Day 454 – Vassali to Varazze

Dat 454                                                  17th October

48 miles (Vassali to Varazze) Average speed 10.9 mph Top speed 35 mph

A good day back on the bike.

I got up at 5.30 to say goodbye to Andy, went back to bed and got up again at 8.30. I had brekkie of steak, fried egg and fried potatoes and onions with tea. Then I packed, locked up and turned off the water and boiler. As Andy had driven the route yesterday I knew what to expect, which was 40 minutes of climbing 3 miles until I reached the church at Todocco where I used the public facilities and got rid of the rubbish before setting off on the downward run.

I stopped to admire the views and have a drink at the driveway to a house where a lady was sweeping leaves. She said hi and then a Moroccan van arrived with a roof rack which didn’t quite fit under the bridge to the house. I didn’t take any photos as I felt they had enough problems with the van stuck without me taking the Michael!

Then it was a great run down through the changing valleys as the rock formations changed to a grey colour of almost shingle.

I stopped just after Cairo Montenotte to get some Coke at a Lidl, then went through a long tunnel and needed my rear light on. There was broken glass on the side of the road for about 5 miles. I’m not sure how it came about, but it was as if a lorry had been pouring glass onto the hard shoulder. I stopped in a side road to turn off the light and a woman came out of her house to moan at me in Italian. I waved the miserable cow Caio and carried on but there was another tunnel around the corner. I didn’t turn on the light as there was too much glass on the road but it wasn’t very long and bright enough to see me. I was looking for a good luncheon spot but there weren’t any good places so I carried on and then hit the main downslope all the way to the coast. It was a brilliant road and I was going as fast as the cars ahead and even had to brake to avoid going into the back of them at times.

As I arrived in Savona it was exciting to see the sea again and I was surprised to see so many people on the beaches. I am sure most were holiday makers as most Italians have been dressed in coats and scarves lately.

I found a good spot for lunch which went out into the sea and enjoyed a ham and cheese sarnie, and a steak and mustard one too, with crisps, all of which were leftovers from the weekend. I do like leftovers! I found a campsite but it was closed, the second one wanted 15€ and expected me to climb up about a hundred steps, it was also full of British travellers so I swerved that one and carried on till I found Sole Camping half way up a hill. I was pleased to find it by chance, as I’d just tried to get down to the cycle path by the sea and was faced with either taking the bike down a 100 steps or going back up the hill I’d just gone down. I chose the hill and was rewarded by this campsite. I checked in, had a beer and went into town for supplies, before returning for more leftovers of veal stew cooked by Andy with potatoes. I tried to follow Orient’s progress in the FA cup, but no websites had up to date scores, so I had to rely on texts from the game. I was in bed by 10 and enjoyed a good nights sleep.

 

I would just like to say a big thank you to Andy Groom for a wonderful weekend in his fabulous house in the Italian Hills! He made me so welcome and drove me everywhere to give my legs a rest.  I forgot to mention the fact he supplied me with copious amounts of beer and wine and even turned out to be a great cook. I’m still enjoying his culinary skills tonight as I enjoy the sunset with veal stew!

I’m now camping in Varazze and it’s good to be back by the sea even if the prices reflect seaside resorts. Only 20 miles to Genova where I get the ferry to Morocco on Saturday so I can take it easy for a few days.

 

 

 

Camping Sole 15€.

Good showers and wifi.