Day 19 – 119km – Vicenza to Treviso

The most amazing day

I’m going to struggle describing the lows and highs of today. Total rollercoaster.

First off, the new GPS unit is working well. What a treat to actually know where I’m going! I hadn’t realised the weight of the past five days until I was able to follow a working map. Total relief!

But then, mechanical issues struck. Just a puncture so I thought, but it shouldn’t have happened on tubeless tyres. Technical note – the tyres I run are without tubes but are filled with a liquid which, when punctured by small holes should self-repair. This one didn’t, so I found myself taking the nuclear option, which involves ramming a metal spike into the tyre. Hated doing it but it worked, for now.

Next stop, the bike shop 20km on which advertised itself as open. It wasn’t, although this was no surprise by now. I have learnt that bike shop websites and Google bear no relation to the opening hours or even the existence of a bike shop.

So ride on 30km more, to where there are (apparently) three. Hallelujah! This is a bike shop and it is open! And the mechanic confirmed my theory that this wasn’t a simple puncture, but had deeper issues that required 45 minutes work.

In that time, they also cleaned the chain, resolved the persistent squeaking that has developed, and offered me an Italian coffee with absinthe (the former accepted, the latter politely declined).

I was on the road now and the ride variety was simply stunning. At some moments I would be careering over beautiful gravel tracks through forests, then through small historic towns, past castles, and at others marvelling at the Dolomites over my left shoulder and pedalling past crystal streams.

I arrived at a classic B&B, just outside Treviso. Italians may be known for style but they still had avocado bathrooms in the 1970s, which I share tonight with three other rooms

On a whim, and recorded by the room decor of Venetian maps, I altered my route. Venice is 30km south of here. What the hell am I doing heating East tomorrow? I’m going to see it, and follow my nose over ferries and coastline to my hoped for end point tomorrow. The plan is scant, I’ll freestyle it.

And then a call with Jenny. Some quick countback considerations and it turns out that by absolutely machining it to this point, I can afford to head home to see my family for a mid ride break. I’ve booked the flights! Just pray therr are no issues that stop me from getting to Ljubljana by 28th August.

What a day, honestly.