Stage 18, June 28

After Morning Prayer, Paolo ferried all the bikes with Bill, Giancarlo, and Father Terry to Radicofani. Then he returned to get the luggage and the rest of us. The ride on the gravel road was bumpy but beautiful.

We arrived at the church, where our bikes were assembled and ready for riding. We met the parish priest again, and he was very helpful in finding some place for us to eat breakfast, since breakfast was not served at the Agriturismo.

After breakfast, we enjoyed a long descent from Radicofani and continued riding through the volcanic area of this part of Italy.

Our first big climb came when we went up the volcano which surrounds Lago di Balseno.

We stopped for a break at Lago di Bolsena, where we refilled our water bottles to prepare ourselves for the next climb to Montefiascone. 

After a long climb, we finally arrived at Montefiascone for a lunch break.

There had been at one time a papal court established in this beautiful town. We went through the city walls and found a very nice restaurant in the center of the city. The Square was beautiful.

Unfortunately, we got the slowest waiter and cooks in all of Italy. It took us two hours to order and eat lunch. Although the food was very good, we did not need that much time sitting around.

After lunch, we enjoyed another wonderful descent, until we came to the next volcano. We endured a very long climb of 10 miles. Finally, we arrived at the top and biked around the rim of the volcano surrounding Lago di Vico, another beautiful volcanic lake, and got lost several times. After a very long day of riding 76 miles and climbing 5500 feet, we finally arrived at the monastery where we were staying. The monastery was Benedictine, Dedicated to St. Vincent the Martyr. After dinner, we celebrated Mass, prayed evening prayer, and prepared ourselves for tomorrow's ride into Rome.

Bill Corbett's bicycle was having difficulties in the rear wheel. The master mechanics were working on it.

It is hard to believe that we have come this far, almost 1200 miles. We are only 40 miles from Rome. We plan to get up early tomorrow morning, so that we will arrive in Rome in time to pray the Angelus at noon with Pope Francis. Next to Christmas and Easter, tomorrow is the most important feast day in Rome. It is the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. The pope will celebrate Mass in the Basilica of Saint Peter and present the Pallia to the new Archbishops. We will join the crowds in the Piazza, with our distinctive outfits, and smelling really bad!