toady, my entry is much shorter than usual…

leaving our hotel today, we start out on the same flat roads we left yesterday… with one major difference: we see less than yesterday.

this is our route for today: ostiglia to santo stefano d’aveto, in midst of the d’aveto nature reserve.


View to the sea, sea and back (TW560) TWIKE in a larger map

we start out with ... fog
we start out with … fog

at about 0900 the fog gets denser by the minute until we have to slow down for saftey reasons.

nothing to see
nothing to see

we drive from small town / village and only have one little highlight during the whole morning: we see our first electric car! (a conversion, but electric … and dented)

the ONLY electric car we've seen until now
the ONLY electric car we’ve seen until now

what we continue to see is infrastructure on its last threads. such a waste!

world heritage held together by a few steel cables :(
world heritage held together by a few steel cables šŸ™

our first charge is a unevenful affair in midst of an industrial site where more than half of the companies have closed down due to the crisis.

shortly after midday the fog finally lightens and we arrive at the apenin mountain range and subsequently start climbing from about 70m altitude up to our second charge point of the day.

hurrah!

spoiler alert: one of the most important takeaways for today was that we rather like hills, passes and mountains!

finally, the apenin mountain range
finally, the apenin mountain range
we're finally above the fog!
we’re finally above the fog!
we are leaving the "pianura" behind us
we are leaving the “pianura” behind us

the best part about climbing and leaving the fog behind us is that we get to see the sun again!

our first pass and finally we get to see the sun
our first pass and finally we get to see the sun

in the distance bardi castle, perched moves into sight – this will be our second charge for today.

bardi castle beckons
bardi castle beckons

not knowing what expects us there infrastructure-wise we just stop on the main square and scan the surroundings – no industry since this is a hilltop village, shops mostly closed and no real activity going on.

i decide to have a snack at a small piadine shop nearby and whilst i order one of the worlds’ best snacks (piadine with gorgonzola/rucola – granted, it’s up there with “banh mi foma”) my eye spies some tri-phase plugs in the back of the shop.

after describing our situation the shop owner tells me that in theory we would be more than welcome to use the plug but currently the oven is connected to it and when he’s done and closes the shop, well, he wouldn’t be back until about 6pm.

but if we would want to use some of his normal outlets this would be ok if he were allowed to take some pictures of the TWIKE in exchange.

ha! that’s a deal šŸ™‚ we calculate the maximum load for his current installation and connect as many leads at their respective maximum to his plugs.

charging in bardi - one phase here, another there
charging in bardi – one phase here, another there

whilst charging i finally try to update some entries, since as i said, there is virtually no-one here wanting to chat with us – travelling keeps me busy and our charges usually consist of discussions with locals, not typing entries on my laptop.

during a charge: either chat with people or write entries
during a charge: either chat with people or write entries

the rest of the day consisted in climbing to 1400+m and driving down the hills again. all in all a very, very relaxing matter. below, some impressions without much commentary.

beautiful climbs along deserted roads
beautiful climbs along deserted roads
up, up, up
up, up, up
passo tomarlo
passo tomarlo
from 50-1500 metres - definitely worth it!
from 50-1500 metres – definitely worth it!
dramatic cloud formations push by every minute
dramatic cloud formations push by every minute
really bad roads
really bad roads
roads just barely repaired
roads just barely repaired
a very nice valley on our way to the passo zovallo
a very nice valley on our way to the passo zovallo
even without the sun views remain dramatic
even without the sun views remain dramatic
from here it's only downhill until we're at our hotel
from here it’s only downhill until we’re at our hotel
the valley where our hotel is
the valley where our hotel is
pine tree needles - very slippery road when wet
pine tree needles – very slippery road when wet

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