Distance 21.8 miles

Ascent 1,785 ft

It is Saturday and everyone was out. The bikers were roaring up and down the roads and meeting up in petrol stations.

We found ourselves in the middle of a cycle event. L’Eroica is a non competitive vintage cycle event where participants are invited to enjoy the beauty of fatigue and the joy of conquest. That is us on a daily basis.

Men in Lycra were repeatedly crossing our path. They waved and cheered us on – clearly impressed by our efforts.

But it has come to our notice that all the cyclists we see are going in the opposite direction to us. The only credible explanation is that we are at the head of the pack cycling in our direction and no one is able to catch up and overtake us. Very satisfying.

We made a detour to the Abbey Di Monte Oliveto Maggiore. The home of the Benedictine monks. We had to do some climbing to get there and it shut 5 minutes after we arrived.

So we listened to the monks doing their Gregorian chanting, had some lunch and then visited the abbey when it reopened.

We have just received a message from last night’s host who is clearly confused that we have the same name. He called us Jean and Mary – our middle names. We are now travelling incognito.

Jean and Mary signing off for the night.

Good night.