Tuscany 2011: Giorno Due

Giorno Due

Monday Sept 12, 2011

Montepulciano-Pienza 34 miles (55km) Elevation gain 1686 feet

Now we are going to get serious!

Here is the link to my Garmin data for today's ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114281576

As we were awake well before the staff arrived to start the cappuccino flowing, Nace and I took a walk around this beautiful property bathed in soft sunrise.

The day started with another fabulous Tuscan breakfast at Albergo le Terme our Hotel for the next two nights. This is the historic bathing place of St. Catherine of Siena in the Bagno Vinoni region.

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

Starting the day with a ride briefing from Emily

Kate joins the trip support team


Sounds pretty serious

The weather is favuloso with clear skies, and low humidity. After breakfast we set out for the first leg of our ride to Montecchiello. Fluency in Italian is unnecessary to appreciate that monte means uphill. We visited this hilltop town, enjoyed the brief reward of a downhill and then another ascent to Montepulciano, home of delizioso Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. We enjoyed a thin crust pizza, beer and vino rosso di casa (house red) and then remounted for the final leg to our hotel via Pienza.

On the way to Pienza and Monticchiello

I'm pretty sure Gustavio has tainted my water!

We do not have these views in Naples!

Refreshed and ready for a downhill

Gustavio showing off his shapely legs!

Emily treats us to a cappuccino

Fritz finds a small door

Espresso is the new energy drink

Climbing approach to Montepulciano

Pizza, Beer and Vino rosso for lunch in Montepulciano

Descent from Montepulciano to Pienza

I had prearranged a massage for late in the afternoon so we headed for the spa on our hotel property for alternating soaks in the terme pool, fed by a 105 degree natural hot spring and the regular unheated pool. The fun ended when a spa attendant advised that we all needed to have royal blue bathing caps on. You would be more likely to see me in a kilt before I put a rubber cap over my high and tight.

I proceeded to the massage area and enjoyed an hour of much needed work on my calves, quads and glutes after two days of ups and downs. David, my first masseuse of the male persuasion, promised magic for my cycling legs...and delivered. A quick shower and then we were transported by van to the Agriturismo il Rigo in Val D’orcia. We were about to enjoy a wine tasting of local Super Tuscan wines followed by a private dinner in a working farmhouse built in 1723. Sadly I cannot include photos of tears of joy as we were treated to a tasting of three wonderful red wines and witnessing sunset atop the hills of Tuscany. Our primi was a beef and spinach pasta followed by a secondi of roast guinea hen. Dolce was a flourless chocolate torte, all washed down with a Brunello Reserva.