{"id":6336,"date":"2012-07-17T19:17:02","date_gmt":"2012-07-17T23:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=6336"},"modified":"2015-07-02T15:14:21","modified_gmt":"2015-07-02T19:14:21","slug":"day-51-monday-july-16-san-remo-to-pietra-ligure-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=6336","title":{"rendered":"Day 51, Monday, July 16 – San Remo to Pietra Ligure, Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our first hour was on an old rail track\u00a0\"\"<\/a> that they had cleaned up and paved for biking and walking. \u00a0We had front row seats to harbors,\"\"<\/a> tree lined paths through towns\"\"<\/a> and an occasional tunnel; \"\"<\/a>one was a mile long. \u00a0But best of all, it was flat, well used by only<\/em> bikes and foot traffic and simply divine. \u00a0You could almost see the train running along our path.\"\"<\/a>Not having to compete with vehicle traffic,\"\"<\/a> we were able to easily take more pictures.\"\"<\/a> Our first swans this trip.\"\"<\/a>The thought that today’s ride wasn’t going to be so bad as we easily pedaled and took in the sights,\"\"<\/a> evaporated when the path ended abruptly and we immediately began to climb\"\"<\/a> and the climbing was wicked\"\"<\/a> but the downhills were great.\"\"<\/a>The port of Imperia had pretty colored buildings \"\"<\/a>and a real local feel, until you turned around and viewed the multi-million dollar yachts in the harbor.\"\"<\/a>There were bell towers\"\"<\/a> everywhere on today’s ride.\"\"<\/a>Many interesting towns\"\"<\/a> and beaches packed with people. \"\"<\/a> Cars and bikes\"\"<\/a>parked anywhere they could find a spot, some a mile plus away from any access to the beach. \u00a0Sometime before noon, the wind started swirling, but mostly in our face, creating the need to bike down<\/em>hill (our only chance for a pedal break), but the views…..\"\"<\/a>this lighthouse sat high enough on the hill we were climbing,\"\"<\/a> it could probably been seen all the way to the boot.<\/p>\n

Stopped for water and met Ruth from Switzerland and Anna from Italy, \"\"<\/a>who invited us to stay with them, but we regrettably already had reservations in a town down the road, Grazie Ruth.<\/p>\n

Though we’ve been climbing the foothills of these mountains,\"\"<\/a> finally we got far enough away to get a good shot. \u00a0We picked our destination town simply because it fell within the mileage we wanted to do. \u00a0Had no idea it would offer so much.\"\"<\/a> Quaint streets\"\"<\/a>and the Basilica Saint Nicollo; though the outside was totally covered up for renovation the inside \"\"<\/a>was exquisite.\"\"<\/a>Found a wonderful place for dinner, and as much as we enjoyed our shrimp pasta, the owners truly made it special; \"\"<\/a>that and the Lemoncellio after dinner drink!\n\t\t