Riding with Cosimo, custom cycling tours in Tuscany: Fun day wandering tiny roads around San Quirico di Moriano.

I had a blast riding today! I explored many tiny roads relatively close to where we are staying, as the forecast was for showers, and I even had hard rain in Loppeglia. I started by taking a road very close to the house, which climbs immediately above the back porch, where we spend most of our time at the house. I have seen vehicles on the road, and now I know where it goes. It is steep in places, and my plan was to take another road to the top of a small (550 meter) mountain, then retrace and explore. I found the road, but it was not in good shape, it became quite steep, around 20 to 25%, and I was getting buzzed by a cloud of flys. It made me turn around, which was a good idea. I need to stay safe out there, and 25% with a beat up surface and gravel in places spells trouble. I did find a very nice road and route through Arsina, which took me down to the valley the road to Camaiore goes through.

A kilometer or so on the Camaiore road, then another exploration through Mutigliano, which turned into a great ride, up to Pieve San Stefano. There were even maps on big signs that helped me determine the route. I had to change the plan a little with a road closure, but the road I ended up on was so fun, it switchbacked endlessly before heading back down to the valley of the Camaiore road. I ended up maybe 150 meters above where I started, but totally enjoyed the detour. Fun road. It is not about getting somewhere, but enjoying the ride. I rode up the Camaiore road to San Martino in Freddana, and turned off toward Loppeglia. The road is great, I rode it a couple of days ago, but today it started raining hard as I hit the town. There was a bar with a covered outside space right there when the rain hit, and I used it for shelter and a cafe. The owner said that the weather would continue to be some rain, some sun.

I had planned a tiny road that branched off just before the cafe, but it was tiny, steep, and with the rain and the skies threatening more, I headed up the same way I went a couple of days ago. I crested the hill, enjoyed the descent, and turned off on a different road toward the Serchio valley. I found another road I was hoping to ride and climbed to Fondagno, then Partigliano before descending into another valley that also goes to the Serchio. Checking the map in Valdottavo, I saw another detour through San Donato and Domazzano, which was another fun, tiny road. The sky was really turning black as I joined the old main road on the Serchio river, then decided to skip a last detour, and rode back through Ponte a Moriano. Back at Pio's for may end of ride beer, then home in some sprinkles. Super fun day of riding. Ciao a tutti!

Wandering the small roads close in to San Quirico di Moriano by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

The road just leaving Mutigliano, the start of my second

road exploration of the day.