Far From the Madding Crowd

Italy Tour – Sun 10^th July 2016 – Cycling the Lido
Weather: 24⁰C min – 29⁰C max, hot and sunny

Photos:
Lido to Pellestrina (cycling)
Lido to Piazzale Roma (ferry)
Riding the Lido (mapped photos)

Maps:
Piazzale Roma to Lido (ferry)
Lido to Pellestrina (cycling)

Videos:
Lido to Piazzale Roma, Venice (ferry)

It was inevitable that I would return to Lido, the island of bikes! After two days of not riding a bike I was having withdrawal symptoms, so I caught the 9:45 am Actv ferry from Piazzale Roma in Venice to Lido and hired a bike (only €9 for the whole day) from a bike rental shop called Lido on Bike right near the ferry wharf. I was worried that I was not carrying any credit card or form of identification, but it didn’t matter because they accepted a €50 note as security.

“The Lido” is an 11-kilometre long sandbar on an island about 7 Km from Venice. The island is home to three settlements. The Lido itself, in the north, is home to the Film Festival. Malamocco, in the centre, was the first and, for a long time, the only settlement. Alberoni at the southern end is known for its golf course. At least half the Adriatic side of the island is a sandy beach, much of it belonging to the various hotels that house the summer tourists. These beaches are private, though towards the northern and southern ends of the island there are two enormous public beaches. The Adriatic Sea is fairly clean and warm, so there were lots of swimmers in the water today as the temperature climbed towards 30 degrees.

Exploring an island by bike is a treat that normally tourists never experience; all they get to see is the tourist strip at the end of the ferry pier. From the buffy seat of my flat-bar hybrid bike I got to see the real Lido on my 43 Km round trip from Lido at the top of the island to Pellestrina at the bottom. Steaming along on compacted dirt paths and traffic-free roads, the only frustration I had was that I kept feeling for the gears to go faster … but there were none because I was riding a fixed-wheel bike (which reminded me of the bikes I used to ride when I started riding about 65 years ago).

What a contrast from Venice it was to be riding through charming, unspoiled, fishing villages with a string of commercial fishing boats moored in front of quaint, brightly-painted, humble little houses. Being Sunday, extended families were gathered around large outdoor tables laden with delicious food and ample bottles of vino. Animated conversations were under way and laughter was in the air. Some fishermen were tending to their boats and others hanging out their nets to dry.

As I rode along the narrow island I could see clear blue water on both sides, with boats of all types taking advantage of the warm summer sunshine.  At one stage there was a gondolier race in progress, with very vocal cheering from the coaches following in motor boats or riding along the path on the bank.

I continued on to Strada Zaffi da Barca where I caught a small car ferry to Santa Maria del Mare, then continued cycling as far as Pellestrina. My plan was to catch the ferry across to Chioggia, but when I looked at the timetable I noted that the ferries were so infrequent there was a risk I would not be able to return the bike before the rental shop closed at 7 pm, so I turned around and returned to Lido.

For me the true meaning of the word “carefree” has been revealed today. Life doesn’t get any better than this!