Elephant to Orvieto

Off on a tour with Jamoir and George Sportif (hes meeting us halfway) in just under a week, thought I would start a thread that we could update on.
Spending roughly 8 weeks on it, not sure of the mileage, 2000+ I should think.
Should be amazing though. We start off cycling the length of the Rhine, from Rotterdam to Lake Constance in Switzerland and then head down through the Alps to Genova to meet friends and then from Genova to Milan and then down to Orvieto just North of Rome.
Not sure about the return journey yet, cycle if the money lasts maybe.

We did a similar ride last year, a thread on here called London to Palermo. Enjoyed it so much which is why were going again.

If anyone knows any good places to visit then definitely let us know, we are fairly clueless as to what to see along the Rhine, aside from all the castles.
Also if anyone has any friends that have a garden/barn/patch of land that 3 friendly and polite cyclists might be able to pitch up on that would be most welcome and appreciated, like Baden-Powell said, We leave nothing but thanks.

This google maps route is very rough but it shows the general route well be taking.

Looks Great, have fun.

Wow, what a brilliant tour.

OK here's something to look forward to... South of Genova, around La Spezia: you will be pushed away from the coast at some point, depending on how hard you stick to the coast there, and over some hills, then down again to cross the marshy delta of the river Magra, toward the beginning of northern Toscana (Tuscany). The bit of coast over to your right there is known as the Cinque Terre and the Golfo Dei Poeti (where Shelley was drowned, apparently). It's really worth detouring there if you can, as the coast will get less interesting after that. Some of the towns on that side of the Golfo dei Poeti are nice such as Tellaro, also Portovenere across the bay, the seaward side of La Spezia. This bay would be a good destination for a stop, swim off the rocks, eat etc. After (i.e. south of) that, the coast will be fairly flat and less beautiful for a while. Cinque Terre are a pretty famous tourist destination there: these five hillbound villages that were for many years only reachable by boat, just up the coast.

I know a truly excellent fish restaurant In Lerici... it'll be just when you're finishing riding hills (Liguria), before entering flatter country (coastal northern Tuscany). Really worth finding. Called Il Pescatore, up a small alley off the little sqaure near the harbour. It'll be a nice carrot to dangle in front of yourself as you're negotiating Genova and Liguria. I tell you this cos I fantasize about going back to this restaurant regularly. I have been going for years when I was in that area a lot. It's the kind of place where they don't ask you what you want to eat or drink, they just bring whatever they're offering. Lots and lots and lots of it. Four courses of it.

Have a bloody great time.

jealousy...

No, envy. You stupid saffa.

Wow, what a brilliant tour.

OK here's something to look forward to... South of Genova, around La Spezia: you will be pushed away from the coast at some point, depending on how hard you stick to the coast there, and over some hills, then down again to cross the marshy delta of the river Magra, toward the beginning of northern Toscana (Tuscany). The bit of coast over to your right there is known as the Cinque Terre and the Golfo Dei Poeti (where Shelley was drowned, apparently). It's really worth detouring there if you can, as the coast will get less interesting after that. Some of the towns on that side of the Golfo dei Poeti are nice such as Tellaro, also Portovenere across the bay, the seaward side of La Spezia. This bay would be a good destination for a stop, swim off the rocks, eat etc. After (i.e. south of) that, the coast will be fairly flat and less beautiful for a while. Cinque Terre are a pretty famous tourist destination there: these five hillbound villages that were for many years only reachable by boat, just up the coast.

I know a truly excellent fish restaurant In Lerici... it'll be just when you're finishing riding hills (Liguria), before entering flatter country (coastal northern Tuscany). Really worth finding. Called Il Pescatore, up a small alley off the little sqaure near the harbour. It'll be a nice carrot to dangle in front of yourself as you're negotiating Genova and Liguria. I tell you this cos I fantasize about going back to this restaurant regularly. I have been going for years when I was in that area a lot. It's the kind of place where they don't ask you what you want to eat or drink, they just bring whatever they're offering. Lots and lots and lots of it. Four courses of it.

Have a bloody great time.

Bloomin heck that restaurant sounds amazing, Ill find out the address and definitely make a stop off there if we can, Ill put some photos up too if we do get to go there. Sounds top.

We cycled through the Cingeu Terre last year, sooooo hilly round there, some of the hills were almost impossible to get up, the descent into Monterrosso al Mare was bloody dangerous. Incredibly beautiful though, it was pretty quiet when we were there as well.

Great stuff, Angus.

Shouldn't this be in Travel & Trips?

Have a great time!

Cheers Oliver.
Damn youre right, Ill drop a pm to one of the higher powers.

You can move it yourself--look under 'Thread Tools'.

Whoa news to me, cheers.

Bloomin heck that restaurant sounds amazing, Ill find out the address and definitely make a stop off there if we can, Ill put some photos up too if we do get to go there. Sounds top.

We cycled through the Cingeu Terre last year, sooooo hilly round there, some of the hills were almost impossible to get up, the descent into Monterrosso al Mare was bloody dangerous. Incredibly beautiful though, it was pretty quiet when we were there as well.

Do it! Someone in Lerici will know where it is if you ask. Right off the market square, up an alley.

Yep, this would be right at the end bit of some serious hills through Liguria. Something to aim for.

jealousy...

No, envy. You stupid saffa.

my own jealousy fella!

Ooops forgot to add winky.

;)

This sounds epic. Cologne is great. I am in Bonn from the 15.08. Would be great to see you, but you will probably be gone. Know an avid cyclist in Darmstadt who should welcome you. Strassburg is brilliant for food and Freiburg is a lovely town.

Hey fussballclub, I think we are probably gonna be quite far past Bonn by the 15th unfortunately, you there cycling?
If your friend has a garden that we could camp in or knows somewhere good to pitch up then that would be ace, its always a bit of a pain in the arse trying to find the cheapest campsite when you arent from that area.

just had a peek at your palermo adventure last year...if you do updates I may have to put this thread on ignore out of sheer envy...looks like so much fun. One day I will find myself a pair of legs and a proper bike and quit the real world and do something like this!

Man there are sooooo many more pictures that we didnt put up, those ones were all quite early on in the trip.
Ill make sure to bring a load to SE from this one when I get bacck.

Dont need good legs either, after the first week of fully loaded touring youll be in fine shape.

You should definitely go man youd love it.

Hi I have just joined the board. I was going through the threads in this session as I would like to do something similar one day.

I am Italian but currently living in London, if you need any info on the Italian part you guys are cycling do not hesitate.

Anyway, Cinque Terre is an amazing area, quite good for cycling as well as Tuscany and Umbria.

Good luck and enjoy.

Sooooo envious.

Yep me too, would love to do that too :(

That route does look tasty.

Massive detour took us through Belgium, we are now back on track on the Rhine though.
Has pissed it down ever day though! Please God, send us some sun.

Dont worry it is quite warm down the south of Europe at the moment....

Down on coast in Celle near Genova at the moment staying at a friends place, been off the bikes sunbathing, readng and swimming for the past three days.