Tuesday June 18, Alberobello

It has been a great day, one to really remember. This morning we got the bikes out and went cruising around the country roads and lanes outside Alberobello. Yesterday I got chatting with a Dutch neighbour and asked if they had a map of the cycle routes around town. He was most helpful and put me onto the Bike Maps app which showed where all the designated cycle routes are and he also showed me how to use it for finding other routes. So had a lot of fun this morning, first taking the main route then making our own way down little country roads and the app showed us exactly where we were.

It was just a wonderful ride, through such picturesque countryside, the roads are lined with low stone fences and everywhere you come across traditional trulli buildings. Some are looking the worse for wear, sitting in the middle of fields while others have been looked after and a number have had modern white concrete houses built around them. Everywhere we passed through small fields of olive trees, which are mostly cleared underneath as well as grapes and lots of fig trees. Unfortunately, they are not ripe yet (sorry Lynda!). But the highlight for me was all the wild flowers growing along the roadsides, beside the stone fences and in the small fields. Lots of vibrant red poppies, pink scabiosa, tiny wild white roses and many others I didn’t recognise. Just stunning.

Returned back to the camper as the late morning heat built up and had a cruisey time, catching up on some chores in the van, and feet up with a book, before heading out this evening for another ride in a different direction. Lots of little hills and ever so grateful for the Electric assist on the bikes, or we would really have been sweating. It has been a really memorable visit.

Stone fences and wildflowers everywhere.

Even a few horses tonight!