
Pedalling through beautiful Tuscan landscapes, along rivers and canals, time evaporates as you ease into travelling the slow way. My partner Nik, who travels almost everywhere by bike, and I, a lapsed cyclist, were on a seven-night, self-guided cycle tour that took us on a 275km route from Pisa's leaning tower to Florence's Ponte Vecchio. Staying in hotels just outside the city centres, we'd stoke up on plentiful breakfasts, then set off on four- to five-hour cycles. In the evenings, we'd find a restaurant and dine on ribollita (Tuscan soup) and rich pasta served with artichokes, asparagus and lobster, washed down with a chilled Vermentino Toscana.
Basking in around 30 degrees of sunshine, the countryside was all shades of green. Vineyards, olive groves and wheat fields punctuated by spires of emerald cypresses rolled into a backdrop of hills and distant mountains. We cycled at a pace to suit ourselves, on paths fringed with red poppies and yellow field marigolds. Every now and then we'd stop to glug some water and admire the scenery, watch an egret take off from the banks of a river or see swifts circling buildings.
As in life, the route was sometimes smooth, sometimes rough, with tough uphills and thrilling descents. Between medieval cities, tractors would chug along country lanes, two-stroke scooters would fill our nostrils with smelly fumes, we'd hear the hum of machines as we passed through small industrial areas, and breathe in the scent of rich jasmine as we breezed alongside lush gardens.
Pisa to Lucca
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN...You quit dairy
Your body might thank you, although your taste buds could struggle at first

Secret signs YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE
Could your body be showing the telltale hints of a hidden condition?

Tasty CHICKEN MAINS
Ramp up your weekend menu with our delicious ideas

Take control of JEALOUSY for GOOD
Does it sting when others have it all? Here's how to conquer the secret green-eyed monster lurking inside

They say NEVER WORK WITH ANIMALS...
From managing a rebel penguin to training cats for the big screen, furry, feathered colleagues can be somewhat unpredictable

Get ready to LIVE TO
It’s not just our minds and bodies that need to be prepped, it’s our bank balances too, says Faith Archer

In conversation with HEIDI PERKS
The thriller writer on how her fears influence her books and the joy of writing courses

Get back in SEXUAL SYNC
Having mismatched sex drives is very common – but help is at hand

'I've no intention of GROWING UP'
Stepping back from her show, following in the footsteps of Marian Keyes and embracing her new role as Granny Smith, Queen of Daytime and author Lorraine Kelly is entering a whole new chapter

MULTI gen LIVING Success or stress?
Kids, parents and grandparents all under one roof is on the rise, but it's not without complications, as Kim Willis explains