Yesterday (Wednesday) I rode down to Tivoli from Sabina, and Z & I rode together most of the way. These were taken at Borgo Quinzio, on the Via Salaria.
Visited the 16th century Villa D'Este in Tivoli, and toured the gardens which have hundreds of fountains, waterfalls, spurts, pools, cascades, grottoes, etc. I'll post photos of some of them.
It has become almost impossible to get photos to load. Takes ages and usually falls over. Never mind. On Friday I bade farewell to my very hospitable friends in Sabina and set off northwards, via Orvieto to Siena. Sightseeing in Siena, including the cathedral and the Piazza where the Palio horserace is held. Scorching hot day. Saturday via Florence and Pistoia, then over the legendary mountain road to Maranello (home of Ferrari) which Ferrari supposedly like to test their prototypes on. No wonder. By-passing Milan I got as far as Como where I found a hotel. A bit cooler with some welcome light showers. Tomorrow (Sunday) I plan to cross Switzerland into France, but I have not yet decided by what route. About to take another look at the maps. The Multistrada is faultless, never misses a beat as usual even in punishing conditions.
If you decide to go via Luzern and Basel via St Gotthard, don't take the tunnel but go over the pass. Andermatt is a lovely place to stop for coffee, just past the top or you can do down the older pass for an explore at the top of Gotthard. You could then just carry on towards Luzern or turn left at Wassen, having done the pass, then go over the Susten Pass into the valley with Interlaken and lake Brienz in it and turn right over the Brunig pass (near Meiringen) towards Luzern again to make things even more interesting.
Indeed. I have done all of those before, at one time or another. Just pondering which one(s) to go for this time. I have never done the Simplon, but that road does not really go in the direction I want.
Did the Simplon a few years ago, when we were heading for Gruyere, rather than Luzern. It's nowhere near as exciting as the aforementioned passes but pleasant enough. Every time I drive up the St Gotthard, I really wish I was on a bike
Actually the weather forecast for Switzerland is rain this afternoon, so I may give some of the higher passes a miss this time. I have been very lucky with the weather there before. The St Gotthard pass is a must though.
Unlikely as it may seem, the building on the right is a bank, the oldest still standing and founded in 1472. Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I arrived home OK today (Monday) 7pm, after a good ride across France. Multistrada has been perfect as usual. I am tired out so going to bed. May post some more tomorrow.
On Sunday setting off from Como on a road with gorgeous views of Lake Lugano, I took the St Gottard Pass, which is a fine well-built road and a great ride. Decided to press on northwards and not divert to other Swiss passes this time. Little traffic on the pass itself (because most of it takes the tunnel) but traffic jams around Andermatt were ghastly because of roadworks. More lovely views of the Vierwaldstättersee near Luzern. Crossed into France at Basel, with no delays or problems at all. Then through the southern Vosges via the pass of Bussang (100mph sweepers), reaching the lovely town of Epinal on the upper Moselle. Stayed there in an Ibis hotel, which was of a vastly higher quality than the Ibises I have used before. I took the last chance to have a good meal in a real French brasserie. Final day I rode on non-autoroute empty country roads across the gorgeous Champagne countryside as far as St Quentin. Then I gave in and took the autoroute for the final stretch to Calais (less then 10 Euros toll). Arrived a bit early for my booking but they put me on the next train so quickly I didn't even have time to go into the terminal and buy some perfume for the wife - oops. Overall the trip was about 2,800 miles of riding and 18 days away, 8 nights in hotels booked as I went along and the rest as guest of my friends. No breakdowns, crashes, or tickets. I kept the Multi's chain lubricated with a spray can and topped up the engine oil a tiny bit; apart from that, the bike just performed perfectly throughout with no attention whatever. Even the fuel gauge has been working accurately. Tyres a bit square though. Now filthy and needs a good clean, but I'm sure it will come up like new. Weather almost all dry, just a couple of brief showers. One of the purposes of the journey was to find out if I still had it in me to do this kind of stuff, following my cancer operation in April. The answer would appear to be in the affirmative.
Looks like a great trip. Sienna is a beautiful place, the view from the top of the tower is worth the squash up the stairs.
