Today I woke up well. I opened the window and looked from the balcony to see if it was sunny and indeed it was a wonderful day. Since I left the days have always been beautiful with some storms passing quickly but unfortunately the days are getting shorter every day and I will certainly find it more difficult to find open campsites, we'll see. Then I had a good breakfast at the hotel, exchanging a few words with the person who works and before I left he had offered me two bottles of water which I filled up in the bicycle bottles. Greetings and off I went!

The first stretch - After a good breakfast and after having set up the bike and we set off, leaving Melito di Porto Selvo and continuing along the Statale 106 Jonica, this stage today will definitely be flat for the whole day that I will spend in the saddle. I cycled along the coast on the Costa dei Jasmine, passing the seaside resorts and along the splendid beaches and if I remember correctly it will be an area not yet touched by mass tourism, so I could see it in detail and with more peace from the tourist traffic. But this time it will be even more peaceful since I'll be cycling at the end of September, we'll see!

The second stretch - The state road was definitely a paradise of tranquility with stupendous views from the green headlands on the right side stretch of sandy beaches and the sea and the first thing I saw perched on the southernmost promontory of the peninsula was the Capo Spartivento Calabro Lighthouse is an active lighthouse in the Capo Spartivento area.

After taking some photographs of the lighthouse and the surrounding area I started pedalling again following the same road on the same quiet road of the 90 kilometer long Costa dei Gelsomini and in some stretches the train tracks were more visible which also ran with a sea view crossing many seaside resorts with panoramic and wild views. But in one of the places I passed in front of a bakery that smelled of freshly baked bread and even though it was early to eat I stopped to buy pizza which was also freshly baked. And I ate it in a small square on the street where another person had done the same as me, he too had been attracted by it as had happened to me. We both ate pizza while he waits for his mother and in addition to enjoying the pizza, I looked at the map.

The third stretch - After the break I started pedalling again, passing towns like Brancaleone Marina and others that offer bathing establishments in summer, while in my eyes I could only see a few umbrellas and very few people, let's say almost zero, with incredibly fairytale coasts characterised by a low coastline and sandy beaches alternating with breathtaking enclosed bays from high rocks overlooking the sea with crystal clear waters of greenish-blue colours, certainly rich in fish beds. The shades of the sea and the sand seemed like the Caribbean Sea but in this case the Caribbean in the Mediterranean!

The fourth stretch - Another stop and I had already traveled 72 kilometers but this time for lunch in the town of Locri is located on the slopes of Aspromonte. I had found a nice place to eat outside with tables where I had eaten Calabrian Arancini (Stuffed Italian Rice Balls). And there too I had met a group of people who were curious about my bike setup and where I was going, telling them that I was headed further and further towards northern Italy. Very nice people and then I continued cycling.

The fifth stretch - After a good lunch I started pedalling again and the sky was unpredictable with spaces of blue sky and areas of sky with thunderstorms. And somewhere before, before the town near Rocella Jonica, I had to stop at a bar that had outside tables, where I took shelter from the strong storm of thunder and lightning with water pouring down in buckets and I had to wait quite a while before to leave again. But it wasn't just me who took advantage of drinking a Coke and another person who had had a coffee and didn't want to get wet while driving his Piaggio Vespa.

The last leg - Arriving at the coastal area of Catanzaro Lido in Calabria, I looked around and saw a sign indicating B&B Lido Azzurro which is the place where I spent the night. A great place in a quiet area, my room was very large, very clean and newly built and the owner Francesco was truly a very good person but also his mother and they were very helpful and welcoming and it felt like home. I highly recommend it.

After getting settled I had dinner in a place near the sea and after dinner I took a walk along Via Lungomare Stefano Pugliese adorned with palm trees and gardens, which extends for about 5 kilometres, a nice walk among other people who were doing the same thing as me, enjoying the place under a full moon sky that reflected on the sea and you could hear the background of crashing waves. After the usual evening routine I had greeted my friends via text, some travel notes and looked at Google maps to get an idea of where I would arrive tomorrow and I fell asleep in a very comfortable bed!

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