Day 49 - 52

Day 49 - Lucca -> Vinci (70km)
Did a spot of sightseeing before leaving Lucca. Very nice place that I would like to visit with lots of money! Left after lunch and headed for the hills again. Passed through Vinci (where Leonardo is from) and headed high into the olive groves to stay in the Hills above Florence. A big old day again.

Day 50 - Vinci -> Florence (39km)
Rain today all the way to Florence. By the time we got to the city we were so bedraggled that even the hawkers didn't bother trying to sell us umbrellas. Was touch and go there for a while. Weather was not being good to us and we blew the day's budget buying a coffee and a sandwhich. But, we decided to look for the camp on the Michaelangelo Terrace, and stayed the night. We were even gladder when we met up with Bob and Barbara again completely by chance and spent another evening with them.

Day 51 - Florence -> Florence (0km)
Sun was shining today so we saw Florence in a whole new light. Visited 2 of the David replicas and the enormous Duomo. Various other sights of the city. Crossed the Ponte Vecchio (much easier this time without bikes) and eyed the mountains of gelato. Cooked dinner for B and B tonight in their van (ooo - 2 hobs simultaneously).

Day 52 - Florence -> Tavarnelle val di Pesa (62km)
Hills! By crikey. Left Florence to the south and visited Greve in Chianti, and its famous butchers. Met another couple of cycle tourers - doing it right with restaurants and b & b's. Decided to prolong timein Chianti as it was very beautiful. Meant doing a bit of a zigzag across to Tarvanelle. Hilly but not too many complaints in such beautiful countryside.