Under the Sicilian Sun
Italy (Sicily) Stage 04 – Mazara Del Vallo to Sciacca 67 Km (Fri 25 May 2018)
Weather: 17⁰C min – 25⁰C max, clear and sunny
“How do you define “riding too much”?”
Complementary breakfast at the bar-caffe next to the B&B consisted of a paltry marmalade-filled croissant and a puny cappuccino, barely sufficient to sustain me until I bought three bananas at a roadside fruit truck. Still, it was pleasant enough sitting there observing the groups of old men at the adjacent tables chatting animatedly and with good mateship humour.
For the first couple of Km I cycled along the lovely wide lungomare, dodging the occasional joggers and strolling couples. Then I moved onto a Strada Provincial road that continued alongside the beautiful blue Mediterranean Sea. A number of lone fishermen were fishing from the rocky shoreline. They didn’t appear to be catching anything but, as was I, seemed to be enjoying their solitude and the calming effect of blue sky and mirror-like blue water.
After about 10 Km my routed turned inland through dry, scrubby, fairly unattractive countryside. However, the blueness of the sky and the smooth, flat, road made cycling pleasurable enough. It is just that I was struggling to find any scenery or features worth wasting pixels on.
After about 8 Km of blandness, the scenery became dominated by olive groves on both sides of the road. Further along I came to rich undulating country, with the rolling hillsides covered with a patchwork of light green grapevines and silver-grey olive trees. Some gum trees provided welcome shade when I stopped to eat one of my bananas.
The further I went the more attractive the scenery became. Glorious bougainvilleas and oleanders were a feature again today, lining the roadside for much of the last half of the trip.
The town Sciacca (pronounced “shack-a“) where I am staying tonight is a historic fishing port on the southern coast of Sicily. Whilst not really a tourist town it does have plenty to explore, particularly the beautiful ceramics that it is famous for. For dinner I bought some Sicilian street food, which I ate in the park while watching the large gathering of men playing cards and boules.
Another happy day riding under a beautiful blue sky, which seems to be the norm in Sicily at this time of year.
Very nice photos on your homepage, Kevin. The weather seems to be the way a cyclist wants it. All the best – best regards Rolf
Oh Kev you are in your element with those pastry. How does one defines riding too much MAD!!
However, I am enjoying your photos beautiful! at least I can say I know the place through you photos.
Keep riding but be safe and no more hitting your head!!
“… worth wasting pixels on” – hah! Glad to see you spent your pixels wisely, on tractors, among other things 🙂 Did you challenge the locals to a game of bocce?
The locals looked a bit good for me. One thing I have noticed all over Italy … it is the men who gather in the parks and village squares, presumably their wives are home cooking the evening meal for them.