Day 15 Costigliole Saluzzo to Alba

Apparently Italian mosquitoes find me very tasty and at least one had a whale of a time last night. The ominous whining and the growing dread of back to Covid normality resulted in a restless lack of sleep, so fortunately there were no big mountains left to climb today.
Here is a rather battered Bob ready to roll on his last day of the tour..




The ride started with 30 miles on a flat agricultural plateau, rather like riding in the Cambridgeshire fens but much more humid. The fields of corn were decidedly Italy meets Iowa accompanied by a strong smell of pigs. It may not sound particularly appealing but it enabled by mind to drift into a relaxed, pedalling zone without the need for the legs to have a moan.

The coffee stop was at a petrol station where apparently the regular use of the coffee machine ensures the best cappuccino.

Obviously there had to be a couple of final climbs but although it was very hot, they were a doddle compared to the previous days.



The towns were also a picturesque distraction.





Lunch was in Barolo, where apparently they grow a bit of wine..



The vineyards are immaculate, perfect lines and not a weed to be seen.

We flew down the final descent into Alba where Bob was packed into his bag ready to be entrusted to delightful EasyJet tomorrow. 

Alba is a beautiful town famed for its truffles and the Ferrero factory which makes Nutella and of course my absolutely favourite treat, Ferrero Rocher. Once Bob was packed, I plodded off to explore the town, starting obviously with a large gelato and then the impressive cathedral. 



All that touristing and the need to celebrate this epic trip meant it was time to meet up with Alessandro and Neil for my first alcoholic beer for a month - it went straight to my knees!

This really has been an epic trip in every sense of the word and I feel unbelievably fortunate to have been able to start and complete every mile of road and every foot of climbing. It is hard to describe just what bike touring means to me but there is a Nabokov quote in a book I’m currently reading which does it for me:
‘This capacity to wonder at trifles, these asides of the spirit, these footnotes in the volume of life are the highest forms of consciousness, and it is in this childishly speculative state of mind, so different from common sense and its logic, that we know the world to be good’











Comments

  1. JackNSeptember 25, 2020 at 12:14 PM

    Just catching up on all the great photos and descriptions from Bob's trip. Thanks for taking the time to put all of this together. I was supposed to be there too! Damn you Covid. - Jack

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