Distance. 40.1 miles

Temperature 28 degrees

A day we won’t forget in a hurry. Kevin reports that our 23 mile journey will take us 1 hour 40 minutes. We arrive at our accommodation at 19.10 having cycled 40 miles.

Cycling to and from the out of town shops was an experience. Drivers double and triple parking, stopping right in front of us, parking on corners or indeed anywhere to pop to a shop. The separate cycle lanes are used by those with walking aids and shopping trolleys. Electric scooters abandoned. It took us an hour to do three miles.

We finally made it through and started to climb out of Taranto. Kevin took us past an industrial park and straight onto the motorway. Ooops! We had to turn around and are becoming expert at cycling the wrong way down the road. We don’t think anyone noticed.

Back to the port and we climb out of Taranto once more. After that a day of misrouting. Dead ends, dual carriage ways, tiny streets, mountain bike routes and so much more.

In all the excitement we lose each other. I could see Alison on Find my Friends and she was 52 minutes away. How did that happen?We cycle separately to a meeting point and an hour later I see Alison pass behind me calling a stranger by my name. Heat exhaustion, dehydration or are we need new glasses?

Then a short climb up the hill and we try to work out the self check-in.

Not our finest day. But tomorrow we have just 23 miles to do. Matera by lunchtime? We hope so.

Good night.