Author: bengarbutt

“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast”

The wonderful lady at the B&B insisted I fill a bag with some of her fresh bread rolls for my lunch, so I got to roll around the southern tip of Lake Garda thinking my stops today would be infrequent. How wrong I was.

After the wonder of the Lake and the surroundings, it started to rain as I dipped further inland. I took refuge in a small shopping arcade in a little town for over an hour as the heavens opened.

It meant I arrived in Verona after I had wanted to. Well, that and the faulty GPS. Now I’m on a different route – IE not really following a canal or river, but instead some intricate turns through lesser trod paths – the difficulty of navigation with a malfunctioning device is a real frustration as well as a hold up.

I stopped at a bike shop in Verona hoping to buy a new unit. They didn’t sell them but suggested I go 5km back to try another bike shop. That detour – against the clock to reach the shop before they shut for lunch –  was also fruitless. Although they suggested a third bike shop nearer my destination, 60ish kms away. Couldn’t call them to check though – they had already started their 3 hour lunch break. I’d just have to chance it.

First to Verona though. Its beauty justifies the tourist throng (of which I am part) patrolling the streets. Getting to see Juliet’s balcony involved a complicated ticket procedure which would have meant having to find a place to secure my bike, so I made do with looking at her house along with a thousand other people.

Then I went to get tomb, which was totally empty.

Side note. Tom, who had joined me on the UK leg of this journey, was invited and agreed to come whilst I was staying in Stratford Upon Avon. Without knowing this, he also stayed in Stratford on his way down to me. So it was pleasant to complete the Shakespearean circle with a visit to Verona.

Then it was back on the road, going through small tracks and past orchards. I scrumped a couple of windfalls.

I reached the bike shop at 5pm. No dice. But the man in there did call ahead to another shop a further 25km on, but out of my way.

I had the bit between my teeth now. Head down, push on.

At 6, I got there and purchased their last remaining device!

I had used AI and Google multiple times to try to find bike shops with the device I required. In all my searches, none of the bike shops that were recommended by the previous shop came up, certainly not the one I was eventually successful with.

Thoroughly tired, I headed for the only hotel in this tiny town. It was worth the walk in, as the piece was significantly cheaper than on the website.

Famished, I came up to my room and had to eat immediately. The only things in my bag included some ready cooked bulgar wheat, tuna in chilli oil, raisins, peanuts, and an apple (which I chopped in). Follow me for more great recipe ideas.