After a busy season at Serre Des Ormes, it was time to pack our bikes and head for our own cycling holiday with our friends Maryana and Philippe. Last year it was the Spanish Island of Mallorca (for the day !!) this year, a little longer to the Island of Sardinia. The plan was tot ake the ferry from Toulon to Porto Torres and a 10 day loop around the North of the Island exploring the mountains and famous coastline. Arriving of the ferry in Porto Torres at 6am meant we had time for a coffee and pastry waiting for enough twilight to ride. The ride and scenery outbb of Porto Torres was uninspiring but the dawn light and the morning mist made for a nice ride. With the unexpected early start we had time for the out and back to Argentiera. Initial impressions of a run down holiday resort we found the old mining (we assume for silver given the name!!) village. Closed long ago and now converted to social enterprise it was a insight into the areas history. Then down and along the coast to Capo Caccia where Kate and Maryanna descended the 634 steps and took the tour of Neptune’s cave.... which apparently was well worth the effort ! From there it was into Alghero, a spot of lunch, a swim and a bit of gravel riding and negotiating the old streets to reach our B&B. Our B&B (Or rather just B!) was perfectly located on the waterfront in the historic town of Alghero. A really chilled out place to watch the sunset with a local beer.J2 of our Sardinian adventure began along the hilly coastal route to Bosa, a cyclists dream even with loaded bikes. A top of water bottles at a brilliant public fountain dispensing chilled sparkling water for 10cents a litre before an eventful lunch stop where Kate unluckily managed to loose a sunglass lens down a drain but luckily right outside a shop selling « genuine » Ferrari replacements for only 5euros!! A detour to the planned route meant we got to see the colourful houses of the old town. From there it was mainly climbing on some very scenic routes up to Moldano and Cuglieri for an ice cream before a long climb over to Santa Lussurgiu and our hidden retreat for the night😉 Sardinia Day 3! Well after the most amazing breakfast we had to ride our bikes!! After successfully escaping the narrow steep cobbled streets of Santu Lussurgiu we had a very pleàsant 20k descent to start the day. Then the first big climb of the day rising through some picturesque villages whilst getting past by the leaders in the ultrabiking Sardinia 790km ride! I spotted a nice looking cafe on the second descent of the day and what a great experience and we treated to home made pasta with Gorgonzola in a raging sauce... delicious and such a friendly host. The final climb of the day was a brute.. 6 or 7 k with some 12% sections. No col sign to reward us at the top just a spooky village known in the past for kidnappings😁 From there a descent to the lovely town of Gavoi and to Lago Gusana for the night . Day 4 and I I had two route options for today and over a few beers last night we decided to go for the bigger one.. and what a route! After another cake fueled breakfast we headed out early from Lago Gusana with a reasonably easy start around the lake before the first of the climbs for the day. From then on the roads flowed up and down and through some lovely villages before our lunch stop in Seulo... famed for the lost centenarians in the world... must be the diet of Porc judging by lunch! After lunch the route was much more punchy before the most amazing high level route. Not the greatest of surfaces but with views like that who wants to go fast!! Our stop for the night... Lago Alto. Another top day, well done to all 👍👍👍👍👍👍 Day 5 and Again we chose the longer of the two route plans and were rewarded with a fantastic road through the mountains. Big big views made the climbs climbable and the descents a dream. A coffee and pastry stop in Ulassai before the long sweeping descent down the coast. It was a while till we got a proper sea view (ask Kate!) and an even longer wait for our Octopus sandwiches... but well worth it. Afterwards a swim in the sea and an ice cream, which we all slightly regretted on the 500m climb to Baunei. But what a climb! From Baunei, a bustling village perched in the mountains and popular with climbers and walkers, we continued onwards and upwards towards Genna Silana (1017m). The climbing was never steep and the views always impression. From there it was a long descent down toward Cala Gonone. With the rain starting, we opted to drop our bags at the hotel before the final part of the descent into the village. Braving the showers we headed along the coastline to Cala Fusili, a spot popular with climbers and for the caves. The others braved a swim whilst I wrote this 😀😀 Day 7 and Almost a split in the peleton’s route choice today but we settled on the coast over the mountains. The day started with the lesser known, quieter, scenic but brutal climb out of Cala Gonone. 12-13% all the way but the photos were worth it:) Heading inland on a mix of roads before stopping for a coffee and pastry in Galetti, a town with a bizarre mix of historic buildings and unfinished houses. It set the tone for the day. From there it was back to the coast and lunch in Cala Liberotto. Ordering Tagliata we were hopeful for pasta but it turned out to be another meat feast.. we were confused why we were asked how we wanted it cooked 🤣🤣 Well fed again, we continued northwards towards La Caletta near Posada. A real mix of quiet sandy beaches, villas and half built holiday complexes.. I guess from past timeshare investments gone wrong. No ice cream to be found... fridges switched of for the winter. So beer and crisps it was to round of another good day on the bikes. Day 8 of our tour and the cloudy weather didn’t put Kate off watching the east coast sunrise before our breakfast feast at our ‘Butlins’ resort hotel:) We started the day trying to each the Castle in Posada but after several 15% cobbled street sections we found a locked gate!! Unperturbed we continued northwards along the SS125 coastal road. This mornings coffee stop was in San Teodoro, clearly a chic seaside town, where we avoided the bar with the owners Hummer parked outside.. and went for the bar opposite the house of tat 😀 Continuing north and after a well worth aller-retour to Capo Cavallo, we arrived in the city of Olbia for lunch and a play in the monkey park. Onto Golfo Aranci, at first glance disappointing but finally found a nice swim spot and gelataria to round the day off🚴‍♂️🏊‍♂️🧗‍♂️🌮🍦 We had heard great things about the NE coast but were a bit underwhelmed. It felt like you needed a yacht, villa or chic hotel to get the best of it but touring the roads just felt busy. Maybe we didn’t go far enough North but the high winds put us off so we took the inland route across the hills. The highlight though was the amazing rocks around Aggius which were well worth the diversion. The last bit of coastal road was a real battle, fast cars and a strong head wind BUT Castelsardo is impressive and an ice cream and beer were a welcome reward🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🍦🍺😀 The last day and despite the winds pleasant enough cycle along the coastal road and cycle path from Castelsardo to Porto Torres. The day started with Philippe helping out a local fisherman who had caught a huge squid but evaded capture by hiding under the rocks!! After 15 minutes or so the line snapped and the squid escaped. Unfortunately with the forecast storms it looks like a delayed crossing.