Would you do a cheeky 4/5 day bike trip on your Jack Jones?

[gremlin]

Just got into Arezzo now. Checked in, parked the bike in a secure carpark and as I walked back to the hotel there's a guy parking up an MV Agusta Rivale. In Italian I told him it was a fantastic looking bike. He asked if I was English, then we chatted for a good 15 minutes in perfect English, which hd told me he got from living near London, in a place called Chislehurst, which is about 10 minutes from where I live. He used to work in a restaurant I have been in a few times.
How fuckkng weird is that?!

[gremlin]

Arezzo - why is this town not better known to tourists? It's interesting, vibrant, has plenty to see.

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[gremlin]

Plus, nice views, cracking cheese and great beer...

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[gremlin]

Truffle cheese and honey.

Nom, nom and then some more nom....

[gremlin]

Arezzo again. Deffo worth a visit if the opportunity arises.

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The sun is shining, so back to Florence to drop the bike back and be pedestrian once again.

[Yorick]

How many miles you done?

[gremlin]

How many miles you done?

Just shy of 800km, according to the paperwork.

The trip from Arezzo to Florence isn't far at all, c.60km, but by taking the old route, it took me nigh on three hours ,including a quick coffee and comfort break, due to the winding roads. They were pretty damned good on the way this morning, one section just a series of sweeping bends. I was tempted to stop and take a photo, but decided to just enjoy the moment.

Bar the Breaking of the Panniers incident, it's been a really good trip. I'd heartily recommend this part of the world for a bike trip. The roads, scenery, interesting stops all come together. Even the weather has perked up.

[Noggin]

Loving this. I've just looked at the map and Arezzo is probably a two day ride next summer. But I'm tempted!! LOL

[Yorick]

Loving this. I've just looked at the map and Arezzo is probably a two day ride next summer. But I'm tempted!! LOL

Don't go anywhere near him in a restaurant. He'll snaffle yer nosh.

[Noggin]

Loving this. I've just looked at the map and Arezzo is probably a two day ride next summer. But I'm tempted!! LOL

Don't go anywhere near him in a restaurant. He'll snaffle yer nosh.

I wasn't expecting him to still be there!!

[gremlin]

New best friends: Ginny and Ron from Indiana. Struck up a conversation over dinner in a cheap pizza restaurant. Ron, by his own admission, goes cheap! Both in their late 70s and just the nicest people. Travelled extensively, like to meet interesting, intellectual, well-traveled individuals. And morons like me as well, luckily.

Now having a third beer in a proper beer bar playing heavy rock (not with Ginny and Ron, you'll be relieved to hear). Barman knows his beers and keeps shoving them my way, the cheeky scally.

[Yorick]

New best friends: Ginny and Ron from Indiana. Struck up a conversation over dinner in a cheap pizza restaurant. Ron, by his own admission, goes cheap! Both in their late 70s and just the nicest people. Travelled extensively, like to meet interesting, intellectual, well-traveled individuals. And morons like me as well, luckily.

Now having a third beer in a proper beer bar playing heavy rock (not with Ginny and Ron, you'll be relieved to hear). Barman knows his beers and keeps shoving them my way, the cheeky scally.

Woo hoo. Free pizza

[gremlin]

Not free. 9 euros, but bloody good. Had half a litre of red wine that took the enamel off me teeth, and a tiramisu to die for.

Introduced Ginny and Ron to amaro, the herbal digestivo beloved by Italians. I don't think they'll be taking a bottle home....

Ginny did insist on a photo of me and Ron to show the kids 'the charming English guy' that they met on vacation. Bless.

[Yorick]

Not free. 9 euros, but bloody good. Had half a litre of red wine that took the enamel off me teeth, and a tiramisu to die for.

Introduced Ginny and Ron to amaro, the herbal digestivo beloved by Italians. I don't think they'll be taking a bottle home....

Ginny did insist on a photo of me and Ron to show the kids 'the charming English guy' that they met on vacation. Bless.

They'll put it on the fireplace to keep the kids away

[weeksy]

Ginny did insist on a photo of me and Ron to show the kids 'the charming English guy' that they met on vacation. Bless.

Did you get to meet him too?

[gremlin]

Ginny did insist on a photo of me and Ron to show the kids 'the charming English guy' that they met on vacation. Bless.

Did you get to meet him too?

Fuck off. I'm right fucking cultured, me.

[Yorick]

Ginny did insist on a photo of me and Ron to show the kids 'the charming English guy' that they met on vacation. Bless.

Did you get to meet him too?

Fuck off. I'm right fucking cultured, me.

Have you become your wife?

[gremlin]

Oi. You can go off people reet quick, you know.

[dosruedas]

I spent a month in Spain on my tod, basically doing a circumnavigation of the country. I really enjoyed it and importantly for me at the time, I found I spent time talking to locals and polishing my internet Spanish, which I don't do when travelling in a group. I did spend a couple of nights with different Spanish people I had met on Skype whilst trying to learn Spanish. Along the way, I chatted with fishermen, a coal miner, farmers, an engineer, a couple of policemen, people in bars and hotel folk. It was educational, interesting and fun. I also received many good suggestions for places to see and roads to ride that would have escaped my attention otherwise.

[Yorick]

I spent a month in Spain on my tod, basically doing a circumnavigation of the country. I really enjoyed it and importantly for me at the time, I found I spent time talking to locals and polishing my internet Spanish, which I don't do when travelling in a group. I did spend a couple of nights with different Spanish people I had met on Skype whilst trying to learn Spanish. Along the way, I chatted with fishermen, a coal miner, farmers, an engineer, a couple of policemen, people in bars and hotel folk. It was educational, interesting and fun. I also received many good suggestions for places to see and roads to ride that would have escaped my attention otherwise.

Bienvenido hombre

Dos ruedos bien.