(PS if you tap our photos you will get a short caption/description.)

Unfortunately, Ruth and Masoud need to return soon to the UK to travel to a family funeral. So today has to be the last cycling day 😔. We need to arrive at a town with a good rail service. We settle on Ostiglia on the north (other) side of the river. We pack up and leave our luxury 4* hotel in good time for what will turn out to be our longest cycling day yet. We retrace our steps to re-join the published cycle route along the river bank only to discover that the heavy rain of recent days has swollen the river which has now spilled over and flooded the land contained by the flood embankments that we have cycled along the top of for many many hours. The poplar groves which are planted in this land are now flooded and the reflection looks charming. Today’s route started out along the river bank(now flooded) before transferring to the top of the flood embankments. So we retrace our steps and deviate through the road network. By lucky chance this took us through the charming town of Guastalla, its street market (where Ruth and Masoud bought some cycle clothes) and its Palazzo Ducale.

Today’s route follows the tarmac top of the flood embankments all the way. It’s is overcast, cool but not raining! We pass tiny agricultural villages but little else.

Having discovered yesterday in Gualtieri about the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” association, we are pleased to note that we are passing another today - San Benedetto Po. We push on to reach it for a late picnic lunch. San Benedetto has an ancient monastery complex with church, a series of cloisters and a former infirmary. All of which have been or are in the process of being expensively restored. A complete and unexpected delight. It also has a great gelateria 🍦🍨.

We cycle a further 30km and make another fairly nervy bridge crossing of the River Po to reach Ostiglia and our BnB guest house.

Livia, our host, welcomes us to a beautifully renovated guest host. There is even a garage for our bikes. Livia recommends a restaurant serving local specialties. So we set off into town on our bikes to a bar and a bottle of Prosecco and nibbles and set off again to the restaurant. This serves “tigelle” (a bit like a pitta bread) and “gnocco frittato” (square deep fried puff pastry things) with a selection of hams, cheeses and salsas. Delicious and filling. A suitable end to this section of the cycle trip along the Po.