We have not checked the weather forecast for days as it’s been the same, hot, hot, hot.

When we awoke today it was very cloudy hiding the sun, and the trees were blowing strongly. Strong winds of up to 37 kmh SW were forecast.

Whatever we thought! She’ll be right!

Today was to be another hilly ride, sporting climbs plus one super tough one in the wind.

Today’s route was exploring the eastern aspect of the islands starting and finishing at the green dot in Lido. Basically a figure of 8, heading towards Port Azzuro, Rio nell Elba, Rio Marina, Cavo, back to Rio nell Elba, Magazzini, and back to Lido.

A total of 53 km, 939 m climbing. Back home by lunchtime, despite stopping for lunch and morning tea.

Port Azzurro is only 3.5 km from Lido so we reached that town first.

Climbing and descending was the order of the day. Given the lack of sun, the brilliant blue azure seas were not revealed.

We stopped for a coffee break in the port town of Rio Marina, a port originally to transport iron from the island but today, a hub for ferries from mainland Italy.

Leaving Cavo we had the longest climb of the morning at around 7 km. It was a nice climb, with the wind interfering only minimally climbing, usually on an exposed right hand bend.

Some photos from the climb. Not as many as Tony went into a competitive mode, catching three riders ahead and staying ahead, ha ha. I too managed to pass them, not that it was a race!

What goes up, must come down, and we descended back into the cross point of our figure eight at Rio nell Elba, heading back up for a nastier climb.

This climb was shorter at around 4 km, but more evil with 13-14% sections, very narrow road, with cars going both ways at times. You could guarantee a car at a right hand bend!

Right hand bends are the hardest as they are steep into the turn, and no option of heading left in case a car is descending on the narrow road. In addition the fierce winds hit us at those bends (side on often) pushing you towards the right hand edge.

The descent was hairy! The wind was extraordinarily awful, it started to spit with rain, the road very narrow and steeper than what we had just climbed.

A very slow and controlled descent by me particularly given the number of bends and barely one car wide. I think I could smell my brakes!

Once we’d completed the shaky descent we decided to go to the nearest local village to sit out the spitty rain. We headed to Bagnaia,where not much was happening, I guess due to the crappy weather.

Bagnaio is a pebble beach offering a range of aquatic activities. Today, most were sitting in the local cafe. We stopped and had a light lunch, watching a sand storm gust through that left our bikes filthy!

Feeling replenished, we left the village and immediately went into a short climb that had a 13% pinch. The cold legs did protest much!!

The afternoon we decided to chill. Tony got to work cleaning our bikes.

Washing is done and is out drying in the wind. It is still warm despite the wind and has been in the mid 20’s.

So tomorrow we head off early. We will be on the road by 6 am to ensure we are at the ferry with time to spare, or enough time to cover a contingency such as a puncture.

Hard to believe that this time next week we will be well on the way home.

Thanks for reading 😊❣️