Train to Venice

Today is a travel day, so we leave Riccione, and the comforts of Hotel Dory with all meals provided, go an hour and a half to Bologna, change trains, and head north to Venice.

Here are a few more photos from our week at the bike hotel:

The road bike Brad used

White grapes on the vine

At the farm on Monday, the owner showed us the hut where the balsamic vinegar ages in barrels.  They use these white grapes - it takes about three days to boil up all the grapes, then they go into barrels - every year they're moved to a barrel made of a different wood.  He let us each taste a few drops of 26 year old Balsamic vinegar, which was sweet!  It's used on strawberries, cheese, fish and meat - never on bread or salad - it's too good for that!

The Roman arch and gate into the city of Rimini; the road from Rome leads right here and through the town

Bike & boat

It was warmer today than it's been all week; it got up to 26C, so it was great to get on a boat and feel the ocean breezes.

My small group of 10 non-cyclists set off in the van to the next town,  to get on a boat, motor along the coast and pick up the folks on their bikes.  The cyclists had set off earlier and would meet us for the trip back.

We get on the boat around noon

Brad's group stops to admire the view

They stopped for coffee at a bike cafe

And look who was inside - what's Rusty doing here?

The bikes are loaded onto the boat

Bikes on the front

Bikes at the stern

Almost everyone sat up top - we were served chilled white wine and grilled sardines

The wine was great, the sardines... hmmm not so much!  It was a great outing though, and a short 65 km ride for the cyclists.  A great last day!

Pasta lesson + wine tasting

A group of us went to a pasta making lesson at the hotel this morning.  It was fun!  The chef had mixed the dough already, and first showed us how to roll out the gnocchi.  Then we each got to try rolling pieces into long strands with the flat of our hands, and cut it into one inch pieces.

Next we were shown how to form strozzapreti - it looks quite simple and to make the dough you just combine flour, water, salt and pepper.  Our chef used a big rolling pin to get the dough quite thin, then he cut inch wide strips, which we first pulled thinner, then twisted and pulled off three inch pieces.  We came away with recipes.  Now to try it at home!

Twisting the dough to make strozzapreti

At noon six of us went by van to a farmhouse and winery to meet the cyclists for a wine tasting and lunch.  We sat outside at long tables.  Afterwards the owner and vintner showed us where they process the grapes and talked about the stages of winemaking.

The long tables set for our lunch 

We learn about the process

Brad moves back to take a picture of the group and I take one of him

A visit to Rimini

We were a group of six: two Canadians (us) and four people from South Africa, visiting the ancient town of Rimini.  Ancient as in it was occupied by Romans in 268 BC, and there's evidence of Etruscans living there before that.  There's a good Encyclopedia Britannica article HERE if you're interested in more detail.

Our guide, Giovani, was born in the area and knows a lot of the history.  We went into several churches, and in one I saw something different: no little candles!

Put your coin in the slot, then flick the switch to turn on the electric light!

The old Roman bridge built in the first century AD

Giovani points to a Fellini mural

Italian film director Federico Fellini was born in Rimini, and scenes from his films are painted on the sides of buildings in one area of the city.  The Rimini tourism website has a list of places in the city with a connection to Fellini or his films, and has included the murals.

Then it was time for gelato... - delizioso!

City bike ride / road bike hill climb

Brad is in the second fastest group called Cappuccino (the really fast group is Cappuccino Super which is intense).  Today they did a long ride, so left an hour earlier than usual.

I borrowed a city bike from the hotel and rode along the waterfront bike path.

Hotels and beach umbrellas as far as the eye can see

Some hotels have their own patch of sand; sadly ours doesn't but we can get into one for a fee

Meanwhile Brad and his group were on narrow, winding and steep mountain roads, watching for hazards such as cracks and holes in the pavement.  They did a total of 102 kms and from Riccione, which is at sea level, they climbed to an elevation of 1293 meters.

Today's route for B's group; it's posted every evening above the signup sheet in the bike room

This poor fellow had 3 flats in one day

The rest of the group waits while the flat tire is fixed

Riding in Riccione

We arrived last evening in pouring rain, which didn't bode well for cycling, but today we had blue sky and warm temperatures.  Brad rode in one of four groups, who all arrived at the Dory Hotel owners parents' farm in time for a BBQ lunch.  Non cyclists like myself arrived by mini van to join them.

The view Brad's group had on the climb up to San Marino

They stopped for coffee and gelato 

Brad arrives at the farm - they rode 62 km with an elevation gain of 1006 meters

Travel day

Today we go by car to the Munich airport - Stephanie and Claudia have very kindlÿ offered to drive us - then we fly to Bologna, Italy, take a train to Riccione, and a taxi to Hotel Dory, the famous "bike hotel" - well pretty famous with Brad's cycling friends back home!

Here are a few more photos from our excellent visit with our friends:

One of the horses Claudia's daughter rides

Figure on the bridge looking to see how construction on the cathedral was going - the builders were competing!

If you touch this wee fellow carved on a wall in Regensburg, you'll never be as poor as a church mouse!