Florence to Livorno

With Will's knee feeling better after the Florence break we got an early start this morning. We left Florence in the rain and arrived in Livorno early evening. While we were expecting a less than ideal day given the weather, it turned out to be the best day of the trip so far. The riding was great, enough hills to keep us occupied but nothing too intense. It was small town after small town that wound through the gentle mountain passes all the way to the coast.

Reaching the coast was the goal for the day. And we did. I want to mention 2 things about todays ride that were particularly special. First, as we started to get closer and closer to the ocean we started to get great big whiffs of the ocean air that were utterly delicious and an inspiration to keep on keeping on. Second, as we got closer to the coast, everything became greener, and the wildlife generally more alive. We began to see trees with green leaves on them, which meant a lot to two weary riders.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Professor Harry Wray's book - Pedal Power: The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public Life - that I am reading because it occupied my mind for most of the day. It constantly reaffirms a philosophy of biking that continues to take shape with every great, and not so great ride I take. Its a must read for any biker, and just plain interesting for the non-cyclist. Amazon it. Amongst a great deal else, he talks about a cross-country US tour he did years back and as I was riding today the timeless spirit of adventure and exploration by bike was clearer than ever before. I am sure his book will be the subject of much reflection to come.