Tour de Umbria

We woke up this morning with a view of the vineyards through the window of our room. Wow.

After a breakfast of bread and eggs, we decided to do something a bit different and bike to Assisi. We had two options for bikes, we could either hire some from the bike hire place for 20 euros a day each, or take the bikes from the hostel for free. We took the later.

After planning our route to find the bike path, we set off towards Bevagna, and then onwards towards Cannara where we thought we would pick up the path. We found the river and started following it through fields of sunflowers, corn, and old farm buildings. It was incredible. This may have contributed to us missing the bike path and heading through someones farm on gravel tracks. The tracks got steadily worse until we got to a river and could go no further,

although we could see Cannara. This meant another 5km of scenic biking back the way we came to find the path. The biking was alot easier after that.....

We finally made it to Cannara and stopped for a much needed Coca Cola, before heading for the last part of the path towards Assisi. At this point, the clouds in the sky were getting seriously dark. About 5km from Assisi the thunder started, followed closely by some spectacular lightning. Just as it started to pour with rain, we found a bridge to hide under. Assisi disappered in the clouds. As the rain eased, Crom got hopeful and we started to bike again, before it stared raining again and the lightning started landing around us. It was at this point we decided to turn around to try and outrun the storm.

This was a pretty spectacular ride, for the sound of the thunder and the lightning landing all around the valley. It was amazing, but kind of scary. Luckly we seemed to outrun the storm and made it back to Cannara for some lunch. We found the local bar/restaurant and joined the locals watching the bridge being resealed. Hilarious that this was such an event! It seemed like the whole town was out and from driving on the roads around here I can see why it would be a big deal!

Once back on the bike we managed to outrun the storm as it moved around the valley. It was a relief to make it back home and get some water. About half an hour later the storm caught up with us, the heavens opened and it stormed all night.

Sometimes being a bit lucky is better than overplanning.