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March 20 Monday Bicycle touring Italy Sardinia from Arbatax Sardegna to Civitaveccia Italy to Lake Bracciano Italy The sailing to Civitaveccia left port at midnight. Nino, Bruno, and Iole came to the port to see us off. We rode our fully loaded touring bicycles down a darkened road from their place -- they followed behind us in Bruno's car, lighting the way with their headlights. Luckily, it wasn't too far to the ferry terminal and there wasn't much traffic. They were surprised at how quickly we rode our bikes to the terminal. It's amazing how fast I can ride a touring bike when I'm scared. There were a lot of people already on the ferry, as it comes from Cagliari first. It was loaded with people. Many were hanging over the ferry railings by the time it docks in Arbatax. We stowed our touring bikes with all our panniers attached. The only thing we took above the boarding deck were our handlebar bags. We actually have assigned seats. There is a cinema, too. I tried to sleep, but it is not very comfortable. Two guys beside us smoked a nightcap joint. The whole area is supposed to be non-smoking. Sharon and my big debate is whether we should go to Rome or not. I choose not. Sharon says we're so close -- fifty kilometres -- we really should go. She suggests we take the train in and leave our bikes at the station. Later. I really don't need the hassle of Rome after my relaxing two weeks. Bruno and Iole told us that Italy has 75% of the world's art ... and most of it is stacked in church and museum basements rotting away since they don't have enough room to display it all. Welcome to bicycle touring in Italy. It didn't take us long to unload our bikes and start investigating the hilly area. We climbed to Lake Bracciano. Its shape is round (which makes me wonder if it is man-made or a crater). We found a little spot along its edge to set up our lightweight cycle touring tent. Four guys came down to the water's edge, looking for wild asparagus. They told us it was delicious in spaghetti. "For sure," we said, having eaten more than our fair share of wild asparagus while staying with iole and Bruno. We cycled past two castles today. Every little town seems to have one. |
