Photo: Looking like a dodgy boy band from the 90’s, Pansèrs on our post lunch walk.

Twice a year we experience the mixed emotions of moving homes. The sadness of leaving friends behind but excited to see friends and family we haven’t seen for a while.

My final ride of the year in Italy was the second edition of the Giro di Olio Extra Vergine di Casa Angeletti, Cartoceto DOP. A ride amongst the hills of Marche ending at our house to taste this year’s olive oil that we’d harvested the week before.

The rain cut the ride short as the Pansèrs decided to return to Fano, get changed and showered before coming to our place. I think it was all a rouse to spend more time eating and drinking. It turned out that way.

We started with bruschetta and the oil. When freshly harvested, all you need is toasted bread drizzled with oil. Simple and delicious. As is normal with cyclists after a ride, no matter how much food we put out it all went. The scones with real clotted cream and the honey and mustard sausages proved very popular.

Then I made a big mistake. After coffee out came the grappa. Followed by a bottle from the The Scottish Malt Whisky Society, then a bottle of Pedro Ximenex. You get the idea. A drunken walk to the village for more coffee and drinking. We were then invited to dinner with them. It was a long but wonderful day.

We will miss them very much, but London’s Calling.

Year to date

13,294 km / 118 rides / 112 km average per ride

135,020m elevation gain (15 Everests)