Day 1 monreale out of palermo
\nStayed at a beautiful old nunnery after we arrived from Milan. Bike went together ok and was in one piece. \u00a0
\nCaught up with tim and trish and started on our first campari & soda at 8am and kept going\u00a0
\nFirst bike ride across to the little town and a stop at a local bar before the ride back home uphill.\u00a0
\nThen a great dinner at a refectory table with all 14 of us.<\/p>\n
Day 2\u00a0
\nTo Corleone as per blog\u00a0<\/p>\n
Day 3 Monreale to Cefalu 130k
\nWe started off in brilliant sunshine and headed down from the accommodation. Found out I was in the big chain ring just coming down the driveway as the road headed up. \u00a0Result fell off and scraped knee and elbow. Will make sure I check next time.\u00a0
\nThe route was the reverse of yesterday but turned off before Corleone. Mainly undulating country but lots of photo opportunities.\u00a0
\nStopped of for lunch at Marineo on a bench beside the main road in the centre of town. \u00a0Sally did a great job with david.\u00a0
\nOff on the next leg to cefalu. Followed the autostrada down in heavier traffic. \u00a0Good downhill leg. \u00a0One more ridge to get over before the beach. \u00a0Of the autostrada to a small road and up hill. \u00a0But really uphill. Narrow rough cars coming down and 20%+. Just made it standing and working hard. Over the top and down to the coast.\u00a0
\nPretty dull coast road, flat and industrial. \u00a0Worked the bunch and we motored on at 30 ish. Almost cleaned up by a scooter passing a truck passing a car. Very Italian driving.
\nArrived at cefalu to find our hotel right on the beach. A swim. \u00a0Warm water and waves. Fantastic way to cool off follows by Campari and sodas.\u00a0
\nDinner behind the hotel in the open. Tim wound up the banjallele for a great night\u00a0<\/p>\n
Day 4 Cefalu round mountain trip
\nSmall ride of 45 k except we had 20k all up hill then back down. \u00a0
\nJill a painful night with back and shoulder but we both went into the water first thing. Looked like 2 pensioners holding hands into the water but she didn’t fall over.\u00a0
\nOff for the ride on and up in the heat. \u00a0Steady winding climb a few photos and drink stop at the town on top Gratteri
\nThen a bit uphill and the long cruise down corner after corner. Jamie and annabel’s coaching was paying off on the downhill. Sit back on the saddle, break before the bend, weight on the outside peddle, inside knee out and light hands on the bars. \u00a0Keep low to lower the C of G.\u00a0
\nQuick lunch at beachside bar nap and off for a haircut then the duomo and the museum which was a very odd mixture of Victorian furniture older paintings seashells and even a stuffed crocodile.\u00a0
\nDinner that night at a restaurant overlooking the sea in the old town. \u00a0Excellent food as per all the other evenings.
\nDave kindly gave us their super suite as Jill crook. \u00a0Overlooking theo beach. Disadvantage at night was a horn blowing contest at 4 in the morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Day 5 Cefalu to Nicosia<\/p>\n
Started off the day with a swim and then ready for the ride following the coast road. \u00a0Much like the great ocean road winding around the cliffs. \u00a0
\nMainly flat undulating until we sight a freeway overpass circling ahead. \u00a0That’s for us and we begin a winding hot climb up at a constant 6 to 7% for the next 16k’s to Misretta with some relief. Found the non riding party there at a restaurant booked for a house pasta lunch. Energy restored on and up for 5 or so k’s and then a magnificent down hill ride to the turn off to our hotel. Wonderful rolling country. \u00a0
\nNarrow road turns off and 10% downhill and then up but left gears in the big ring so felt like 20%! long upward driveway to a restored farmhouse. \u00a0Wonderful accommodation in the restored part. \u00a0Oak beams low ceilings and a view out over the hills. Swimming pool.\u00a0
\nDinner in the restaurant all local produce and very good. Anti pasta to start followed by pasta course and then pork and potatoes and sweets.\u00a0
\nGreat day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Day 6 Nicosia to Milazzo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Day 1 monreale out of palermo Stayed at a beautiful old nunnery after we arrived from Milan. Bike went together ok and was in one piece. \u00a0 Caught up with tim and trish and started on our first campari & … Continue reading