1958 Bianchi, Lario. Campione d’ Italia

[cyclingday]

First morning in Manarola.

Our Sentry keeping watch, to make sure that nothing moves.
I wonder if Italian Cats speaks a different language than our Cats at home?

 

[juvela]

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with your arrival the population of Manarola soared from its permanent three hundred fifty-three to a staggering temporary three hundred fifty-five


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[cyclingday]

While out hiking about, I came across these two familiar Sonoran Desert Fan Palms.

Made me feel right at home.

But the flag on the pole told a different story.

What’s amazing about this picture, is that there’s a railroad that runs inside those cliffs all the way to Genoa.
It was built and completed in the 1870’s, and is an engineering marvel.
The only downside, is that when you take the train from village to village, you’re riding in a tunnel the whole way.
The only time you see the ocean is for brief glimpses when it passes from one tunnel to the next.
Phenomenal construction project for that time period.

There’s a storm coming in tonight that seemed to have the town hunkering down.
An Orange Alert was issued, so everything will be closed tomorrow.
We bought enough groceries and Focaccia sandwiches to last us a week, so we should be good to go.
They mentioned a flood here back in 2011 that I vaguely remembered seeing on the news when it happened, that had everyone taking no chances.
I think the main problem with these villages, is that they are all built where a creek flows into the ocean.
So the towns sprouted up along both sides of the creek, so since space is such a hot commodity, they just built a deck over the creek that became the Main Street of the town.
I figured that could be a big problem if the creek ever flooded, so I looked up the flood from 2011, and sure enough, that’s what happened.
The road deck fails, and the whole town gets inundated with sand and gravel.

I don’t expect anything too crazy, but if you’ve got to get stuck someplace, this wouldn’t be a bad place for it to happen.
Although I’m sure I’d have a different outlook if I have to dig my way out of 13 feet of sand and gravel.
Let’s hope for sunny days ahead.

 

[juvela]

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...be the booted thing-a-ma-jig on the left in the photo one of those coin operated telescopes?...

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[cyclingday]

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View attachment 2117036

...be the booted thing-a-ma-jig on the left in the photo one of those coin operated telescopes?...

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I believe it was?
But, I never checked it out to make sure.

 

[cyclingday]

Today offered us the opportunity to just relax and be thankful that we didn’t have to go anywhere.
So, rest we did, and study the itinerary for the next leg of the trip.
Tomorrow we head for Rome.
Weather permitting of course.
So far no sign of any significant flooding.
On a sad note, I woke up to learn of Irio Tommasini’s passing.
As we were looking at the maps in planning for this trip, I could see that one of the stops on our route to Rome, was going to be in Grosseto.
So, I debated whether we could take the time for a visit to the shop where Tommasini bicycles were made?
But figuring we’d be traveling with all the luggage in tow, I thought it would be best to just pass through with my thoughts of the great bicycles made there, and be content with that.
But, as it turned out, the shop most likely would’ve been closed tomorrow anyway, with the passing of their family patriarch.

Kind of through pure luck and being in the right place at the right time, I was able to acquire a circa 1992 Tommasini Diamanté that won me over from the first time I laid eyes on it.
It didn’t hurt that it’s my size, red is my favorite color and that the paint on this bike is gorgeous, unlike most of the other Italian brand bikes of that era.

It was love at first sight, so it is with great sadness to learn that the man whose signature is on the frame, has passed away.
Reposa in Pace, Signore Tommasini.

 

[dnc1]

View attachment 2117508
Today offered us the opportunity to just relax and be thankful that we didn’t have to go anywhere.
So, rest we did, and study the itinerary for the next leg of the trip.
Tomorrow we head for Rome.
Weather permitting of course.
So far no sign of any significant flooding.
On a sad note, I woke up to learn of Irio Tommasini’s passing.
As we were looking at the maps in planning for this trip, I could see that one of the stops on our route to Rome, was going to be in Grosseto.
So, I debated whether we could take the time for a visit to the shop where Tommasini bicycles were made?
But figuring we’d be traveling with all the luggage in tow, I thought it would be best to just pass through with my thoughts of the great bicycles made there, and be content with that.
But, as it turned out, the shop most likely would’ve been closed tomorrow anyway, with the passing of their family patriarch.
View attachment 2117511

View attachment 2117512

View attachment 2117514

View attachment 2117515

View attachment 2117516
Kind of through pure luck and being in the right place at the right time, I was able to acquire a circa 1992 Tommasini Diamanté that won me over from the first time I laid eyes on it.
It didn’t hurt that it’s my size, red is my favorite color and that the paint on this bike is gorgeous, unlike most of the other Italian brand bikes of that era.
View attachment 2117523

View attachment 2117525

View attachment 2117532
It was love at first sight, so it is with great sadness to learn that the man whose signature is on the frame, has passed away.
Reposa in Pace, Signore Tommasini.

A beautifully made bike and a fitting tribute.

That rain also put paid to the men's 'Tre Valli Varesine' race today, Was going to watch it this afternoon, but saw it being stopped due to safety protocols.
The women's version got away with it, being staged earlier in the day.

Looking forward to see if Pogacar can cap his amazing season with 'Il Lombardia' at the weekend, but I'm going to have to make do with the evening highlights.

 

[cyclingday]

That rain also put paid to the men's 'Tre Valli Varesine' race today, Was going to watch it this afternoon, but saw it being stopped due to safety protocols.
The women's version got away with it, being staged earlier in the day.

Looking forward to see if Pogacar can cap his amazing season with 'Il Lombardia' at the weekend, but I'm going to have to make do with the evening highlights.

I saw a video of that on Eurosport last night, and it looked like it took awhile for the riders to finally talk the officials into calling off the race.
I liked seeing Tadej take charge and being the spokesperson for the riders to talk some sense into the officials.
That was a great scene when they all finally came to an agreement and then gave eachother a hug.
That’s how it’s done, and the World Champ rose to the occasion.
Love that guy!
Today was a travel day, so spent most of it hustling through train stations.
We did stop in Grosseto, and it looks like a very nice place to hang out and ride bikes for a few days.
One of the most beautiful towns we saw along the way.
Rome is exactly the way I expected it would be.
Vibrant and alive with activity.
We’ll do a little exploring this afternoon, but most of the big stuff we’ll save for later in the week, as tomorrow we’re going on an all day tour of Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

The only picture I got today, was this run over soccer ball from the cab ride, on the way to the hotel.
Just thought it was poignant.
Keep rolling or you’ll get flattened.

 

[juvela]

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Roma -

you might wish to make pilgrimage to Cicli Lazzaretti whilst in town

at last report it was yet in operation...

Cicli Lazzaretti Roma

www.ciclilazzaretti.it

some of their house branded machines were done by Galmozzi back in the day...
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[cyclingday]

Thanks!
I’ll look into that.
We took a walk around the block, ate some Spaghetti Carbonara and stumbled onto this gem.

WOW!
It’s funny when you see one of these iconic places for the first time, how the surroundings are nothing like what you had pictured in your mind.
I thought the Trevi Fountain was out in an open plaza with plenty of space around it.
But the reality, is that it’s tucked away in a back alley, and shoe horned in amongst all the other buildings.
You wouldn’t even know it was there, if it wasn’t such a high interest tourist destination.
Fortunately we got there in the evening, and it seemed like the crowds were lighter than they would’ve been mid day.
But still, a pretty confined space to try and fit what seems like half the population of the World.
The lady in the Cannoli shop said they were going to construct some type of bridge so they can charge something like 10 Euros to see it, in an attempt to alleviate some of the over crowding.
I don’t think it will alleviate anything except 10 Euros from tourists pockets.
But, they will make a fortune.
Just hope that what ever they do, it doesn’t detract from the extreme beauty of this magnificent statuary.