The Giro '09 had a stage that started at Sestre and Simono, Neil and me have used it as an excuse to give Ryanair a bit more cash and head off to Liguria for three days of cycling.
Simono and I also need to put some more big hills in our legs before this summer's Etape.
Day 1, Thursday 21st:
Late start courtesy of too much of the red stuff, then off down to Sestre:
We witnessed how the latest state of the art chemistry is uploaded into the competitors:
We also saw the new equipment and kit for the Italian "Credit Crunch" team
Mr Cavendish was off to a good start but despite the implants was bound to have trouble with the two climbs:
All too exciting for us so we pedalled off along the coast to Portofino, stopping at Zoagli:
Portofino wouldn't let us take our bikes in to town so we did a U turn and headed back to Rapallo for a gorgeous Melon Granita. The coast road was great with people jumping into the sea wherever possible. From Rapallo we went up over the Via alla Crocetta (610m) , then we descended down into the valley to pick up the main road to Carasco, then a gentle slog back up to base camp at Borzonasca. Good day around 130 Kms in the bag with a new entertaining climb.
Dinner at"Jesus" then loads more of the red stuff just to try and slow us down onn Friday. After much muscical discussion we did get to bed around 2, fine preparation for a long ride on Friday.
Day 2, Friday:
We decided to do Passo Bocco then whizz down Ghifi and see how we felt once back in Borzonasca. As always Bocco was lovely, a nice climb of around 16Km with a steady gradient and a few ramps, great for Simono's hangover.
This is a view about 9Km's up Bocco looking down to here we started.
This is a view about 9Km's up Bocco looking down to here we started.We belted down Ghifi and were thankful that we decided not to come back up it that day. The decent is so beautiful and I managed to stay on around all the right hand bends.
Back in Borzanasca we decide to do Belpiano the steep way round from the village, then come back to the flat and go to Chiavari for a swim in the sea and a therapeutic ice cream.
Chiavari is so sumptuous with every corner offering a photo opportunity.
Neil even spied a new "project" to work up using his Rholoff hub gear!
And back in Borzanasca Simono was contemplating an alternative to his Alfa!
Day 3, Saturday:
Gorgeous day, we headed off down to Carasco then along the valley to Micheloni to start my favourite climb up to Romaggi. The temperature was up and we made great progress up to the ramp at 4Km. Then the big push up the switchbacks to Romaggi at 6Km, here we found out Neil had punctured so S and I enjoyed the views with only 4Km of climbing left.
View from 6Km looking down to the coast.
Simono arrives at 6Km.
The house with a view just at the false flat at Romaggi village.
Our view of the last 4Km ramp up to the summit through the trees. All back together off we go.
View acroos the valley of our descent on Day 1, those roads look rather tortuous no wonder the brakes got hot.
Simono arrives at the top of Romaggi climb, hot and helmetless! Good job done.
Two tired steel cyclocross bikes, Romaggi conquered, now down to the valley, spot of lunch, back up to borzanasca then a quick dash up to the top of La Forcella, circa 1000m, 17 Km climb from Borzanasca. Last climb of the holiday, great dash back to B then pack our bags and off to spend the night at Martin's house closer to Pisa.
Martin's back garden, my bed for the night! 
Martin's pool, a welcome respite.
View of village from the road, you can see Martin's house on the end with his pool.
