WHAT A GREAT WEEK ON THE BIKE

Here's what I've done all this week. Apart from IL PALIO it has been a week of epic rides in the area around Siena. With beautiful vistas & rolling but challenging terrain what more could you ask for.
I know I keep saying it but this area, for me really is the best place to ride a bike.
Total bike Bliss!
667 Km's or 23 Hours for the week....... But who's counting!

IL PALIO DI SIENA 2013

The Palio di Siena, or simply IL PALIO as it is known by the locals is held twice a year, on July the 2nd & August 16th. This year I was fortunate to be back in town in time to see the August Palio. Yesterday was not my first time however, having twice watched the spectacle live from the "Bull Ring" in the centre of Piazza del Campo.

The funny thing was that this year I wasn't particularly fased if I went to Siena to watch or not. I had actually planned to hit the Bar in front of the TV with a beer & a few mates. That was until I received an offer I couldn't refuse.

Some very good friends of mine were invited to watch from one of the "Palazzi" over looking possibly one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, Piazza del Campo & very kindly invited me as their guest. How could I refuse an afternoon hobnobbing with some VIP's drinking champagne overlooking all the common folk jammed into the piazza.

Here's some history & a bit of an explanation of IL PALIO courtesy of wikipedia.....

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena


 Check out my photos. Enjoy.......

BIRRA E SALSICCE 2013

Now in its 6th year, Birra e Salsicce is fast becoming one of the premier "piss-ups", I mean summer festivals in the Chianti wine region. It's held every year in Vagliagli, a beautiful hamlet roughly 20km's from Siena. These types of summer festa's are a great way to catch up with friends & sample the local food & wine. It normally starts out quite sedate but more often than not as the night wears on & more Chianti flows Birra & Salsicce generally turns out to be one of the biggest nights of the 

summer.

This year was no exception.

 

CASTIGLIONE DELLA PESCAIA

I always love a trip to an Italian beach.  Approximately 100km from Siena in the Maremma region is Castiglione della Pescaia. This popular summer holiday sea side village is in my opinion one of the most pristine & well preserved in Tuscany.The beach itself isn't a patch on ours in Australia but the setting is something quite unique.
Today I spent the day lazing around with my old pal Avio & his new girlfriend Cristina. Life's pretty hard to take sometimes.

Below is some info on Castiglione della Pescaia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castiglione_della_Pescaia

BENVENUTO A QUERCEGROSSA

Home again!
I had a great couple of days staying with Louis & Caterina in Konstanz but am stoked to be back in my adopted home Quercegrossa. Hard to believe 3 years have passed since my last visit. That's way too long between drinks.......
After settling into my new apartment I just couldn't contain myself any longer & with the sun shining had to hit the road. I'd set out for a 2 hour ride but as usual arrived back after almost 3 hours. Now at least I won't feel guilty about Pizza & Beer at "The Bar".
This place really is the best place in the world to ride a bike.

BACK IN EUROPE

After a 3 year layoff I'm finally back in Europe. I arrived yesterday & I'll be over here until 10th October. I'm currently on The Lake of Konstanz with some old friends for a few days then on Monday 22 July I'm off to Quercegrossa in Italy which is 10kms north of Siena. By now it has become my second home & I'm looking forward to good food & wine & of course plenty of cycling. I'll be posting my rides via STRAVA for anyone who is interested. Stay tuned.....

THE LATEST EDITION TO THE STABLE - EDDY MERCKX TEAM 7-ELEVEN

 The pictures speak louder than words. Finally after all these years I have my dream bike.......