After a leisurely breakfast and a refreshing swim at our organic paradise it was time to pack up and head down to the coast. We discovered from Mariella that it was our hostess Mariangiola’s 69th birthday so I presented her with a couple of bottles of Timothy Taylors Landlord. Mariella went to put the bottles in the fridge but I told that it had to be drunk at room temperature, forgetting that room temperature here is something like 30 degrees!! They looked at the blog and asked about feeding back comments, which others have asked about too. Haven’t sorted this, but you can always email at sportjohn@blueyonder.co.uk if you wish to say hello!
We descended to the coast and possibly one of the longest coastal promenades we’ve ever seen. Mile after flat mile of resort, with ubiquitous scooters zooming in and out and generally making life interesting. The general policy we’ve found is to just aim at where you’re going and ignore everyone else, and don’t get wound up when others do something you don’t like! We had a pizza for lunch (photo attached) and then headed for Pisa, during which time Patty experienced only the second puncture of the trip so far, the other time being in Belgium.
On arriving at Pisa we were quickly accosted by a couple of very shady-looking characters, one apparently with only one arm, whose photo I took immediately to pass on to Interpol (copy attached). They offered to help us park the van but I insisted on taking Mel with me for protection!
Into the Hostel Under the Tower – a delightfully quirky place which, as it says on the tin, is right next to the tower. More about Pisa and our rest day tomorrow, but now it’s time for a shower after 1114 cumulative miles and to toast Mum and Mel who have brought us safely and superbly so far, all intact and bang on schedule!!