Dave and his Bike

Days 12,13 & 14

Slight change of format. I’ve got more chance of remembering where I’ve been than what number day it is. It may also make it slightly less boring to read!

I got away from our ‘tired’ accommodation in Cremona reasonably early, but my impatience to get going and hurrying Jane along came with immediate karma. Literally 200m down the road I spent 5 minutes waiting for a railway crossing. Hey-ho!

Almost straight away I found some cycle paths, I think the Eurovelo 2 in places. It was nice to be alongside the main road and not on it. The weather was good and the miles easy. Our routine of coffee stop and lunch meets continued. I will miss them next week.

The afternoon was more of the same, with plenty of excellent cycle paths, and the odd bit of good gravel. We’d opted for a B&B for tonight, and the one Jane found was excellent (Casa Agricola Amicizia at Cagnano). Great hosts who couldn’t do enough for us, and immaculate brand new accommodation. The best stop over we have had. A result after my longest day of the trip so far.

After a good night’s sleep and an excellent breakfast we were off again. We have changed plans more often than I care to remember due to the weather, but have reverted to plan A, and are heading for Venice. Hopefully it won’t rain too much there.

More flat roads and cycle tracks today. Not as far to go, so a slightly later start. The whole of the swathe of the Po floodplain across the north of Italy is so flat it reminds me of my time-trialling days. I’m surprised there isn’t a big TT scene here! That said, there were hills on the horizon today.

I managed to ride through the middle of Padova (Padua) which was really pretty, then continued on to Venice, mainly on cycle paths again until the outskirts of Mestre, which is effectively the mainland part of Venice. Then the tricky navigation to the campsite began, and slowed me down quite a bit. Not a problem as it was a relatively short day. Great campsite, albeit quite expensive (Camping Venezia Village). Handily placed though… 😁

Pasta and a glass of wine in the campsite restaurant, and an early night.

Day 14. Sightseeing day. Venice.

Cheap return bus tickets bought from the campsite reception, and a bus stop 2 minutes walk away made getting into Venice easy. We were walking through the city by 0930. It is everything we thought it would be. Quite stunning architecture; bridges; canals; basilicas (lots of them); tourists by the thousand. There was the odd smell of drainage, and some places need a lick of paint, but otherwise it is spectacular. I’m glad we made the effort.

We spent €10 each to go up the Campanile di San Marco (in a lift, rather disappointingly). Fantastic views over the whole city and well worthwhile.

St Mark’s Square was quite flooded, which apparently is not unusual, so coffee and a sandwich was in a backstreet café – probably kinder on the wallet that way too!