Ciclitalia 2017 - a two week ride from Palermo in Sicily to Como in Lombardia starts today. After arriving late last night and a hairy taxi ride from the airport, I'm still awake early. Leaning out of the widow of the B&B, I watch the swallows (or maybe they're swifts) zooming in, around and over the backstreet. They chirrup and squawk as they chase each other around, much as the eleven riders do as we sort out the bikes and load bags onto the van.
We finally roll out of Palermo at 10:00 after sorting out the group shot by the marina. Once we'd negotiated the traffic to the outskirts of Palermo, (at least the Italian drivers are predictably unpredictable) the day settled into steady riding along the beautiful northern coast road of Sicily.
It's lovely day. It's the culmination of months of planning and logistics, but other than for the fact were all riding on our classy azzuri blue Ciclitalia kit, you'd think it an unremarkable day. There's relaxed chatting, coffee stops and the inevitable puncture or two, but it's just a typical ride with old friends and new. The hot sunshine is moderated by the breeze of cruising along and unfamiliar sights and sounds spark the conversation.
All in all an unremarkably remarkable day; free to enjoy all the pleasures of riding a bike. It certainly bodes well for the next 14 days.
Palermo to Santo Stefano di Camastro
70 miles, 2700ft, 16.6mph avg.
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