Italian Trip in the Planning
From early June this year, for two weeks, I'll be in Europe. Mostly Tuscany, to be more specific - since my dad and I are planning to do little father-son bike trip in Italy this summer. Italy isn't quite the most cycling friendly nation out there, I will admit (the Netherlands, Germany or France would be much better choices), but the Mediterranean climate, Roman ruins and picturesque scenes wherever one goes have swayed us. That, and I kinda want to say "Hi!" to the pope. Pisa's Leaning Tower. I bet you a nickel this is the image that appeared in your brain when you read "Italy." As a veteran map-reader (from my boy-scouting days), I have been assigned the somewhat-daunting task of planning the cycling route, and all of our destinations. With a guidebook or two, and tips from friends, I've got the basic event agenda structured. But, what is really difficult however is the route forming; Italian roads are notoriously narrow (no shoulders!) and...