Day 27

Day 27 was one of those funny days where not much riding was done - i wrote the blog in viento vittoro whilst wearing nothing but a body warmer and skin tight trousers - i would normally opt for more formal attire but ollie and i had just had a diet coke moment stripping off all our cloths in a laundrette. the washing and blogging took around 5 hours and by the time we went to get food from a supermarket it was getting dark and we were both feeling anxious about finding somewhere to hide ourselves for the night. whilst ollie found our our supper inside i was approached by two very enthusisatic italiens called luccio and alberto, who took one look at our bikes and wanted to know everything. where were we going? where had we been? how much does it weigh? "complimente"! and crucially - where do you stay? It turned out that luccio had done some cycle touring and had been lucky enough to experience a strangers hosptality, and ollie and i in our helpless state represented his opportunity to live up to all that he had recieved before. he imediately threw himself into pulling strings and sorting us out with somewhrere "flat and green" to camp. before we knew it he had convinced alberto to put our bikes into his station waggon and given him instructions to follow him to the private tennis club! luccio then lepped into his fiat panda and sped off like he was in a warrio cart. we followed with alberto. after 5 minutes of winding back into viento vittoro and out the other side, we found ourselves somewhere that was indeed flat and green. luccio pointed to a sign saying no bikes and said "but for you is ok" and then pointed to where we could put our tent. he left with a promise to return in an hour where upon he would cook us a pasta shoota typical to the region!

when he returned he took us into the private members club where he sometimes helps out. some of the gentlemen, fresh from their games of tennis, looked shocked to see two dishevvled british cyclists in their midst. but luccio soon gained our acceptance - proudly telling them where we were going and that we would be camping opposite court one. he sat us down and a female waitress approached us. she told us what was available to eat and drink in italien and not wishing to feel anymore awkward than i already did i just repeated some of the words that i vaguely recognised and 10 minutes later i had some pasta ragu and a heineken in front of me! i looked in admirration at all of the trophies in the room and studdied the photographs hanging on the wall. an old boy pointed to one of a young tennis impressario and then indicated with a laugh that it was the middle aged man sat to his left. luccios enthusiaism was overwhelming and he examined our maps and reccomended roads. he then leant over the table and under his breath asked if we would like to take a shower. we finished our dinner and followed him into the private members wash room where he whispered "tell no one" and left us to covertly wash in something that resembled the gym changing rooms from south dartmoor community college. as the evening came to an end luccio pulled out the spirits. the grappa was great but i drank the gruesome ginsea in the same manner bruce parry might drink clotted cows blood. as a parting gift he gave us a bottle of homemade proseco. half cut we set off for a deep sleep, once again amazed at a strangers generosity.

Day 28

After a good mornings ride we stopped for a coffee and a cake in a bakery. Had a good chat with two attractive female bakers and thought we did a good job in presenting our machismo - "but why the pyramids" (said in a fair italien accent) "why not" (masculine english voice) "But why!?", "but why not" (with a shrug of the shoulders), "you crazy!". i then decided we had better leave as an expensive bakery is a dangerous place for two poor and hungry cyclists to hang out. so feeling like a great cycling adventurer i got up and left the shop to a series of "chow chow chows" but as i sat upon my trustee steed i lost my balance, failed to release my feet from my foot traps and proceeded to fall flat onto my side from a stationary position. this was all done infront of the shop window and i didnt dare look back to see what the ladies had made of it so i rode on quick with a bruised head/hip/leg/ego!

lunch was was rounded off nicely with luccios prosecco and we rode on towards the seeting sun, camping in some woods by one of the many canals that lead on towards vennice.

Day 29

Had a hard morning fighting a head wind as we rode into Trieste. Had our first sight of the adriatic sea and brewed coffee on a pontoon in a marina full of grand yachts. had to use the internet for the rather sobering task of locatiing the position of minefileds in croatia. the nature of the camping that we do puts us at a higher risk of encountering these disgusting relics of war. we then had great difficulty finding our way into slovenia. we were funnelled onto a motorway and then escaped it as soon as we could - a kind italien man, who was the splitting image of my uncle phil, then offered us a motorcycle escort to the border!

got to go now - not quite up to date with the blog (now in split, day 36) but weve a rather strange accomodation situation, as a 50 year old russian who is meant to be leaving the appartment we have rented has locked himself in the kitchen. ill let you know how this pans out!