Past Venice on the lagoon

I am trying to write about my cycling trip but I am stuck. I find it difficult to write about facts, describe places and people. I just don’t have this ability. Maybe this is the reason why the paper remained blank throughout my whole life whenever I tried to write anything. Now I am literally involved in this affair and I have to continue and find a solution! I will try to do my best. It might not be a pleasant, flowing reading though.

The first stage of the trip was along the heavily trafficked highway strada statale 14. I set out at 6 am in the morning from home with my gear, helmet and bags. I was thrilled and full of joy. I have to say now something I am not proud of: I removed the helmet short afterwards and never again wore it. You will now learn something more about me, which deeply identifies me: I hate objects and accessories. I find them bulky and stressing. And I tend to forget them all the time. Of course it’s not always possible to remove completely all objects but you will never ever see me hanging around with a bag or a purse, for example. These objects, helmet included are irritating, disturbing obstacles to human's well-being.

Returning back to my journey something really fortuitous happened in the early morning. I was still in the outskirts of Trieste when I had my first curious meeting with Lawrence, now my friend, that was doing his routine cycling workouts and that eventually recognised me. I had been in the shop he was working in, a couple of days before, to buy a spare inner tube and ask questions. It was really surprising to meet him so randomly at 7 am in the morning on the road. After a short chat he wished me good luck and our itineraries split. I was again cycling on my own.

The day continued monotonous, I had a break with fresh water at Palazzolo dello Stella. It was after that break that I risked to be pulled down a furious car on a bend. I suddenly agreed it would have not been a good idea to bring a child with me. However out of the 920 km/ 571 miles I cycled, that was the first and last time I felt threatened by cars.

Day one finished in the afternoon at Bibione, after about 95 km of cycling. Stop-over at friend’s house. Pleasant evening, swimming, chatting.

The second day my destination was Punta Sabbioni at the far end of the Litorale Cavallino from where I would get a ferry to reach the islands of Lido, Pellestrina and Caroman that protect the city of Venice from the open sea. It was a really hot day and I remember struggling those 90 km to reach Punta Sabbioni. I had stretched the route and visited Caorle on the way, which resembled a small Venice. I was discovering the lagoon and its unique settlements. Venice is the most famous canal town but it’s not the only one. In past there were actually many settlements built on the water all over the lagoon and competing with one another. Just Venice became a super power and grew up in a magnificent city.

I arrived in the touristy Punta Sabbioni at around 3 pm and took the ferry with the one-day ticket valid for all the islands. I could finally rest and enjoy the Adriatic Sea. The lagoon in front of Venice is not exactly what we define beauty but I did feel excited in front of it. The sound of the ripples has always a strong impact on me. It reminds me of home. During the navigation people were asking me about my trip and destination. They were curious seeing my heavy backpacks and the most common question was if I was scared travelling alone. After short the ferry reached Lido, a 11 km/7 miles long sandbar, ideal for cycling and as beautiful as Venice but less crowded. On the one side of the island, facing Venice, where the cycling path was, belle époque villas with pretty canals were placed. On the opposite side a long sandy beach.

Finally cycling became a pleasure, cycle lanes, few cars, few people and beautiful scenery. It didn’t take long to reach the far end of the island where I had to take the second ferry to Pellestrina. This island is even more impressive than Lido, much more isolated and quiet, unchanged in time. I cycled through different colorful villages to the far end of the island which is connected to the former island of Caroman by the so called Murazzi, A 10 km long dam built to protect the lagoon from sea erosion. Cycling on the dam is a unique experience, as if you were on a bridge but much closer to the surface of the sea. Caroman is a real hidden gem, unknown to the most, visited by few locals. I arrived really exhausted and with my last energies I pushed the bike through the dunes on the beach where I finally jumped in the waves and had a great swim. I was in heaven.

Caroman was definitely the best part of the day and I wished I could have stayed more, but I had pressure to catch the last ferry to Chioggia. I had to leave that same day because my couchsurfing host was waiting for me in Chioggia.

It was on the ferry that I had my second curious meeting, with Christian who cycled all the way from Padua to spend a day on the beach. I was really ecstatic, free, alive. I realised that it’s the people you meet along the way who make travel such a rewarding experience.

Ooooohh… am exhausted, writing is definitely much more tiring than cycling. And the writing is not so bad after all. Maybe I was wrong believing that I wasn't able to write or maybe I just didn’t approach writing in the right way. I am starting to appreciate it!

#Italy #Veneto #Venezia #longdistancecycling #lagoon #beach #ferry #Adriaticsea