A Beautiful Bike Ride

Ever since watching (and reading) "Under the Tuscan Sun" I have been in love with Tuscany! And since watching the movie with the "Cake Night" crew...I have been dreaming of visiting and eventually purchasing a villa out here (someday). So since being in Italy, I knew I had to experience Tuscany more than just the train and bus rides through it.

So I decided to take a bike ride. The nice young lady who ran the hotel was sweet enough to allow me to borrow their bike and gave me directions to the hills. So early on our first morning in Siena, I went off on my bike ride. At first I was a little dissapointed because I could not find a quick way to the Tuscan hillsides, but after riding along the highway with Italians speeding by in their tiny cars and exploring a few driveways (that still offered beautiful views) I found the road I was looking for. I love this picture. I think it is great to see the bridge spanning a river of sunflowers!

The road took me up into the Tuscan countryside, road me past the golden wheat fields, charming villas and through small towns (if you can call three houses grouped together a town). But I had such an amazing time! Tuscany is so beautiful and peaceful! I had such a great time riding past Italians taking their early morning walks and greating them with a friendly "Buonogiorno." I even recieved a friendly honk of a tractor horn as he passed me along one of the smaller roads. It was just absolutly a wonderful bike ride and was exactly what I have been wanting to do for so long!

As I neared the end of my little bike journey (about 1 1/2 hrs into it) I discovered what I thought would be a very quick way back to our hotel. I mean I could see the hotel from the hills above and a road that would take me directly there. So with my time running short, since I was supposed to meet Lauren at 11:00 to head to Siena, I was excited that the way back seemed to be so easy. But as I have learned with most everything over here...it is never as easy as you first believe. Instead of an easy way back I was again confronted with the same construction I had encountered earlier. With a fence blocking my path I decided to avoid obtaining a big fine for entering a construction zone and decided to look for another route back. I mean, you would think there would be a detour somewhere new, but I just could not find it.

Still on the pursuit of a detour I rode up some hills past a few more houses, but I felt as if I was going in the total wrong direction, so I made the decision to just go back the way I had come. It might be a long ride back to the hotel...but I figured at least I knew it would be me back, even if I was an hour late. So as I was starting to head back (walking my bike up the hill), an Italian man drove by. So I waved him down and asked him for a ride to the town. He did not speak much english, but he did understand that I wanted a ride to town and eventually I was able to explain to him what hotel I was wanting to go to. But he was so sweet and put my bike in the back of his truck and drove me to the hotel!

I think I scared the hotel lady when I showed up back at the hotel in a pick-up, since it was her who sent me out alone on a ride. But I quickly explained to her that I was alright, and not lost...I was just running out of time and wanted a quick ride home.

But I had the most fantastic time on the bike ride through Tuscany, I was definitely able to experience it's beauty. And now I even have a funny story to tell about how I had to hitch a ride home...all I can say is only me. It always seems like things like this happen to only me! =)