Day 6 of possibly 17 cycling days from Piacenza to Rome. 

We started the day early to see the sun rise over the sea. We had a full breakfast by the beach, then reluctantly packed up and set off up a 10km hill to cross the rocky promontory from Lerici back to the mainland. It’s another beautiful day. Pleasant cycling weather. We stopped at the top in a beautiful village which classes itself as one of Italy’s most beautiful. Fair point! We enjoyed morning coffee before a rapid descent to join the busy coast road. Back to reality. There are many ship yards and chandlers. It’s a 20km strip with bars, hotels and beaches - in Italy these are all private and one has to pay to use them. 

My cycle chain has worn out and it clicks and clunks the whole time when pedalling hard uphill. It’s done a few thousand km. Luckily a bike shop had the correct chain and changed it for me on the spot. My cycling is now silent. 

We cycle through Carrara of famed marble. Even the road curbs are marble. 

Lunch then a short hop to our hotel on the seafront. It’s the style of an old Italian villa with high ceilings and shutters. Cool with good views of the sea in one direction and hills with marble quarries in the other. 

We left our panniers and cycled 5km inland to admire the marble cathedral in Massa’s old town and returned to meet our friends, Ruth and Masoud, who arrived this afternoon after a two day drive. Champagne then over the road to choose a seafood supper.