Castello San Pietro

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We made some amazing distance today. From Ponte St Martin (in Valle De Aosta) to Castello St Pietro (just beyond Bologna). The ride was fine at first, via Alessandria rather than Milan, I had been warned about motorways near Milan, best avoided. From Alessandria towards Bologna, 2 lanes at first, light traffic, 120kmph, Slowly more motorways feed in, 3 lanes, 90kmph, then from Parma, 4 lanes and 60kmph. Plus accidents, zero kmph for bits, some nastily trashed trucks, but it looked like dazed truckers rather than anything worse, cannot be sure of course.

Motorway code in Italy. Truckers, 90 to 100 kmph, predictable, though some need to take breaks earlier. Car drivers, the busier the motorway the more crazy they act. When the car drivers are at their worst the best plan is to join the truck lanes and drift along at 95 or so kmph.

Only 2 hours from Ancona now.

Unlike yesterday the ride was not fun. Yesterday was the Alps which was fantastic. Today, the river Po, the northern plains, and crazy driving. More positive, we divested of rain and cold weather clothing. Finally, blue sky, warmth, improving, as we headed east.

Pulled into a hotel in Castello St Pietro. Miles done, well the odometer says 999.8, so that is the first 1,000 done.

Feels good.

As to the planned schedule. Well we are behind what I had hoped. This does not matter.

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Photos

Jumpers not needed
Bike not so shiney