BAC Florence to Elba – Porto Azzurro to Massa Maritima

We had breakfast at 7:00. We wanted to catch an early ferry so that we would miss the afternoon heat on the climbs at the end of the route. I left the hotel at around 7:35 and arrived with a few others at the ticket office at 8:10. There are two competing ferry lines. We arrived on the Toremar line. The ferry schedules are coordinated between the two companies and our return trip at 8:30 was with the Moby line. The Moby ferries are cleaner, more colorful and have more amenities. They also cost more. Because we arrived as a group we got a discount on our tickets. A passenger with a bicycle costs Euro 18.80. The other line costs Euro 16.60.

We had a quiet ride, arriving in Piombino at 9:40. Julie and Tom pointed us in the right direction and we were off. I ended up leading a train of riders because the route was loaded onto my GPS. This was very helpful getting out of Piombino with its roundabouts and heavy traffic. After a few kilometers, Deborah and Ron were the only ones left on our train. After they took a long pull, they pulled off at a gas station to get some refreshments. So I rode solo through the flat farm belt for about 25 km.

The road that we were on for the last 2/3 of the route was a narrow farm road with very little traffic. The first part of it was flat with lots of crops growing in the fields. The last part of it was very hilly and went through forests, vineyards and olive groves. We had ridden this route in reverse two days ago, so we anticipating the steady, steep climb. It was still difficult in stretches. On the last steep pitch, I got off of my bicycle to catch my breath. I had trouble starting up the hill again because of the steepness. So I walked up another 100 feet to a lesser pitch and started riding again.

Our sag van was parked at the side of the road near the summit. Julie and Tom had picked up some bread and sandwich fixings so that we could have food on the route. Our route had no places to eat. I stopped for a jam sandwich and extra water.

Continuing on, we had several short, steep hills all of the way into our hotel in Massa Maritima.

Here are links to today’s ride to the ferry and from the ferry to Massa Maritima.

I joined Matt, Tim and Doug at a deli that we had gone to on our first day in Massa Maritima. I had ravioli stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach and covered with chingali sauce.

Soon, Julie showed up with the van. We picked up our bags, went to our rooms and cleaned up.

Later in the afternoon I found an ATM and some gelato.

This evening several of us went to Le Fate Briache Restaurant. It was a very small restaurant run by a mother and daughter. It specializes in typical food. I had a cold “soup” which consisted of  Tuscan beans, bread and other things. It was very filling. I also had small ravioli “pockets” stuffed with gorgonzola cheese and pears. It was yummy.