Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sunday 9-14-08 Sottomarina - 0 km Still Raining!
We wake up in the morning to a grey, windy, and rainy day. When will this stop? We are in need to get going! During a lull, I finally had success at the local ATM.
Saturday, 9-13-08 Sottomarina - 0 km Surprise No. 2
Surprise number two is that the weather in this area could get so stormy and cool at this time of the year. We expected from the information we had, a pleasant Mediteranean weather. Evidently this is not the case. This brings us to the conclusion that our summer tent must go. We need to find a three season tent somewhere, and soon! Our life at the campground is quite simple. When we can leave the tent, we do for a walk to the coffee shop, or just to look at the waves on the Adriatic. We then, get our groceries and go to the camp laundry room where we cook our meals with our little stove, and mess kit. The campground charges 19 Euros a day. It has no picnic tables, or a community hangout area. You basically get a spot of ground. However, there is hot shower, and clean toilets. I have tried to use my card at the local ATM machines, but failed each time. There are two more banks left to try...
Friday, 9/12 Riding our Bike to Sottomarina - 41km
Wow! An early wake up at Stefano, and Germana"s house. I say goodbye to Stefano since he has to go to work, and we will be gone when he is back. They are both planning to drive up to Tuscuny with their bikes for the weekend, so everyone is busy with their trip. I pull out the two pieces of luggage to assemble the pieces. I work in the front yard, under a pine tree on another hot day. We are told, by Sunday, summer will end as the weather is expected to change...
As I assemble the bike I confirm that all the parts are undamaged. All looks fine, until I install the rear wheel and notice that the rear derailieur is in a funny angle. It is the only part that took a beating during the flight. After scratching my chin, I decide to check on the gear changes, and carefully bend it back to its proper position. I pray nothing breaks, and it does not. At least for now. I will have to watch it for the first few days. The bike is tested with Germana on the back. "For the experience", she says. It was a first for her, and she was a bit nervous, especially since the seat was too high for her. We say our final goodbyes (until we meet again to put bike back in boxes, and to go back home).
Leaving Mestre to find the causeway to Venice started off by doing a few extra km, but finally we were on it. We rode to the ferry landing, and on to Lido. From Lido we rode along the coast in a southerly direction. It is flat, the weather is pleasant, the drivers are nice, and we see locals cycling everywhere. Two more ferries to take - two car ferries, and one passenger ferry. While on the last ferry we noticed a black clowd to the west. "An afternoon thunderstorm", we thought.
We got of the ferry at Chioggia. A pleasant town with a few canals, and a nice promenade with coffee shops, resaurant, and stores. Then the rain came. We sat under a building on the promenade with everyone else on bikes, on foot, or on vespas. After an hour the rain stopped, and we rode out to the nearby town of Sottomarina. We found the campground recommended in the book, set our tent, and ate dinner. Then the rains came again. This time with strong winds, and thunderstorms with lightning. This went on all night. We put our rain gear on while in the tent, since we had a few leaks. Most came through the zippers on door, and window. The water ran down to accummulate at our feet. We used our towels to soak the water, put in a pot, and pour out a partially opened window. During heavy squalls, this had to be done continuously! We were saving a sinking boat! Then a lull came, and we got some sleep...
As I assemble the bike I confirm that all the parts are undamaged. All looks fine, until I install the rear wheel and notice that the rear derailieur is in a funny angle. It is the only part that took a beating during the flight. After scratching my chin, I decide to check on the gear changes, and carefully bend it back to its proper position. I pray nothing breaks, and it does not. At least for now. I will have to watch it for the first few days. The bike is tested with Germana on the back. "For the experience", she says. It was a first for her, and she was a bit nervous, especially since the seat was too high for her. We say our final goodbyes (until we meet again to put bike back in boxes, and to go back home).
Leaving Mestre to find the causeway to Venice started off by doing a few extra km, but finally we were on it. We rode to the ferry landing, and on to Lido. From Lido we rode along the coast in a southerly direction. It is flat, the weather is pleasant, the drivers are nice, and we see locals cycling everywhere. Two more ferries to take - two car ferries, and one passenger ferry. While on the last ferry we noticed a black clowd to the west. "An afternoon thunderstorm", we thought.
We got of the ferry at Chioggia. A pleasant town with a few canals, and a nice promenade with coffee shops, resaurant, and stores. Then the rain came. We sat under a building on the promenade with everyone else on bikes, on foot, or on vespas. After an hour the rain stopped, and we rode out to the nearby town of Sottomarina. We found the campground recommended in the book, set our tent, and ate dinner. Then the rains came again. This time with strong winds, and thunderstorms with lightning. This went on all night. We put our rain gear on while in the tent, since we had a few leaks. Most came through the zippers on door, and window. The water ran down to accummulate at our feet. We used our towels to soak the water, put in a pot, and pour out a partially opened window. During heavy squalls, this had to be done continuously! We were saving a sinking boat! Then a lull came, and we got some sleep...
9/11/08 Venice
We got on the train from Mestre to Venice - better then the bus experience from yesterday. Earlier, stressed about the bike, I got up early to install the fork, the cranks, and pump up the tires, check the wheel for alignement including spokes.
We caught a boat ride to the island of Murano where the glass blowers are. We are told the supper hot and humid weather is very unusual for this time of the year. Riding back, the boat took the long trip around the islands of Venezia, stopping every few minutes to exchange people. Babies crying, engines roaring, boat rocking and hitting docks. A total mess. Just like riding a local bus in a tropical country where there is no AC. Tommorow is our big departure date!
We caught a boat ride to the island of Murano where the glass blowers are. We are told the supper hot and humid weather is very unusual for this time of the year. Riding back, the boat took the long trip around the islands of Venezia, stopping every few minutes to exchange people. Babies crying, engines roaring, boat rocking and hitting docks. A total mess. Just like riding a local bus in a tropical country where there is no AC. Tommorow is our big departure date!
9-9-08 through 9-10: Mestre & Venice, Surprise No. 1
9/9:
We arrived on schedule, all luggage arrived intact on visual inspection. Checked into a hotel, after pulling our loads behind us - bike luggages, and two duffle bags loaded onto our folding truck. We navigated the streets from the bus stop at 11pm, found our hotel, and went to bed. This morning we left our luggage at the hotel, and went on foot to look around, ask questions regarding leaving luggage. This is the first surprise: nowhere in the area could we store our boxes for more than 5 days! This can spell a disaster. We based our trip on information given in our cycling book. Yes, Lonely Planet Guide. It said we could store long term at train stations. Not so. So now we are all stressed out on the subject.
9/10:
At 7pm, we were to meet with our hosts, Stefano, and Germana. We are to spend the next two nights with them while we tour Venice on foot. Stefano, and his wife Germana are the sweetest people. They received us warmly, and were very helpful with bike issues, as they are themselves avid cyclists. In fact, Stefano is involved with the Italian Cycling Federation (FIAB)managing its website. This organization is responsible for bike developing bike paths around the country, and their members are all cycling enthusiasts.
When Stefano, and Germana found out about our situation, they offered us a place for the luggage. Otherwise, we have no idea what we would come up with.
So we go to Venice feeling better. Walked around town, rode the boats, savored coffee, gelato, and other Italian delights. Venice was sweltering hot, but fantastic, romantic, and a must-see!
As we were taking a short break sitting on San Marcos Square, Elaine got "indoctrinated" by a local pigeon...bulls eye!
We arrived on schedule, all luggage arrived intact on visual inspection. Checked into a hotel, after pulling our loads behind us - bike luggages, and two duffle bags loaded onto our folding truck. We navigated the streets from the bus stop at 11pm, found our hotel, and went to bed. This morning we left our luggage at the hotel, and went on foot to look around, ask questions regarding leaving luggage. This is the first surprise: nowhere in the area could we store our boxes for more than 5 days! This can spell a disaster. We based our trip on information given in our cycling book. Yes, Lonely Planet Guide. It said we could store long term at train stations. Not so. So now we are all stressed out on the subject.
9/10:
At 7pm, we were to meet with our hosts, Stefano, and Germana. We are to spend the next two nights with them while we tour Venice on foot. Stefano, and his wife Germana are the sweetest people. They received us warmly, and were very helpful with bike issues, as they are themselves avid cyclists. In fact, Stefano is involved with the Italian Cycling Federation (FIAB)managing its website. This organization is responsible for bike developing bike paths around the country, and their members are all cycling enthusiasts.
When Stefano, and Germana found out about our situation, they offered us a place for the luggage. Otherwise, we have no idea what we would come up with.
So we go to Venice feeling better. Walked around town, rode the boats, savored coffee, gelato, and other Italian delights. Venice was sweltering hot, but fantastic, romantic, and a must-see!
As we were taking a short break sitting on San Marcos Square, Elaine got "indoctrinated" by a local pigeon...bulls eye!
Finally, Internet Center Found
Hi from both of us. Yes, we are doing fine. We are now in Ravenna. Weather could not be better. This trip has been very interesting for us - a series of lessons we will elaborate on later.
In a nutshell: on 9/12 we left Mestre, which is just outside of Venice, on a sunny glorious summery day that turned into a savage winter storm by afternoon. We made 41 km to the town of Sottomarina south of Lido, and managed to set tent during a lull.
We spent three days mostly in the tent (not made for heavy rains) bailing out water at our feet, as it came in through the zipper in the front. To make things worst, Mauny came down with a horrible chest cold. We are behind on updating our blog due to lack of internet places, so it might be awhile between posts. We will start detailing our daily experiences now.
In a nutshell: on 9/12 we left Mestre, which is just outside of Venice, on a sunny glorious summery day that turned into a savage winter storm by afternoon. We made 41 km to the town of Sottomarina south of Lido, and managed to set tent during a lull.
We spent three days mostly in the tent (not made for heavy rains) bailing out water at our feet, as it came in through the zipper in the front. To make things worst, Mauny came down with a horrible chest cold. We are behind on updating our blog due to lack of internet places, so it might be awhile between posts. We will start detailing our daily experiences now.
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