Siena

Our day started as usua, breakfast and on the road by 10:00 am. Our final destination for the day was going to be mostly all off road with a little stop at another hillside town.

The trail was dry, dusty narrow for the first 10 miles. Again, fist sized rocks for the most part, ride a bit, walk a bit. As we walked we talked about how the cars and trucks were the problem chopping up the road. Just then we saw an SUV making its way up hill on the trail, stalling as it went. 

Remember that the camera flattens out the actual view. This was very steep.

After a while the trail became a bit more rideable. Grass fields with vineyards of white grapes this time with great views of the country side.

We have had a mix of just about every trail surface this trip except for mud. Perfect weather every day.

Shade when we need it and just enough sun to makes things nice.

Our last look back at San Gimignano.

The hill top towns can be seen for miles away. It has happened more then once. We see the castle or town and as we get closer, we decide let's not ride up there. The next thing we know the trail has us looking down at the spot. 

Today's hill top town Monteriggioni. The last 200 yards, we pushed the bike. We met a lovely couple slowly talking their time coming down the very steep and slippery road. So nice to meet folks along the way. We had a great chat, gave them our card and continued the climb. The last bit was the hardest. Slippery rock road, we made it to the top and were pleased to see that there were very few tourists. It wasn't until we left that we saw the reason for so few tourists was that the parking lot was about 3/4 of a mile below.

Cute town, we were able to get our passports stamped and move on.

At that time it was 4:00. We could see that we had a choice of 20k off road or hit the street for the last 12 miles. We took the street so we could get in at a decent time and not in the dark.

A full day off tomorrow. A day off the bike and a chance to really see a town that both Barbara and I had never been to.

The last bit of road was all up hill. Finding the hotel was a bit of a challenge, but with a mix of walking and riding one way streets the wrong way. We found our stop for the day.