Safely in Sicily

Ciao from Palermo!

In the month since our last e-mail we have been on the road from Avignon to Palermo via Sardinia. We have had two of our best day’s cycling so far (Cassis to Toulon, and Alghero to Bosa) and our most stressful day (finding our way into Cagliari). We’ve had some great food and wine, met some lovely people (Maree cannot speak highly enough of the Sardinian people), seen some spectacular sites, and had our fair share of minor mishaps.

It is a relief to have made it to Sicily, and to have no further plans for being at the behest of ferry timetables. A cancelled weekly ferry from Toulon gave us a bonus week in Provence, which wasn’t too shabby as mishaps go. And the waiting ferry at Cagliari compounded the stress of a flat tyre and the closed cycle paths on the road into Cagliari.

We’ve had a few mechanical (and other) problems along the way, which we’ve been fortunate enough to resolve now that we’ve arrived in Palermo (new panniers, a new credit card, and other new odds and ends).

Everywhere we’ve been has been warmer than Avignon (even Arles, just 30 km down the river). It was warm enough on the French coast for Chris, at least, to have a swim in Cassis, and although we didn’t take the plunge at Mondello Beach here in Palermo, the remarkably clear water was also remarkably warm on a delightful 20-degree winter’s day. We’re happy we’re here (while a little concerned that we’ve bitten off more than we can chew in the long ride north along Italy for April…).

For photos and maps and more of our Avignon to Palermo story, click here (if you havent already clicked above).

Ciao tutti, Maree and Chris!