Actually just a few km shy of Grossetto in Camping del Marze which has a security system far in excess of amy national frontier we have crossed so far! We had a pleasant ride with Chris Spargo, who kindly pointed our some of the sights around his holiday area: “this is our supermarket” and that sort of thing! During this time Dave and Fluffy got ahead but were tragically lured of the route by an Italian road sign and Tizz and I snuck past to head of into the lead. Thus at San Lorenzo we were forced to have an interim coffee lungo!
A few more miles to Follonica where we found that some of the support crew had been frolicking on the beach! Disgraceful! George felt so refreshed by his swim in the sea that he leapt out to ride the last 10 miles, only to find that the gradients immediately cranked up and Bernard started swearing again “80 miles done and there’s a bl**dy hill” he muttered to all and sundry. The riders beat the van to the check-in but we were soon re-united to spend an hour or so checking in and discovering that our booking was wrong! A huge holiday centre in a wood of cypress trees and very loud crickets which we hope will be turned off later! Two big tents: a boy’s one and a girl’s one and a little one for Tizz who “wants a good night’s sleep”!!! A 90-mile day on total, taking me to 1204 altogether. We were pinging along at times to day, often at 20mph plus. All getting fitter. Just a word too about the charities today: Bradford Disability Sport & Leisure, Sue Ryder Care at Manorlands and Puccinu Cares – if you’re reading and enjoying this blog and haven’t yet made a donation then please do go www.justgiving.com/sportjohntomalta and make a pledge!
Tizz and I got a swim in the sea just before tea, where people gasped as I removed my shirt and shorts to reveals cycling tan and thousands of mozzie bites!!
A great day – good progress and a good crack, and sunny, sunny weather!

A perfect end to the rest day! We’ve been eating at the Sylvia & Claudia Bar just outside our hostel and last night we noticed late on that they and their family were tucking into delicious looking grilled fish and sauce. We asked if it could be on the menu and they agreed to cook us the meal as a special this evening. So after some of the party had been to watch Leeds United lose on TV, we adjourned to just outside the front door at Sylvias and Claudias and were treated to a delicious meal of grilled fish and pepper and tomato sauce. We presented two bottles of Timothy Taylors Landlord as a thank you and we are now on Limoncino liquere and very content! The bar is on Via Santa Maria 79, Pisa and well worth a visit if ever you’re here. Bonhomie photos attached – another great evening – many thanks! Grazie Mille!!

We never sorted the taxis out! We were up at 4am to drive to the airport again, the only consolation being that we now know the way pretty well! Then back again for a couple of hours of fitful sleep and now it’s breakfast time. Mel texted to sat they’d arrived safely in Liverpool and then texted again to say they were lost there too!!! Now preparing Pisa for the arrival of support crew 2 – the sequel – Jo and Deanne!! More later!

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!!

If you know the tune to “A Rainy Day in Georgia” then change the words to “It’s pi**ing it down in Parma” and you’ll know how the day has commenced! Unbelievable – it’s another Bregenz experience! After breakfast which was served by a very short and wizened, but friendly Italian chap in the hostel, we all got immediately soaked loading the van. Bernard and I set off through Parma, unable to read the map or look at the satnav due to the deluge. The ever helpful roadsigns were once again useless and we asked a chap for directions. Bernard later commented that this chap may have just been released from an asylum as even us two could tell from his voluble instructions that he was telling us to cross the Po and head north!! We eventually found the road after a short suicidal stretch on a semi-motorway and set off towards the Italian Appeninni Hills. Rumbles of thunder accompanied us. First van meet in Langhironi and Tizz popped out to ride the next 30km climb. I reported that I had just completed 1,000 miles (legs pictured!). Thunder and lightning and then intense rain welcomed us as we entered the hills, which are beautiful. Tizz “the Limpet” decided to push it on the ups, and soon she and I were literally racing. Bernard continued at a stately pace and we eventually arrived to meet the others at a fantastic family-run pizzeria/bar in Palanzano where we’ve just scoffed some brilliant home-made pasta! Sun is even peeping out so who knows, it may be a drier second half to the day?!!