​Day 10- Sunday2018-10-14 Castellina - Colle di Val d’Elsa - Volterra return.

Day 10- Sunday2018-10-14 Castellina - Colle di Val d’Elsa - Volterra return.

After another good breakfast to as cycling fuel, we headed on our  biggest planned day yet. We would  ride to Volterra, about 50km away and about the same elevation as Castellina (560m). We descended down SP51 dropping to about 120m. The descent was a great way to start another sunny day.

At Colle di Valle, we met Karen who was having a rest day and driving. We enjoyed a Gelato and watched a 2yr old practice soccer amazingly well with a balloon

We cycled up and down via Castle San Gimignano  to eventually climb the summit at our destination in the wonderful walled town of Voltera. It’s a tough climb, and we felt an achievement to have made it. Half way statistics 769m, 52.68km

We found Karen in the picturesque main square as planned. It was at this location ten years ago with our boys  we had seen an amazing array of vintage cars.

Next was a much needed lunch of pasta in a great little outdoor restaurant.

The ride back had less stops and took just over 3hrs for 50km with 906m of vertical climb. Becky’s ebike used 3 batteries for the day.

I arrived back in the dark having taken longer then then others to to the climb to Castellina At 570m. The afternoon light and sunset provided a lot of photo opportunities.

Dinner was at a local pizza shop, which was surprisingly busy and better decor inside then expected. We discussed the big day and shared photos before returning for much needed rest.