Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Cremona to near Pavia; low key country riding



While we were sleeping, Cremona had transformed into a market.  Dresses, flowers, herbs, underwear, fish, fruits, honey, eggs, salami, were for sale on the street.  I bought a pair of sandals, some vegetables, and an assortment of candied fruits for the road. 

 


market day bicycles

 Our ride started with a peaceful jaunt on a road along a canal.   

 

This was headed the right direction and it looked on the map like we might be able to stay on it most of the day.  The road ended and we found ourselves within sight of a town but unclear how to get there.  Saved by the Italian post, when one of those little trucks appeared on the road, we knew there was a way out somewhere, that was the only vehicle we saw on our side of the canal all morning.  We came upon this wonderful church façade in the town.  I counted twelve Marys among the colorful  images of saints.   

 
 time to eat some gummi bears


 

The remainder of the 75 mile haul consisted of riding past corn fields, ruined estates, a power plant, and through yucky traffic in Piacenza.  We had hoped to eat lunch in a restaurant but hit the towns after lunch time and were unable to find an attractive open restaurant.  The candied lemon purchased at the market  turned out to be a real treat and consolation for no lunch.   We stayed in a rural area south of Pavia in a motel which caters to motorsport enthusiasts visiting the racing track next door.  Before checking in, we enjoyed watching some motorcycle racers practicing at the track.  There is really only one place in the area to eat, a simple restaurant behind the hotel.  Patrick ordered something which we didn’t know what it was.  It turned out to be a really great seafood pasta, one of Patrick’s favorite dishes.  We thoroughly enjoyed it accompanied by an amount of red wine which made us grateful that the ride back to the motel was on a dirt track, not public roads.   

Top food of the day:  seafood pasta

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