If you would like to see details about our journey, check out our itinerary and our bike route.
We woke up to sunny skies, mid-70s temperatures, and a fantastic breakfast in the B&B. We got an early start, coasting downhill through Genga on the highway, past the caves and sanctuary, then down along the river on the old highway with no traffic. After going through stone barriers onto a bike-and-pedestrian-only path, we passed a few other bikers and hikers coming from the other direction. We curved around a huge construction project, where workers were rebuilding the main highway. The segregated bike path ended at another locked gate--but we know how to handle locked gates. This one we just had to duck under.
The whole first 25 miles, we went through farm fields and tiny hamlets with no services. We passed a couple of bars that were not open. We had previewed the route and expected this, so we brought along a picnic lunch. We stopped in a tiny village with a church and a few houses, and a little park overlooking the valley. There we sat on a bench, eating our lunch. A black Audi pulled in, and an older man and woman got out and walked around the park, holding arms, the man pointing to different houses and the church and talking to the woman. They stopped and the man explained (we think) that he was from the village and that was his church, and it was a beautiful, quiet place. We all waved and wished each other a good day as they left.
A few miles later, we got our first look at the Adriatic, and from then on, we were on the secondary highway to Ancona, passing through suburbs and towns with lots of bustle and traffic.
Following our navigation maps carefully, we wove through busy Ancona and up to our apartment in a quiet neighborhood about half a mile from a parkway with shops and restaurants and frequent buses to the beaches.
Ken and I checked in and showered, and Meghan arrived in time to look for dinner. We were all a little tired and not in the mood for decision making. We ended up at the supermarket, where we each picked out dinner from the deli, plus a few things for breakfast the next day. After a quiet meal at the table in our dining room, we all felt a little better and got ourselves to bed.
 |
| Locked gate; nessun problema. |
 |
| Lunch. |
 |
| The Adriatic. |
