Biking the Veneto

Don Quixote and his faithful servant, Sancho Panza(aka Steve and Barb) set out on the first day from Padova heading for Vicenza.

My heart was in my throat as we started out around 9:30 a.m.. I just kept my eye on the yellow jacket on the bike in front of me as I wrangled my big orange bicycle through the crowded streets of Padova.

At last we reached a bike path, and I began to breathe easier. I was even able to glance to the left and right occasionally, to glimpse the passing scenery. At our lunch break, a small sandwich and a power bar kept me going another couple of hours.

Near our final destination, we stopped at Villa Valmarana ai Nani . The next thirty minutes were again spent in heavy city traffic. I kept reminding myself that just the day before I had seen a nun in skirt and wimple trundling along in Padova seemingly unconcerned with the city buses passing her by.