Time for Backroads Biking!

After a few great days in Bologna, Florence, San Leo and Imola it was time to start the real reason for the trip. Biking with Backroads!! To pick up the tour we had to take a train to Parma where we were to meet the trip leaders at 1030a at the train station.

We all were up and packed and I attempted to get a taxi. That wasn’t working, so we hauled our bags down the stairs and walked a few blocks to the main road where there would be a chance of taxis. As it was Sunday morning, which means church for many Italians, the

road was not busy and the few taxis we saw were full. Ok, Plan B.

From Google maps we determined that there was a bus passing by in about 9 minutes that went straight to the Bologna train station. We hauled our bags onto it, got to the train station in less than 10 minutes and had time for our cappuccinos and pastry before boarding the train for Parma.

After a quick hour and for some a quick snooze, we arrived to the Parma train station and had an hour to kill…so course more coffee. Our friend Jan arrived and at 1030, we found Melissa one of our trip leaders and Al and Victoria who are also on the trip. Melissa herded us to the bus and we were off on our Backroads biking adventure.

On the 30 minute ride outside of Parma where our bikes were

located, Melissa explained the logistics of the trip and all we needed to know for a smooth week. We arrived at an old convent, where Berta and Jordano our two other trip leaders had set up the bikes and had our helmets, gps and water bottles ready for us.

We had the requisite safety talk, tutorial on how to operate the GPS and an overview of our e-bikes which we all had reserved. For those that say “oh those are cheater bikes”…uh yeah…if you don’t pedal, you don’t go. And, they are known as the “great equalizers” as it allows those who are not expert cyclists to enjoy the sport and do routes that wouldn’t be as fun if you were to walk the entire way.

It was then time for a light lunch which was some wonderful fresh vegis, salad and risotto. No pasta in sight! Then it was time for the bikes.

We set off with the weather spitting a bit at us, but not enough to dampen our ride. We rode on small roads, bike paths and out amongst the pastures where you could (as they say in Texas) experience the “sweet smell of money”. Or, as I think of it….plain old stinky cows and pigs.

It was all quite flat and before we knew it, we had completed the first 21k and were at the meeting point. We could either take the van or do the last 11k, which had a little elevation (1000 ft). We all chose to do the ride, figuring out what they heck…let’s see what these bikes can do.

The ride was a gradual uphill, with the views getting more and more beautiful. Large villas, many with solar panels dotted the hills and around each corner we were looking at the valleys and hills of Parma. Along with the views, we also started to get more sprinkles

and by the time we arrived at our Antico Borgo Di Tabiono (where we are to spend two nights), the skies were opening up. https://www.tabianocastello.com/en/castle-in-salsomaggiore-terme

Al and Victoria got caught in the rain at the bottom of the hiil and grabbed the van, while Jan (who had bike issues in the beginning) powered through the rain and up the hill with Berta. With the rain now steadily falling, we all headed to our beautiful rooms for a few hours of relaxing before the castle tour and dinner.

After two hours of quiet time, the entire group met in the castle restaurant for a glass of wine before the tour. The rain had stopped, so hiking up the hill to the main part of the castle was slippery, but at least we weren’t getting soaked. The grandson to the owners took us through part of the castle, which was originally a fortress for defense. In the 1800’s it was purchased and turned into a residence with

decorations befitting the wealthy lifestyle.

After the tour we went back to the restaurant for a Backroads welcome glass of prosecco and then a wonderful dinner. It was a great way to end our first day of biking in Italy and a good prep for the rest of the week!