IL GIRO

May 2023

10 day Moto Trip in Italia Read more

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4.8kmiles

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Traveler IL GIRO
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- May 5, 2023, 11:00pm
- 🌙 63 °F
- Altitude: 194 ft
- Italy Latium Rome Portuense 41.874897, 12.4323741°52’30” N 12°25’57” E
Il Viaggio Comincia
May 5, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 63 °F
Ciao a tutti!
Today was an early arrival into Rome and a good amount of time fighting jet lag. But so glad to start the journey!
Plot twist…two of the other three riders canceled for medical reasons so now it’s just me, Bob from Cali, and our tour guides Thomas and Franz. How’s that for individual attention?
This afternoon was the welcome briefing and the transfer over of bikes (including some fresh gear, which I am proudly modeling).
Onto Assisi in the morning!Read more
Sweet 👍👍 [Chris]
5/5/23Reply
Traveler Love the bike!
5/5/23Reply
Private tour of italy on a red monster. Sweet. Soak up the spirit of assidi. [Stephen Bogart]
5/6/23Reply
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Traveler IL GIRO
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- May 6, 2023, 3:25pm
- ☀️ 77 °F
- Altitude: 787 ft
- Italy Umbria Assisi Valecchie 43.070131, 12.59666743°4’12” N 12°35’48” E
La Dulce Vita
May 6, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
What a day!

Not surprisingly, there were a few morning nerves navigating the chaotic symphony that is Rome traffic, but it quickly opened up to winding roads and beautiful countryside.

First stop, for a morning coffee and quick stretch, was a hilltop town called Narni - known for being the geographic center of Italy. We then headed further North into Umbria where the scenery turned into vineyards and olive groves, a postcard on loop. Then we had lunch in la piazza in Montefalco. Seriously, la dulce vita.

In the afternoon we found our way to Assisi, where we are spending the night. After settling in, we of course went to the basilica. Perhaps it was my past relationship with some of the Franciscan brothers in Brooklyn, but seeing friars on pilgrimage in the lower church really moved me. Since learning about the life of St. Francis years ago, I’ve intentionally tried to align myself to his values. Watching others embody this a life commitment is remarkable.

Our hotel is right in the middle of town in Assisi. Sure, I’m as tall as my shower in my room, but you can’t beat the views.

Buona notte.Read more
Have you found Paisino yet? [Casey]
5/6/23Reply
Spectacular! [Chris]
5/6/23Reply
Beautiful sites. Keep looking for Carlo Rossi's Piscano wine. Enjoy every moment. Love Dad [Dad]
5/7/23Reply
:) [Casey]
5/7/23Reply
Traveler The search continues! 😅
5/9/23Reply
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Traveler IL GIRO
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- May 7, 2023, 11:03am
- ☁️ 68 °F
- Altitude: 1,650 ft
- Italy Tuscany Cortona 43.273895, 11.98975843°16’26” N 11°59’23” E
In Le Montagne
May 7, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
Today was all about mountain roads. Very technical with tons of switchbacks through the Apennine Mountains. Cortona, where “Under the Tuscan Sun” was filmed (and today was also hosting a Porsche car show); Urbino, the birthplace of motorcycle legend Valentino Rossi; and finally San Marino, which I learned is a country all to itself. It’s also where we are staying tonight.

INCREDIBLE views all day but the riding was exhausting, and not for the faint of heart. The other rider on this trip went down twice! Thankfully, at very low speeds, so he is ok apart from a bruised ego.

To Florence tomorrow, hopefully dodging the forecasted raindrops. 🌧️ 🚫

A domani!Read more
Be safe Bro! Looks amazing! [Chris]
5/7/23Reply
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Traveler IL GIRO
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- May 8, 2023, 1:42pm
- ☁️ 61 °F
- Altitude: 3,652 ft
- Italy Tuscany Chiusi della Verna La Beccia Santuario de La Verna 43.706995, 11.9301343°42’25” N 11°55’48” E
Passo Della Consuma
May 8, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
Buongiorno!

Yet another amazing day for riding. Somewhere the weather gods are kindly looking down on us.

We left the morning fog of San Marino around 9am to take a purposely circuitous route to Florence. Again, we rode mostly mountains roads, including the famous Passo della Consuma used for many car, motorcycle, and bicycle races. Though we didn’t have the luxury of restricted traffic, Franz (one of the guides) and I had at it! Responsibly(ish), of course.

Following a picnic lunch set up by Thomas (other guide) who met us with the van, we walked around the sanctuary in La Verna. An isolated area and now part of a National Park, this is where St. Francis of Assisi is said to have gotten his stigmata.

Tomorrow is a much needed rest day here in Florence. And I plan to just do that. Sleep in, walk the city, do some shopping, and eat good food.

Ciao.Read more
Sounds like you're having a good time son enjoy the time off in Florence tomorrow love Dad [Big Daddy]
5/8/23Reply
Traveler Glad it didn't rain. I asked Tristan if he remembered Florence and he said that's where we made pizza. :)
5/8/23Reply
La vernia too. Like a franciscan pilgrimage. Enjoy florence. Duomo nice. Uffizi nice. Gelateria pasticceria badiani heaven. [Stephen Bogart]
5/9/23Reply
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Traveler IL GIRO
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- May 9, 2023, 10:36pm
- Altitude: 492 ft
- Italy Tuscany Florence San Niccolò 43.75473, 11.25841943°45’17” N 11°15’30” E
I Ricordi
May 9, 2023 in Italy
Rest day so I wondered around Florence, feeling the buzz of the city, and the buzz of the Tuscan wines. Street artists, shops, restaurants, and coffee bars on every corner - all with a beautiful backdrop.

I was fondly reminded of being here with Jenna and Tristan back in 2016. Couldn’t help but add a couple of those pics as well.

Arrivederci!Read more
Hi Rick I'm so happy you're having a wonderful time and you're resting miss you see you when you get back love Dad [Big Daddy]
5/9/23Reply
I know your name is Richie and not Rick sorry for the misspelling [Big Daddy]
5/9/23Reply
Pics are awesome! [Casey]
5/9/23Reply
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Traveler IL GIRO
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- May 10, 2023, 12:07pm
- 🌧 61 °F
- Altitude: 1,132 ft
- Italy Tuscany San Gimignano Piazza del Duomo 43.467803, 11.04343143°28’4” N 11°2’36” E
1
La Spiaggia
May 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 61 °F
No amount of caffeine can jolt you awake like lane splitting Florence rush hour traffic in the pouring rain. A harrowing experience by all measures.

Still in full rain gear, we stopped in San Gimignano for coffee, then headed to Volterra for lunch. At that point Bob’s nerves got the best of him so he parked the bike for the day.

Thomas showed me on his weather app that there may be a small break of sun on the coast so we headed West to get a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea. He was right! When we reached the seaside we rode past some barriers to get right near the beach and park the bikes. We got scolded by a local resident so neither of us claimed to know a word of Italian. 😆

Si vive una volta sola.Read more
I hope the weather improves for the next few days [Big Daddy]
5/11/23Reply
gorgeous beach! [Meaghan Hull]
5/11/23Reply
Love it! [Chris]
5/11/23Reply
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Traveler IL GIRO
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- May 11, 2023, 12:08pm
- ⛅ 61 °F
- Altitude: 1,476 ft
- Italy Tuscany Greve in Chianti Case di Dudda Passo di Sugame 43.596622, 11.37743743°35’48” N 11°22’39” E
Monastero
May 11, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
Ciao di nuovo!

Today we rode the beautiful roads of Chianti region, stopping for a winery tour of Castello di Querceto. Given our mode of transport, we had to skip the wine. That said, probably a good thing. Otherwise, I may have second-guessed that there was a white peacock randomly walking around the property.

We then headed to Siena. The Duomo was extremely impressive - so detailed and ornate, inside and out. The city itself, eh, just didn’t give off super positive vibes.

Tonight, however, we are staying at a converted monastery with full access to wander the grounds. I posted a short video of me exploring its church built in the 1500s.

Can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store!Read more
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Traveler IL GIRO
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- May 12, 2023, 12:01pm
- ⛅ 64 °F
- Altitude: 909 ft
- Italy Tuscany Asciano Chiusure Abbazia di Monte Oliveto 43.175514, 11.54408843°10’32” N 11°32’39” E
Fortunato
May 12, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Another day riding a motorcycle in Italy - what have I done to deserve this?!? 🇮🇹

Today’s highlights were visiting a 14th century Benedictine Abbey, driving through Bagno Vignoni smelling the natural sulphuric springs, and enjoying another fantastic picnic lunch hosted by the guides.

Really technical roads today, with some spotty weather. And unfortunately the other rider went down two more times! He was mostly unharmed, and to his credit, he and the bike back up again (cue Chumbawamba). 😂

Tonight we are in a different converted monastery - this time in Pienza. Somehow I got hooked up with a suite. Life is good!

Back to Rome tomorrow. There has been so much packed into this trip but it’s still hard to believe it’s almost over.Read more
Traveler I'm so glad you did this. You definitely deserve it!
5/12/23Reply
So amazing [Meaghan Hull]
5/12/23Reply
Is that a personal chef? Sign me up! [Meaghan Hull]
5/12/23Reply
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Traveler IL GIRO
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- May 12, 2023, 6:30pm
- Altitude: 1,614 ft
- Italy Tuscany Pienza Piazza Pio II 43.076621, 11.67799243°4’36” N 11°40’41” E
1
Una Vacanza Perfetta
May 12, 2023 in Italy
Italian sounded perfect to me! [Meaghan Hull]
5/12/23Reply
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Traveler IL GIRO
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- May 13, 2023, 5:07pm
- 🌧 61 °F
- Altitude: 187 ft
- Italy Latium Rome Portuense 41.873853, 12.43303741°52’26” N 12°25’59” E
La Fine
May 13, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 61 °F
A bit of slog back to Rome today, and in the rain no less. But that didn’t dampen spirits. Thomas was waiting in the hotel parking garage with a bottle of wine to welcome us back.

Honestly, I was genuinely nervous that my expectations were too high going into this trip. Turns out, that was completely unfounded.

Sending love from Italy one last time.Read more
Traveler Tristan and I are looking forward to your return!
5/13/23Reply
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