Campagnano to Rome

Spending your 57th birthday cycling into Rome after 30 days of pedalling 1947.5 miles from London is perhaps not typical behaviour, but I’m feeling rather pleased with myself (also completely knackered!)

It was ‘only’ 31 miles today but the legs had 4 last hill batterings. Katie was still concerned about the state of her bike chain so flew past everyone up the steepest hill - I think a few egos were damaged!

I spent the first half of the ride promising myself that I would never again do a group ride into a city but then we got onto a bike path and it became much more enjoyable.

When we got to the hotel, there was fizz to celebrate the end of the trip before the fun job of bike packing.

After a quick clean up for me, Bob the bike is festering filthy in his bag, we set off to find food. The hotel is in Trastevere, a neighbourhood with beautiful buildings, bustling streets and numerous places to eat and drink.

Donkey Punch is a build your own sandwich shop that Alison recommended from a previous visit, it was an absolutely delicious sarnie, followed of course by a gelato. 

We are now back in the hotel room, horizontally planning our two days in Rome. Tonight is the final group dinner at Tiberino, a restaurant on an island in the Tiber river. We have tickets for the Vatican and Sistine Chapel for tomorrow afternoon and a long list of other tourist stuff to tick off. 

It always feels discombobulating to finish a long trip like this and the fatigue really kicks in when you finally stop pedalling. It has been another amazing experience and I have loved sharing eight days of it with Katie (her bottom may not agree that it was enjoyable!)

I need to start planning my 60th birthday…