cuppercino at the venting machine for 0.5 euro. We were told that the camping is just another 1 km to go, shit what a miss!! Luckily the heavy rain comes fast and stop just as fast, whatsmore we had sunshine to lead us to our destination campsite for a lovely unit of a row of terrace concrete hut for 10 euro each.