Savouring the Moment
Italy (Puglia) Stage 14 – Vieste to Rodi Garganico 43 Km (Wed 16 May 2018)
Weather: 12⁰C min – 21⁰C max, clear and sunny
“Don’t look back … you’re not going that way.” ~ Unknown
Days like this are all about opening up the senses and savouring every precious moment … blue sky, easy riding on smooth roads, a string of elegant resorts, camping grounds, lido bars, restaurants, limestone cliffs providing a lovely backdrop to the blueness of the Adriatic Sea, natural bushland with all sorts of wonderful vegetation in varying shades of green, birds tweeting happily, the sound of waves lapping gently against the sandy shore, cows grazing contentedly.
While taking a rest half way up a 200 m climb, a friendly Bavarian cyclist by the name of Josef stopped and chatted, then we rode together for a while towards Rodi – until another spectacular vista compelled me to stop to take a photo.
A little further along the road I came to a roadside stall selling local produce. I sampled the olives, and had to buy. I sampled the cheese, and had to buy. I sampled the cherries, and had to buy. My panniers can hold no more so I bid arrivederci and continued on my way.
And then I came to the whitewashed town of Peschici perched high on a hilltop overlooking the sea. Wow! What an immaculate, pristine, picture postcard perfect, town if ever there was one! Wheeling my bike around the cobbled laneways, I explored every nook and cranny of this incredibly beautiful little town. Eventually, after a gelato and cappuccino, I reluctantly dragged myself away.
Booking.com messaged me to say my host always has a siesta between 2 pm and 4 pm (as most Apulians do) so I put my foot down and arrived at Rodi Garganico just before 2 pm. Again, communication was a problem, but somehow I managed to establish that breakfast will be 8 am to 9:30 am, found a secure place to leave my bicicletta (in the dining room), and most importantly the wi-fi password. What more could I possibly need to know?
Rodi Garganico is a small town and, while the beaches may be the big attraction, there is much more to discover. So that is exactly what I am going to do right now. But first my lunch awaits … olives, cheese and cherries. Ciao!
Please watch the cheese! Clear and sunny but cannot have a Italian swim. Anyway ride on and be safe!
Oooh – I hope you enjoyed your yummy lunch! Love the cows and calves 🙂 Enjoyed the translation of the graffiti: “It is possible to make a country wonderful if you have a wonderful, beautiful and strong heart more than anything else”. Almost as good as the animals’ dreaming of snacks graffiti 🙂 In the chilly Sydney Winter, I can almost feel the Mediterranean warmth through your photos.
Thanks for the translation – wonderful. You have to watch the video of me riding through the heard of cows just to hear their bells ring!