Day 41: September, 23 Pirovac - Kaštel Stari Ditance 100.4 Km
This morning we woke up at 11:30 am with a sunny day and an excellent not too hot temperature. We have passed a thousand beautiful sights of small and large islands surrounded by the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and continuous, breathtaking landscapes since we started from Istia.
Today we initially passed by the small town of Šibenik which overlooks a port. I had already visited this little jewel of Croatia on holidays with my parents but I found it very beautiful again. There is so much to discover but this time I just passed by enjoying the small port and then we continued pedaling passing by the small towns of Zaboric, Grebastica, Primosten, Podglavica, Marina and the village of Kaštel Stari ((just outside Split).
This evening we stayed in a B&B (called a sobe in Croatia) near the sea. After having dinner we visited the beach which was surrounded by pine trees and then we took a walk in the town.
#1 Jounal - Bicycle Touring in Europe of 4,684.1 Km Page 4
Day 43 September, 25 Makarska - Slano Ditance 121 Km
Today we left the Camp Riviera Makarska campsite at 11:00 am with a beautiful sunny day. We rode all along the panoramic coast, on Highway 8. Even today we enjoyed spectacular views pedaling up to the small village of Slano Slano located in a small 2 km long bay.
This evening we stayed in a Hotel in Slano.
Day 42: September, 24 Kastel Stari - Makarska Ditance 72.4 KM
This morning we woke up to another sunny day, we left at Hotel Kastel Stari (just outside Split) at 11:00 am. After an excellent breakfast we returned to the saddle of our bicycles, again pedaling along the coast with an incredible curvy but not difficult road and surrounded by incredible panoramas, a marvel everywhere as we saw inlets on the coasts, mountain ranges on the left side of the road, the sea of colour and crystal-clear waters, the incredible beaches, the nice people we met and of course an incredible scent of Mediterranean aromatic plants.
This evening we camped at a nice campsite close to the sea at Camp Riviera Makarska.
Day 44 September, 26 Slano - Bari, Puglia Italy. Ditance 44.2 Km
Today we had left the Slano Hotel at 7:00am. Very early we have our usual schedules and after a good breakfast and setting up our bikes, we rode all along the panoramic coast, on Highway 8 headed on the windy roads to Dubrovnik.
Arrived at the city Dubrovnik then at the port "Porto Gruz" in Dubrovnik where we embarked just in time to take the ferry to Bari, Puglia Italy. The ferry crossing time from Dubrovnik to Bari was approximately 8h.
Day 46 September, 27 Puglia Italy - Mattinata Ditance 138.9 Km
Today we had left the Hotel in Bari at 7:45 am. Good breakfast at the hotel, we set up the bicycles and cycled on the state road (SS113) passing through the villages nestled on the Adriatic Sea of Molfetta, Barletta, the picturesque town of Manfredonia and the last daily stop at the seaside resort town Mattinata is located south of the Gargano Promontory.
Day 47 September, 28 Mattinata - Lesina Marina Ditance 138.2 Km
Today we woke up at 7 am set up the bikes and had an appointment with the owners of the campsite who had insisted that they offered us a complimentary breakfast and wanted to say goodbye before our departure. Excellent breakfast and thank you very much for the hospitality you have given us!
At 8:45 we were on the saddle of the bicycle pedaling uphill and continuing on the spur of the Gargano and passing through a thousand uncontaminated views and a panoramic road with the scent of the sea, the fragrances of wild plants and the aromas of the olive trees we arrived in Vieste. From Vieste we entered the hinterland to then review the coast until we reached Rodi Garganico, Torre Mileto. Then after pedaling on a sunny day where the legs really worked work all day we arrived at the last stage of the day in . We stayed in a hotel and it had rained last night.
Day 48 September, 29 Lesina Marina - Pescara Ditance 152 Km
This morning we left the Hotel in Lesina Marina at 7:40 am with a beautiful sunny day along the Adriatic Sea with a strong wind in front and mostly flat we cycled through the towns of Termoli, Vasto, Pescara until we reached Pineto (the name derives from the trees pine) is a town and comune in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo. The beaches of Pineto are very beautiful and there are shaded pine forests separating the sea and the beach. Just very beautiful and pristine!
We stayed in camping outside Pineto. The owners of the campsite were very friendly.
Day 49 September, 30 Pescara - Pesaro Ditance 191.0 Km
This morning we left the camping outside Pesaro at 8:00 am and today too it was a sunny day and always pedaling along the Adriatic Sea. We saw a team of cyclists and today it was mostly tailwind to our destination the city of Ancona, the capital of the Marche region and an important seaport that has routes that are active all year round. Stayed at camping outside Pesaro. Today we accomplished the maximum K we have ever done on our tour given the conditions were ideal for easy riding.
Day 50 October, 01 Pesaro - Bologna Ditance 155.4 Km
This morning we left the camping outside Pesaro with a gray sky and a heavy rain at 8:00 am but then during the day the sun had come out. Today we cycled along the coast until Riminini, a city in the Emilia-Romagna and is one of the biggest beach resorts on the Adriatic Sea. Then after passing the city of Rimini and after a few kilometers we left the coast and we entered the hinterland up to the last day stop at the city of Bologna. We stayed in a hotel and after having dinner we walked around the city.
To learn more about Bologna and find out about my walking tour that I had done on another occasion in this city, click here.
Day 50 October, 02 Bologna - Piacenza Ditance 156 Km
This morning we left the Hotel in Bologna at 8:00 am. It was a cloudy day and at times warm 15 - 22°. we cycled through the cities of Modena, Reggio Emelia, Parma and ending in the city of Piacenza. Piacenza is located on the border of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. We stayed in a hotel in Piacenza.
Day 51 October, 03 Piacenza - Milano Ditance 76.9 Km
This morning we left the hotel in Piacenza at 8:00 am. It was a cloudy and foggy day. We cycled on flat roads and one of our bikes got a puncture, after repairing it we continued on to the last leg of our journey, the city of Milan, Lombardy.
I have reached the end of the journey after having seen the culture of incredible places where my body, my mind with the hardships of a few days on the saddle of the bicycle with the difficulties, joys experienced and where the body and mind have introduced me to the adventure in total freedom, the experience on the move to discover the world around me and each experience has always been unique, new and inedible, learning more and more and made me feel free. Today I return home eager for my next two-wheeled holiday!
After disembarking from the ferry in a short ride we had arrived at the seaside city of Bari and we stayed in a hotel in the centre of the city.
Then, we dined at a local restaurant and ate one of the typical Apulian dishes: Orecchiette con cime di rapa ( Apulian Orecchiette with broccoli rabe or rapini). A very delicious dish!
The Gargano National Park is a protected area located in the Puglia region and is located in the province of Foggia. A promontory with a landscape of the sea surrounded by green hills, nature, sea, sandy beaches, sea caves (reachable only by sea), mountains, lakes, trekking and bike paths and much more to enjoy moments of relaxation in the open air and all within a short distance. It is a corner jewel reign of uncontaminated nature. A true wonder of Puglia!
Among the magnificent and breathtaking views we arrived at the small and pretty village of Mattinata which is located in a corner between the hills surrounded by a magnificent landscape of woods, olive trees and vineyards, with wild nature, full of beaches and a turquoise sea. In short, it is dotted with so many breathtaking views!
Tonight we stayed in a very nice campsite with very nice and welcoming owners in the hills just before Mattinata.
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