Well, yesterday was a really good run and a straightforward slog from Brescia to Tuscany. With a few detours, it was almost 300 miles and I had a bum like a baboon by the time I’d finished.
The day started off quite cool but as the day progressed it got warmer and warmer, and by the afternoon when I was approaching Bologna I had to stop to remove my jacket inner as we were well into the 20’s. Until Bologna the landscape is flat and green, with occasional factories or fields bulging with produce as far as the eye can see.
After Bologna the flat landscape transforms to hills and valleys, with all of them covered by trees or vines. There are so many shades of green when you are travelling through this part of Italy. My route took me past Florence so I decided to veer off and head into the city and to a hill south of the river which overlooks this beautiful city. When I got to this area there was a giant car park filled with busses and cars, but being on two wheels it was so easy to find a parking space.
The overview was mobbed with tourists, all doing the same this as me – taking a picture of this beautiful city. There was even a guy playing a guitar on the nearby steps, and of course, the nearby vendors selling the usual stuff like Leonardo fridge magnets and ‘I’ve kissed an Italian’ baseball caps…
The view was glorious. Beautiful. Sublime… After taking a few pictures I took a few moments to look and try to imagine just how it was many, many years ago in the time of Leonardo Da Vinci, Machiavelli and the Medici’s.
Back on the bike and heading west my intended destination was a campsite at Empoli, which was about 15 miles outside Florence. This small campsite is on a working farm and vineyard, and apparently the evening meal is stupendous – but unfortunately the campsite was full so it was back on the road with Plan B and another campsite about 70 miles to the south west.
Not far from the the ‘Plan B’ campsite I stopped at Pontedera at an ‘MD’ – which is a really good supermarket chain – to get some food for the evening and some milk. From here it was about 25 miles to the campsite and I joined the SS439 going south. Before this point I had noticed lots and lots of bikers passing me in the opposite direction – and then I learnt why. The SS439 has lots of squiggly bits, and even better, the tarmac is superb. TT quality…! Riding this stretch is road was a joy, and even though it was late in the afternoon there were still lots of bikes passing me in the other direction, and some of them were really motoring.
Getting to the campsite at about 6.30 the gate was closed…! Plan C was to wild camp – but then I read the info board and you had to call the owner, which I did, and after telling me which spot to camp at he remotely opened the gates. I rolled through and headed into the campsite to find my spot. He turned up about an our later to say hello and take my money. I had cash but he had a portable card reader – so took my payment electronically.
The campsite is situated within a farm and there olive trees all around. It’s also on the side of a hill but there are little areas which have been flattened to make a pitch for a tent or van. I struggled getting my bike where I wanted it as I have road tyres plus all my luggage, but I got the bike parked up eventually – without falling over and thankfully not falling off.
It’s lovely campsite. It’s called ‘Camping The Colono’ and with excellent facilities, great toilets and showers it’s only 15eu a night – and with a view that is priceless. It’s near a village called Pomerance and not far from Livorno and Pisa. Today is a rest day, and besides enjoying the sunshine and the wonderful view, I’m going to do nothing but read my kindle, drink tea and get stuck into a big bag of Haribo I bought yesterday – as the next few days is going to be pure sightseeing.
