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P154 FEATURE I EDELWEISS BIKE TRAVEL happened to be closed, they had a tasty alternative lined up. We would also make several scenic/photo stops throughout the day—some were culturally significant locations, like Lake Trasimeno, where Hannibal's forces ambushed the Romans in the Second Punic War. Or the desolate landscape of one of Bud Spencer's famous spaghetti Westerns (if you know, you know). Other stops allowed us to pause and take in the beauty. Lunch was usually around 12:30 or one, and the afternoon brought more sightseeing stops or a (phenomenal) gelato break. We would roll into our evening accommodations around 5:30 or 6:00. When we arrived at the also have our daily ride briefing. This is when the guides, who took turns leading the group and driving the van, would review our route on a map and highlight specific stopping points and the day's itinerary. At 8:30, we would be geared up, on the bikes, and ready to ride. Each day, we would stop for espresso/cappuccino and a cornetto around 10:30 a.m. Edelweiss had already scouted out the best, most scenic, and delicious coffee stops, so we always had a specific destination in mind. That said, Domenico and Michaela were great at adjusting to condi - tions on the ground, so if the little mom-and-pop coffee shop spotting old classics still on the road and gassing it around, but in Italy motorcycles are also just a basic means of transportation for everyday people—whether that's someone in a cobble - stoned mountaintop village or the businesswoman on her way to the office in Rome. Motorcy - cles are everywhere, and there is a sense of camaraderie, accep- tance, and safety that we have never felt riding in the USA. OUR KIND OF ROUTINE From the first day of our tour to the last, we followed a basic routine: breakfast, which was included with our hotel stays, at 7:30 a.m., then luggage at the van by 8:15, when we would You know you're not in Georgia anymore. (Above) We experienced many wide-open spaces without traffic. (Below) A room with a view. This was just one of the eight fantastic hotel stays along this tour.