Hotel Capitani in Montalcino (see Thompsons and Barton’s at breakfast) is an excellent hotel in this very hilly town. The view (right) from our hotel room looks like it’s the top of the world. We looked over a fog gradually lifting from the valley this morning. But we’re at the we’re at the bottom of the town and every place we walk is up.
Saturday is a loop ride from Montalcino. Those who did it said it was the prettiest ride so far.
Montalcino and Montepulciano, which we pass through on Sunday are famous for Brunello (Sangiovese) wines. But why wait for Sunday when we can taste on Saturday? So we have a wine-tasting (photo above on right) at the Encota Wine Bar in the fort (Fortezza). Photo below is a typical street seen in Montalcino, or any Tuscan town.
Sunday’s ride, at 90 km the longest of the trip, first takes us through Pienza. The town was designed by Rossellino for Pope Pius the something or other. Brenda still does not feeling like riding, particularly this long distance, so we go in the van with Luca. In over 75 bike tours, this is the first time I’ve ridden in the van. I mentioned that our fall was the first in 12 years. During that time, we’ve ridden over 27,000 miles on the tandem.
Cortona, which dates somewhere from the 9th to 4th centuries B.C., in recent years was made famous by Frances Mayes’ book and movie “Under a Tuscan Sun.” Brenda and I stop at one of the many street-side osterias; we had the best pizza yet. We’re staying at a spa Villa a couple of kilometers below the town. Happy hour and dinner is here tonight. See below alleys and doorways of Cortona.
MEET THE RIDERS (TWO TEAMS)
Jim and Rhonda Hoyt, owners of the Richardson Bike Mart, have probably been riding tandems longer than most of us. Jim is most famous for kicking Lance Armstrong off the shop team and taking away both his bike and car. Lance talks about this in “It’s Not About The Bike”. Rhonda suffered a major bike accident in 2006 when a car ran over her. She has recovered with a vengeance and most of us can’t keep up with her on the bike. Although both are suffering from bad colds this week, they haven’t missed a mile.
Alan and Renee Kailer probably trained more for this ride than the rest of us – studying the Italian language, watching Italian movies, eating Italian food and also training on the bike. Renee lost weight and rode her first hundred mile ride. The Kailer’s are editors of the club newsletter, DATES Line, and published the latest copy while on this tour!
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