Bella Italia rest day in San Marco dei Cavoti

September 21, 2024 was our second full rest day of the tour and it was wonderful to just chill out and enjoy this beautiful town with nothing at all we had to do. We have ridden the last 11 days straight although one stage was short. My legs and entire body were glad to do nothing but recover.

Thanks to Wytze we planned out the last week of our tour. We decided to fly back to Amsterdam nine days from now, vs two long days of expensive train travel. We booked ahead for tomorrow night and a night in Matera too. That was the morning then we went out to look at the old town some more and maybe have a coffee or something. There was a restaurant at the tiny plaza by the church. We watched the elegant locals coming out of a christening ceremony while sipping white wine. A simple glass of wine evolved into a many course extravagant lunch, letting the chef pick the dishes. We went so big! Delicious local delicacies with four rounds of wine.

Hours later we staggered back home and I believe four huge naps ensued. I woke up and read a book while Wytze prepared a luxury bike route for tomorrow: no mud or rocks or slogging through fields! Dinner was small but slow at an Osteria that had an amazing number of vegetarian dishes. Only one bottle of vino and no dessert.

By now we’ve ridden over 1,500 km with about 500 to go. We’ve also climbed 27,000m. Another night of rest and I am ready to hit it again tomorrow!