Pre-dawn start and a steady climb up the steep hill to get back on route. As I was grinding my way up the climb in the cold mist I noticed that the gap between my front bag and handlebar was collecting spider webs – I didn’t think I was riding that slowly! 

The weather app told me the forecast was good for the rest of the week but today it was going to rain from noon onwards. I booked another Agriturismo ahead, given the success of last night.  The weather app was accurate.  The rain arrived, along with thunder and lightning.  I got out all my wet weather gear: cagoule, over gloves and trousers and it worked really well. I pondered whether having rubber tires would protect me from lightning.  It was torrential and incessant rain for the rest of the day.

In the rain I met Jacco, another of Niel’s stable. He overtook me on a hill.  He had had 7 punctures and needed to stop to wait for a shop to open which is why he had fallen behind me. I didn’t expect to see him again as he was patently a strong rider (I did see him a day or two later. He was walking disconsolately downhill and said he was going to scratch as he had had even more punctures and was completely out of supplies)

I made it to the Agriturismo. They had sent me pictures of my room on WhatsApp. There was another rider there as there was a bike parked outside the door but I never saw them. There was no food so I ate peanuts and chocolate, made myself some tea and hot chocolate in the kitchen, hung my stuff up to dry, showered and went to bed. I saw no one else.

At least the forecast ahead was good!!