On Ilkley Moor Baht At.......Wheear as ta bin sin ah saw thee
Well a great morning, warm and sunny.
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| Breakfast around the campsite |
The award is given to a story from the days ride
that may or may not have some truths to it.
It went something like this. Please look at the picture from yesterday where the local farmer is driving his small tractor. I passed this tractor going up a hill as I wanted to capture this beautiful image of rural Italy on camera. After taking the photo I rode back up alongside the tractor and held onto the tray for a ride up the hill. Garry noticed this lack of effort on my behalf and relayed the story back to the group via Peter whilst we were visiting the temple, and saying that when he held onto the tractor it stalled and then we had to push start the tractor to get it going. So for his semi truthful tale he was awarded the Marmot which he has to carry for a day on his ride for all to see. A worthy recipient is our Garry who is always telling porky pies.
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| Campobello, first coffee stop |
After a steady climb from sea level out of Agrigento out towards Naro we notice a change in farming techniques. They are on a much larger commercial scale in this beautiful region of Sicily. Large plantations of almonds, olives, figs, vines, fruit trees etc. Then we arrive at Campobello for a coffee and a Gelati (Garry, Miss Piggy). Coffee E1.20 , Gelati E 2.50
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| Martin |
I have seen some interesting cemeteries around the world, large grave sites, monuments and headstones, but none as large as this. I have seen houses smaller than these monsters. The gentlemen on the gate said it was full up and only family members could be accommodated.
Hence the introduction title, Ilkley Moor is in Yorkshire and Martin is a typical Yorkshire Man, full of wit and mischief, but great fun to have on the ride. Garry and himself have plenty in common. I asked Martin if he had visited Australia and in his broad best Yorkshire accent said " Aye, five times lad, I rate loved it, it's got ten towns on 't the oughtside and a big sandpit in't middle, and a big paper weight in't middle (Uluru), to stop it blowing away."
The riding in this region is stunning up and down all morning varying between 2-600 mtrs.
First coffee stop for some in Naro 593 mtrs elevation
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| Well earned break. |
Hams, cheeses, salads, drinks, fruit, olives, bars, what can I say about the Bike Dream Team who are all from Holland. They cannot do enough for us.
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| How good is this? |
I love surprises when you do not plan things in a corporate sense and expect the unexpected, this trip has delivered it by the bucket load. When you look out into the window of life, the view maybe the same but your understanding of the world has changed forever.
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| Mazzarino |
As you ride through the regions of Sicily I am awe struck at the beautiful towns perched high on steep hills and cliff tops dotted around you and think it would be nice to see them all if you had the time, but you soon realise that is exactly where you are heading as all the roads lead to the hilltops. When you climb up to one town you look back and see all the other places you have just seen sitting proud on the landscape.
We descend down to ride up again to the next town, passing through Ravanusa, Mazzarino, Barrafranca and finally descending into Pergusa. Hotel tonight and beautiful too.
Sharing a room with Ross tonight as always is great company, in the distance we get our first glimpse of Etna which we are tackling tomorrow.
Charge all the electronics, login, issue another post on the Blog.
Distance 121 klm
Total Ascent 2001 mtrs
Elevation 550 mtrs.
Bill & Jill only have retrieved one piece of baggage, and Dino has travelled with them to collect in Palermo.
See you tomorrow on the slopes of Etna and hopefully see the Giro go through Nicolsi. Buon Notte
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