The first part towards today’s intermediate goal, L’Aquila goes downhill, on a mix of tarmac and gravel and rolls by quite quickly. After 55 km, I take my lunch break near an old water driven mill. The day is already getting hot and when I vet going again, it is in the full midday heat. But that doesn’t matter, because for once, I’ve got a tailwind and smooth roads up to L’Aquila.
The town is quite impressive. The damage from the massive earthquake in 2009 is still visible in many places that are either still being renovated or are held together by temporary measures, but much is still intact oralready repaired and the many churches and palaces are quite beautiful. Also, there are many parks scattered all overI start withbthe Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio with its intricate facade, then criss-cross through the city centre and finish up at the Castello, a massive fortress that sits at one end of the old city.
Certainly not enough time to see everything, but perhaps a bike-less visit is in order sometime.
The way out of tbe city is slightly more adventurous than necessary. I try to avoid the big roads and my navigation leads me over the smallest of field paths below the highways. But I do make it out eventually and find my way to Sasso and the entrance to the Corno valley. After a medium climb, a fantastic downhill awaits. No breaking necessary for 10 kilometres. The next part towards my goal Rieti is also quite fast, until I follow my navigations directions off the relatively busy road and into a field road into nowhere. After quite some navigating, I find myself in Rieti, a town that has useful bike paths along the river.
But I find no good place to camp and continue on for a bit longer until. night falls and I find a spot with the frogs and fireflies.
175 km, (oops), 1700 m ascent