At one point this week, it seemed likely that if we wanted to go and watch the race we would have to cycle there ourselves, as our car still languished in the garage, so we were pleased to get the car back yesterday evening, meaning we'd be able to drive there. Having rooted around on the internet trying to find any actual information on the route and the start time of the race (heaven knows why there is so little information available - it's almost as if they don't want any spectators, or perhaps it's a test of spectators' dedication with only the most persistent and dedicated being able to find out the details and turn up at the right time), I eventually stumbled across a schedule yesterday and found out that the start of the race would be roughly 1pm. Feeling pleased with myself, my bubble was soon burst when Stuart dropped the bombshell that he had just arranged between Donatella, her contact and Izmet (the guy with a truck), to finally pick up the long-awaited water tanks today... at 2pm.
I was crestfallen and resigned myself to waiting until next year to watch the cycling, but Stuart was not that easily deterred! He felt sure that we would be able to fit it all in, so the plan was to drive to Altopascio for around 12.30pm, watch the race, then hot-foot it back home in time to meet Donatella and Alex and go to arrange collection and delivery of the tanks.
So, this morning started with a bit of work, followed by a trip into town to walk Reggie. It felt like such a novelty to go out in our car - we'd been without it for a week, but it felt like longer. We decided that, to celebrate, we would drive into town, walk Reggie along the river, then treat ourselves to a coffee. We duly parked up at the top end of the square, opened up the boot... and Reggie refused point blank to budge. Poor Reggie doesn't like towns, cars, people, noise... and although we knew that we were right by the edge of the square and would be heading straight out of it towards safer river territory, Reggie clearly didn't, and he decided he felt safe and perfectly happy remaining in his crate in the car. He sat there and rested his chin on the edge of the crate, but no amount of coaxing would encourage him out. Having just bought a parking ticket, we decided that a quick change of plan was in order: we would have coffee first and then find a quieter spot to park up and walk.
We therefore went straight into Franco's bar for a cappuccino (the best in town, in my opinion), then got back into the car and drove to the bins near to Chris and Sue's house. Once here, in a quieter and very familiar spot, Reggie jumped straight out of the car as soon as we opened the door on his crate, and we had a nice walk along the quiet track that leads from there towards San Lorenzo.
As we neared San Lorenzo, we were surprised to see lots of brightly coloured vehicles in the car park - and quickly realised that one of the cycling teams must have spent the night there. Yesterday's stage of the race finished in Abetone, and with today's starting in Montecatini, San Lorenzo probably worked out as a good half-way stopover point. There were team cars, bikes, and the bus driver was busy polishing the windscreen of the team bus. That gave us a taste for what was to come, and we hurried back home looking forward to seeing the action.
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| Apparently the world's first Italian-Japanese team stayed overnight at San Lorenzo. |
Since our guests, Diane and Ernest, had expressed an interest in watching the race as well, we decided that we would drive there in convoy, leaving the house at 12pm. So, after another quick session at my desk, it was time for a lightning fast sandwich and to head out the door.
We slowly made our way towards Altopascio, not really knowing exactly where to head - there was no signage, no ribbons, no balloons, no banners, nothing to suggest anything out of the ordinary would be happening. When we eventually got close to the town, we spotted that the road into the central part of the town had a small barrier across half of it, with an even smaller, more insignificant sign on it. On getting closer, we realised that the sign did indeed say (words to the effect of) 'road closed for Giro d'Italia', so we found somewhere to park and carried on on foot.
Thankfully, we didn't have far to go before we spotted some Carabinieri, municipal police, and a small crowd of people - we'd found the right place.
We only had to wait around 20 minutes before the motorbikes, police cars and team cars came streaming through, followed by the small leading group of two cyclists, and then hot on their heels came the peloton.
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| That's Alberto Contador in the pink jersey. |
They whooshed by in a flash - but we managed to pick out Alberto Contador, thanks to him currently being in the pink jersey (the Giro's equivalent of the yellow jersey worn by the race leader), and it was all very exciting for cycling geeks like us (we even felt a little star struck). We were really pleased we'd made the effort to get there.
Once it was clear that the spectacle was over (when one of the official race cars screeched to a halt and a man jumped out, pulled down a 'road closed' sign then sped off again in hot pursuit of the rest of the race, it was quite clear that there was nothing more to see, and within seconds the crowd was dispersing and the road barriers being removed!), we headed back to our respective cars, with Diane and Ernest intending to head for Montecarlo while we hot-footed it back home for our tank collection.
We got in the car, told Diane to follow us, turned the key and... the CAR WOULDN'T START!!!! Yes, less than 24 hours after getting the car back from the mechanic, it was clear that this particular problem had definitely not been fixed. We weren't surprised, but we were exasperated. Ironically, we were only just a little way down the road from the garage, but with an appointment to keep, we didn't have time to call them out. Instead, Ernest and Diane gallantly offered to help push the car so that we could bump start it, so while I got into the driver's seat, Ernest, Diane and Stuart pushed with all their might to get the car rolling just enough to get the engine going. Talk about above and beyond the call of duty! Yet again, we were immensely grateful for having such generous and understanding people around us.
Once we got going, we headed towards Pescia, pointing Ernest and Diane in the direction of Montecarlo when we came to the right turning. We then hot-footed it to the meeting point for the tank collection, at one of the factories on the edge of town.
As planned, Izmet turned up with a couple of mates in a truck, and Alex and Donatella arrived shortly afterwards. Donatella spoke with her contact, Alessio, then Izmet and his mates got on with loading the tanks onto the back of the truck. We were all gob-smacked when we saw the truck come around the corner from the back of the factory with all six tanks loaded precariously on the back of the truck, secured with rope. We had all been expecting it to be a two-journey process and, looking at the tanks on the back of the van, I think all four of us were dubious as to whether they would make it up the hill and along our drive. Nevertheless, we set off up the road, us leading in our car, followed by Izmet in the truck, and Alex and Donatella after them.
Well, they made it down the drive in one piece (or six pieces), and once here, Izmet turned to Stuart and told him that he had rendered the outside of our house!
After unloading the tanks, Izmet and his mates left, and Alex and Donatella came in for a cold drink and a catch-up. We spent an enjoyable hour or so chatting, before Alex and Donatella headed home to take their dog, Ray, for a walk, I headed back to my office for a short spell and Stuart whizzed up some three-bean dip, having invited our guests up for a drink and nibbles this evening. Well, after having pushed our car for us on their holiday, a bit of three-bean dip is the least we can offer!!
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