Day 2 -Cycle to Radicofani then Monte Amiata

Radicofani
Around 80km, this day crosses around the mountain over the other side towards Umbria into the Oricai Valley with the stunning crate Seines landscape. As you cross the mountain you will see into the distance the dramatic fort built in the 11th century dark ages of Radicofani rising up out of the valley. At radicofani we’ll have lunch, savouring the local ‘Pici’ pasta. After lunch we face the challenge of heading over near the top of the mountain for the second half of the loop. 

Route
http://www.routeyou.com/route/view/201883/cycling-route-castel-del-piano-to-radicofani.en 

Now Grant - it's time to get out of bed - long day ahead.

Well that's very funny Grant - so funny i nearly woke up.

A beautiful morning looking out of the Studio across to Monte Giovi.

I had been out for an early morning spin down the hill and realised my gears were not running smoothy.

It took Grant to find the problem and with part of a milk bottle top and some insulation tape he managed to get my bike in good shape, though looking a bit poorly.

The first real ride of the trip and we are all ready for a long day. The weather was excellent and we waited on Inaki before setting off.

Further down road and while waiting for the others to catch up it was an opportunity to take a pic of Al and Raph.

And here comes Denzil and Granty.

Al - leading the pack 

It was a long climb up into.............and seperated the men from the boys (I will get in trouble for that).

Nice lunch stop - a well earned rest and some pasta was the order of the day.

Monte Amiata in the background - our afternoon destination :))))))))))

Al on climb from Radicofani

Raph with Radicofani in the distance.

Oh look - Al has an opportunity to get some rest while we wait and wait, ooooh and did i say wait, for the rest. We had done a lot of climbing and it had started to take it's toll.

Monte Amiata

Once i arrived at the top of the climb there was still a few hundred yards to go to actually get to the summit. It involved climbing up through the snow and pushing and carrying my bike. The view from the top was awesome though and well worth it.

My bike having a 'Princess Diana' moment

The view was amazing.

As i was walking back down i ran into Grant, Al and Inaki. Grant came back up with me and we had someone take our pics.

Andy - Move back, no bit more to the right, left a bit, yes that's it perfect. Grant thought it would be funny to give me Mickey Mouse ears. Lol - oh how we laughed.

Grant under the cross at top of Monte Amiata.

Look at that view - it's awesome - shame Grant was in the way.

No bell on my head, no mickey mouse ears phew.

Back at Cenno for dinner - all in need of a good meal.

Sunset over Cenno

Day 1 - Tuscany - A Trip to Cenno 2010

The Journey

Arrival at Gatwick and all the crew rocked up at Cafe Rouge for some breakfast. Some of the guys had problems with their cab breaking down and others decided to go shopping as the rest of us sat waiting on the plane. A round of applause was in order. Good one Denzil :)))))))

Raph trying to persuade Denzil to try the pie in a desperate attempt to slow him down on the bike.

Al - Said she was working, but I strongly believe she was calling 'Pies Anonymous' in a vain attempt to get help in order to ween Raph off the pies.

Easyjet flight to Pisa. 

On Arrival at Pisa, Mia, Raph, Grant, Denzil and Theo went off to pick up the vehicles. Denzil looked a little puzzled when the person in the wheelchair just got up and ran away.

The rest of us played on our bikes and ate gelati. Inaki, Wendy and Al astride their bike boxes at PIsa Airport. You are going nowhere fast on those machines folks.

Al practicing her cornering technique. I am worried now.

We had to find a Gelateria

Tiramisu, Melon and Pistachio (Andy)

Chocolate Mint (Wendy)

Yogurt and Chocolate (Inaki)

Nocciola and Crema Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (Al)

One guy approached me and asked if we were in a band lol. Yes we are and we are all paying tubas??? Though i think we are cool enough to be in a band. Move over S Club 7.

Al, Raph, Theo, Mia, Wendy Denzil, Grant, Inaki (hiding).

It was a long drive to Castel Del Piano and finally to Cenno.

Cenno – The House

http://www.cennotuscany.com

Cenno is a very simple, unsophisticated and typical Tuscan farmhouse, with worn flagstone steps, beamed and tiled ceilings, open fires and wooden shutters at the windows, with views out over the garden and fields up to Castel del Piano and down over the valley to the hill top villages of Monte Giovi and Monte Lateroni – arguably, the most wonderful view in this part of Tuscany.

The house is split into two parts. The upper apartment, the Top Floor Flat, has two double bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen/living area with an open fireplace, and one bathroom. There is central heating and a washing machine. It has its own separate entrance and drive and garden terrace.

The Main House, on the lower two levels, has two double bedrooms and one small single room and two bathrooms. There is a farm kitchen with open fire grill, a dining room that seats ten and a sitting room with open fireplace. It too has central heating and a washing machine, and also a dishwasher. It has its own terrace and garden.

Set slightly apart from the house is a barn – The Studio, 

which is split level and can act as an additional double bedroom to either section of the house. It's a great spot to admire the view. However, there is no bathroom, therefore, if it is used, the ground floor bathroom in the Main House is just across the bottom terrace or the Top Flat is just up the stairs and across the top terrace. Underneath The Studio is a summer lunch room - The Limonia, with barbecue fireplace, which makes an additional dining area.

Although there is no conventional swimming pool at Cenno, it is bliss to cool down from the summer heat in the substantial outsize, waist high paddling pool (not suitable for toddlers) on one of the lower terraces. For those that relish a ‘proper’ swim, there is an open-air pool in Castel del Piano or the spa baths at Bango Vignoli.

The terraces are part-shaded and ideal for those perfect Italian meals and there is nothing more relaxing than having a glass of wine and a dish of olives while watching the sun go down behind Monte Giovi.

(pictures and text courtesy of Rosemary Jenkins and Mia - Cenno website).

The Arrival

Al helping to unload the van on arrival at Cenno.

Denzil and Raph building their bikes, while Al strokes jasper.

Grant, Andy and Wendy putting bikes back together. :)))))))

Then Grant was straight into the kitchen to make a G&T and relax on the wall looking across at Monte Giovi. This is the life - lets stay here and eat and drink, who needs to cycle.

The sun setting over Monte Giovi. (View from the studio).

And while we relaxed in the house the ants had their own apartments, but minus the G&T.