Data was recorded by Wahoo Elemnt Bolt (old model, not the new one), then synched into Strava and Komoot, and then edited in Komoot into Tours and a Collection.
The full Komoot Collection is https://www.komoot.com/collection/1892893/-2022-italy-actuals-bologna-to-lecce-using-rented-ebikes
Day 1: Sept 9 - Bologna to Cusercoli (target was Santa Sofia)
The original plan was to catch the train about 8am from Bologna to Faenza then ride up into the hills. The plan did not survive contact with a train strike... At about 7:20am, while I was having espresso, Chris advised our train had been cancelled. I messaged jokingly that "I feel a ride to Faenza coming on.." and jumped on the ebike to ride to Centrale railway station. I was the only one who had not already been at Bologna station and by the time I got there, it was pretty bloody obvious that I did not have enough time (3 minutes) to get through the crowds, get the full laden ebike down stairs, up stairs and onto a crowded train.
My first mistake: I decided to ride to Faenza, it was basically flat and I knew that the others had to visit Vodafone shop at Faenza. It was just after 7:30am, shops didn't open until 10am, which gave me 2.5 to 3 hours to get to Faenza and the others would wait for me if I could get there by 1030, right? I was so stressed that I did not explain this to anyone. I told Julie I was riding and to let the others know, but didn't explain my thinking.
The route out of Bologna that Komoot choose for me was probably touring bike, I should have chosen road bike? It was a very pretty bicycle friendly route out of Bologna but slow (15kph).
The ride through Imola struck me with it being very pretty, prettier than I expected.
The others had not waited for me in Faenza, and it was nearly 11am by the time I arrived there with over 50km done, temp 31C. One water bottle empty and the other nearly empty. I expected a cafe to appear on my way out from the town but I was wrong. I was soon looking in front yards of the houses I passed to find a water tap or hose. On the outskirts of Villagrappa I found a working tap and hose and refilled water. A bit further on a small shop was open so I lunched on cornetto ice cream and lemon drink. My recollection from that hot day was that the town was called Vinigrappa, but a quick check of route and map shows me now that my brain was addled by heat and effort.
The planned route into Meldola did not use the main roads but suddenly diverted into a very hilly (and pretty) area. The battery had been showing one bar remaining of five, and I had not configured the display to show me forecast remaining km. On some undulations, I caught with up a chap called Pierro on his recumbent and said hello. A retired local out for a casual ride. Part way up a steep climb at pretty much bang on 80km elapsed riding, the battery dropped to empty. I could not pedal the bike uphill fully laden without battery assist. I walked the hill and Piero was waiting at the top. He took us a less hilly way into Meldola where he knew cafes. The first owner was scared that recharging an ebike battery would cost her heaps. The second cafe was closing. The third was a specialist cafe (Vai Pianino) and owner owned a Tesla - he laughed and pointed to the power outlets on the wall.
Piero bought me a cold drink and local "toastie" but I was in that awful state where my body did not want to eat - even though I needed the energy real bad. Piero and I talked about lots of things: health scares we had, why he was now riding a recumbent instead of MTB, his US friends that he had toured with before, his hope to meet them again, perhaps visit them in US. While preparing this blog entry, I found Piero had written online about his travels with US friends at https://xoomer.virgilio.it/recumbent/piero.htm
Pierro was a champion and deserves good karma! Thanks to also to the host at Vai Pianino!
My second big mistake: I turned down an offer from Julie for the van to pick me up there. I was not thinking straight - been so focussed on getting to the end so much that I failed to recognise the smart thing was to be picked up. It was past cafe closing time, time to leave. The ebike battery was showing 2 bars, and less than 30 km remained. Sounds easy if you forget the laden ebike weight, climbing to do, headwind, heat, and state of the rider - so I resumed my journey.
Most of us were staying at Galeata but Julie and I had booked a bit further along in Pianetto towards Santa Sofia. Easy ride up from Galeata I thought a few weeks earlier :-)
The remaining effort from Meldola was uphill climbing a river valley into a hot headwind. The recharged battery lasted until about 2km uphill from Cusercoli. When it died, I nearly cried. Google Maps said it would take me 4+ hours to walk the remaining distance and Google Maps did not know I had a heavy ebike to push. I turned around and went back downhill to the town. I asked locals where to recharge but they had no English and I had no Italian. They guided me to a car charging point, but there was nowhere to plug the ebike charger in.
I walked and rolled back to the nearby fountain to have a cry.
No accommodation in the town apparently. I called our planned accommodation for the night to say that I was stranded, no idea when I might arrive. Someone offered that Marco the owner and chef could drive over and rescue me. SAVED!
Thank you Marco! A photo of the very kind chef:
A photo of me recovering later that evening at Marco's osteria La Campanara in Pianetto:
