Rose Pedals . . .: A Rainy Start to a Beautiful Day

Monday, May 2, 2016
Piegaro to Sorano 45 miles
3,888 feet of climbing

Well, our luck dodging the rain ran out this morning. It poured all night and was still raining pretty steadily when we were getting ready to leave. Because we had no internet, we were unable to check the forecast, but rumor had it that the rain was going to pass some time after 9 a.m., and we would meet dry conditions as we headed to our destination town, Sorano. And that is exactly how it happened. We donned our rain gear and headed out around 9:00, and rode in light rain for the first 12 miles or so. Our route consisted of three distinct climbs, with rolling terrain in between. As usual, beautiful scenery throughout. At mile 22, we took a cappuccino break in a little town called Aquapendente. The owner of the cafe was also a cyclist, and came out to talk to us about our ride. Even with the language barrier, we were able to have a short but meaningful conversation. For the latter half of the ride, we rode with blue sky and sunshine, and the temperature rose to a pleasant comfortable 63 degrees. Plus, the climbing and the rolling hills kept us plenty warm. We arrived at our lodging fairly early - around 1:30. We're staying at an agritourismo - Villaggio Le Querce. I would describe it as a rural motel. Instead of a hotel room, you get a little "apartment," complete with a kitchenette. It's a very peaceful setting outside the town. We had plenty of time in the afternoon to relax and enjoy the setting and the beautiful weather. There was even a hose available, so we washed our bikes. We walked about 1/4 of a mile to a local restaurant for a group dinner. Art & I both had the risotto with asparagus, which was molto delizioso. This was definitely the best weather day of the tour, so far. According to the forecast, the threat of rain is over for the next few days, so, hopefully, we'll be able to pack away the rain gear for the rest of the trip.