Day 6 - Firenze and Bologna - ride total 407k, 3,812m

Today was a bit messy in that we are using the 1:40 p.m. train to relocate us from Firenze to Bologna and because of work on the line we could not take the fast 38 minute train and the only one available takes a bit over the hours and includes a change of trains. Just as well riding in trains is still considered fun by us Kiwis. 


This meant that we had the morning at our disposal, and I mapped out short 20 k ride out of town that we could do after we visited the bike shop again. Stephen needed to replace his small bike bag and Peter wanted to use their pump. All was going well until Stephen realised that his effort at putting more air in his Tyre was going nowhere! Yes, he had his second puncture for the trip and fortunately it happened at the bike shop, it did though take a wee bit of time to get sorted. 

We then amended our plans for the day and went for a ride down and along the river. I had a surplus bit of technology with me now that I have upgraded my USB charging hub and have been looking out for a post office so as I can post it back home. They are few and far between and as I found out this morning, not where they say they are!

As we were passing the station there was circular cycleway heading down somwhere, where I didn't know but it looked interesting so down we went and found ourselves in a very large two bike high bike parking building. 

Well things kind of changed for us at Faenza where we had a 25 minute wait for our connecting train to Bologna. We all got on the train and found that the carriage we had hopped in to was a bit cramped for us and our bikes. So, Peter hops off the train to find a less full bike carriage. It was then we heard beep, beep, beep and the door shut. Now we had two men on a train with three bikes and one man on the platform with no bike! All Peter could do was wave us goodbye as our train pulled out of the station. 

Fortunately there was another train 30 minutes later - it just means we are going to be 30 minutes later in to our accommodation for the night which was already going to be late... 

And these are the memories we will laugh about in years to come and do as to not get maximum humor out of the situation I must admit I'm airway having a good laugh... 

At Bologna Peter we met up with a friend of Petet's son before we headed off to the accommodation. We made that out dinner stop as well and finally got underway at about 7:00 p. m. on what turned out to be a nice short flat ride and we cut the 27 km's out in about 1 hour 40. 

Tonight's Hotel is quite flash and very well appointed even down to having a bath robe for each of us on our beds! We decided, we appreciated the gesture but would do our thing for the environment and not use them. 

All up one of our more memorable days, so far our shortest by km's but our longest for time between our accommodation. 
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