Today has been a great day for us despite some trouble with punctures. We covered 86 miles and have passed through Rome, stopping just outside it on the road towards Frosinone.
The day started in the usual fashion, with a puncture on Riccardo's bike. So before we had even left the hotel we were delayed by that.
However after this we made good progess and stopped for an early lunch in a place called Santa Marinella, on the coast not too far from Rome.
The restaurant was about 20 metres from the water's edge and the floor was made up of loose stones, just like the beach outside. The food was good too and we all had pasta followed by sword-fish steaks.
From here we carried on into Rome and to do this we had to join the 'Via Aurelia' as there was no other route in. It was very busy with fast traffic, but we were coping well, until Riccardo got another puncture. You can imagine the sinking feeling as we realised that we had no spare inner tubes left while we were stranded in the middle of what was virtually a motorway. So this meant digging through bundles of burst inner tubes to try and find one that could be repaired as cars flew past just metres away from us. The first two repair attempts failed and the tyre immediately deflated, but eventually we managed to get a patch to hold.
Thankfully this repair saw us the remaining 10 km into Rome, but during our watermelon stop the tyre went down once again, so we had to go in search of a bike shop. This wasted a good bit of time.
We bought four inner tubes so we should be fine for tomorrow; but Riccardo has been known to get two punctures in the space of a few hours, so here's hoping!
Once we had the bike sorted we visited the Vatican and took a stop for drinks outside the Colosseum. The stall had Powerades and some other sports drinks, but we bought beers - the athlete's obvious choice.
So, hydrated on alcohol, we made our way through the rush hour traffic of Rome - a surreal but exciting experience.
Before it got too dark we managed to just clear Rome, and we have stopped in a little place called Montecompatri.
We had a big meal with wine to celebrate the last night of our trip and now our stomachs are groaning as we get to bed.
Just a cycle ride down the road for tomorrow and that will be the trip over. It's hard to believe.
(posted 18/07/09 at 01:55)
