The sun we’ve been searching for arrived in full force, so we set off under clear blue skies for our 60km bicycle ride from Ferrara to Bologna. Choosing to ride sans bike helmet, AW’s only concern was the risk of sunburn through ever-thinning hair, but as luck would have it he procured a stylish berretto from the tiny hamlet of Marrara. Only later the folly of neglecting arms and legs from the full force of the sun become apparent. While not the swarthiest of chaps, it surprised even AW just how burnt one can get under the Ferranese sun. Consider the lesson learnt. Ouch.
Along the way we found wild mint growing along roadside edges, sturdy steel bridges enabling our traversing of tributaries of the Po and Fiume respectively, super-highways with truck upon truck upon truck to be avoided, and a communist hamlet in Ponticelli – proudly displaying their flags and banners in readiness for the revolution. Comrades MacHunter and Wear dutifully consumed revolutionary gelati so as to line their bellies for the pending and very radical bierra at Parco di Via dei Giardini. The proletariat have never been so ready – for a nap.
But press ahead we must. After all, navigation along quiet country roads was much easier and the flat roads made for faster cycling. We should easily make Bologna by 3:00, right? However, as the day progressed so came the southerly winds. Thus, in combination with temperatures hitting high 20s and a few short(long)cuts via frightening merri-go-rounds of semi-trailers, it looked more like a 4:00 arrival.
Getting through Bologna centre was pretty easy with bicycle lanes to follow and our accommodation was now tantalisingly close…just the small matter of climbing to 250 metres for the final two kilometers. The bemused looks we got from locals walking by suggested cycling was not common along this route. We are starting to get used to this look. Indeed, we only lasted about 200 metres before dismounting to walk the remaining distance. And then we arrived. Oh, and how we had arrived.
Ajax travels 