The Mud, the Bugs and the Parmesan

We couldn’t have sunshine all the time, right? Today was one of those “what a struggle” kind of days - rain pouring down, and paths that were… let’s say, far from ideal. But hey, we’ll just say we did it to keep moving forward.

To start with, we didn’t really have a choice: either an impassable highway or a trail that felt more suited for mountain bikes than ours. Mud everywhere, mosquitoes buzzing, and tree trunks blocking the way… you get the picture. After finally making it through that lovely section, we ended up on a long road packed with trucks. Quite the contrast!

Oh, and quick note about the gear - Pascal insists I mention that overshoes from the brand GripGrab are absolutely awesome 🤪

Cycling really keeps you humble: there’s often a big gap between what the map promises and what the terrain actually delivers. We get surprised all the time. Google, Komoot, and the rest still don’t have perfect algorithms to tell whether a route is truly bike-friendly!

Our bikes were so caked in mud that we ended up going through a car wash and blasting them clean with a pressure washer.

But the day ended on a high note in Parma: a visit to the stunning cathedral, followed by a well-deserved treat - great wine, Parma ham, Parmesan… and the longest wine list I’ve ever seen in my life.