Ride around Ferrara

Ride ride round and round. Haha ... we said we wanted to ride around Ferrara! Finally found the route on the piste ciclabile towards Bondeno... where we met a woman who made great bruschetto with toast; a plate full of tomato and mozzarella; side dish of garlic and chilli; bottles of oil and balsemic. Monkey had pasta. We asked her about the town and told her we were heading 'somewhere'.  Hadn't quite decided ... maybe Modena; maybe Mantova. She said Mantova was one of her favourite places and much nicer than Modena. When we had eaten her beautiful lunch we took her advice and headed in the direction of Mantova, knowing it may take a few days.

Light rain and nice cool ride along the Po river for about 30 klms (all day) and then Dada!! Agritourismo when it just started to rain!! Yes. Let's try it! behind the gate a beautiful farm with sheep, horse, chooks and gardens and a lovely room amongst the herbe aromaticas! Tasteful and quiet and feels like we are on holiday. Fifty seven klms today across rural country near Mantova. The smell of earth; the sound of bells; the Po river on one side and riding far from the madding crowd..

This morning Nigella sent us on our way with some herbe aromatica and some nigella seeds.

Po-ness - um. It was a long off-road track that was isolated but beautiful and natural. I saw a frog! Reminded me of the time Clivey saw a frog for the first time. It was again for me! I saw a pheasant too - all golden brown and oh so savage in the wilderness of Po-ness. Riding along the rocks on levy bank which was the piste ciclabile along the Mincio river on the Po delta. Rocks and puddles and soggy bits ... we had to walk through most of it. Ten long klms - but thrilling and real. All the way to Mantova. Monkey read the maps. Its a bit like reading cards! We didn't have to ride with trucks; we rode with frogs and pheasants. I trust his mapping skills. Wow, froggy!