Ebifulumiziddwa: 16.05.2022
Spoiled by the EuroVelo 7 north of Bologna, I had hoped that the fantastic signage would also be present in the south. There are three options for continuing:
a) heading directly south, as described in this bike guide Munich - Rome and recently also sold as a pilgrimage route for hikers, but it is 90 km and 1100 meters in altitude to the next accommodation, so it's not an option
b) through the valley of the campsites, but the highway runs through there and there are not many smaller roads, generally not recommended for cycling
c) where I suspect the EuroVelo 7 continues, namely further west via Vergato.
Since I didn't want to go shopping yesterday, I have no breakfast left, I only make myself a tea. Fortunately, the large supermarkets in Italy are also open on Sunday mornings, I will need supplies and dinner as well.
Bologna is impressive, clean & safe, with impressive buildings, car-free city center, well-built Neptune. I will do the detailed city tours in another phase of life, not now - my beloved tent, as well as sleeping bag & sleeping pad, which are only secured by the luggage rack but not locked, can be easily taken away. Besides, I have already found that I am much more interested in people and their stories than in "Nabatean clay shards" or other ancient debris.
I don't know if I can't find the EuroVelo 7 because thousands of people are flocking to a football game or if it simply doesn't exist on this section yet, only in the planning stage. In any case, I will still get to Vergato. It's only 2:30 pm and most of the accommodations displayed on the internet are still closed or no longer in operation - but you usually only find out by asking - too remote or too luxurious and therefore too expensive.
Alright then, I can manage the last three hours as well. This Apeninno settentrionale is already very beautiful, but it's connected with a lot of altitude.
https://www.komoot.de/tour/770988309?ref=itd
Camping Mistral, €12, more like a campground in the woods than a Central European camping site, but beautiful, hot shower and fast WiFi, a popular restaurant in the evening even among non-campers