10th April.
On Easter Sunday, we followed the Po river and arrived in Piacenza where we spent the night in a lovely studio.
11th April
We did a few extra km to find Camping Arizona at Bagni di Tabiano, Province de Parme. Campsites in Italy were not all yet open for the season.
12th April
We headed towards the Apennine mountains for our first real climb. 55km with 12km uphill. +979m. Happy to make it thus far! We stopped for the night at Ostello di Cassio.
13th April
87km. The last climb to Passo della Cisa (1041m) before a long 50km descent and at last we reached the Mediterranean.
14th April We cycled along the Mediterranean and then through the hills where we did a few km with a Belgian couple who left home last November! We found a campsite in the hills near Lucca.
15th April
Camping at the farm, but we didn't see a farm! We woke to heavy rain but luckily it cleared up and it was sunny when we got on the road. We passed through Lucca the main town in the province. Our Belgian friends from yesterday passed by as we were having our picnic.
When we arrived at Castelfiorentino the sky was looking dark. The hotels we contacted were full!
Then a guy on a bike stopped to help. He even phoned around and found us a hotel. But that wasn't all - he guided us on this bike for several km to the hotel! Then the sky opened and it lashed rain!
To add to the adventure, hotel restaurant was closed, but the lady at the bar ordered some pizzas for us and when they were delivered she served them to us in the restaurant!
16th April
77km and a lot of Tuscany hills from Castelfiorentino to Siena where we found a spot in the shade at Camping Colleverde. We decided to stay 2 nights to visit the town.