14-07-2015     Siena → Perugia,   139 km

I've set my alarm a bit earlier than yesterday. Again a large bowl of cereals and two cappuccino's take about one hour to be consumed. I have some more small talk with Jan from München and leave the Ostello for the final time around nine o'clock. Although I mostly have to steer directly to the sun, it's complicated to find my way and it's not flat at all, to find the right way out of Siena and to get onto the S438 which is indicated pittoresco by the Michelin map makers. The junction, with also the E78, looks complicated, and it is. No signs of Taverne d'Arbia. The S438 is hard to find. It looks like I'm approaching a motor way, and after 500 m I realize I'm on the motor way! I cautiously retrace my steps and choose the least bad alternative, a short climb, a turn into the wrong direction which after a few km brings me onto the rather uninteresting, quite busy and quite straight R2. Luckily after 5 km there's a small road parallel to it. At Monteroni d'Arbia I turn eastward, pass under the R3 and come onto the lovely, gently rising and falling P12. Now there's a road I like! An open landscape, meadows, wheat fields, some sparse trees, and most of all: only a few clouds far away, not much wind, and very reasonable slopes.

	Siena Hostel on a sunny morning		The fun has started: into the hills
	Nice Australian quartet		with or without a Dutchman

Shortly past eleven I reach Asciano – I haven't covered much of the distance to Perugia yet – and meet a very friendly Australian quartet that is ready for a break as well. On the tree-shaded terrace we pass a lively half an hour. They are on their way to Siena – on a tour of two months or so – and are thinking of doing the last few kms by train. Good idea! After I've said goodbye to them I buy some food and drinks, a delicious king size nectarine among other things. The rest of the ride through this area is lovely too – apart from the tough last 15% stretch to Trequanda!

	Lovely hills		. . . .
	Trequanda		Quite a rude road!

After all these ever meandering roads I've covered quite a distance when I reach Torrita di Siena. It takes some searching – there aren't many opportunities – to find a place for a lunch break. A gelato, a panini, a coke and a lot of water. At the next table a bronzed manager of a hotel in Montepluciano can 'arrange' a room for € 50 for me. Nice offer, but no thanks! The rest of the stage is relatively flat. And relatively uninteresting. The sky is getting overcast. With a good pace I reach the Lago di Trasimeno at the village Castiglione del Lago. I don't want to climb the stairs to get a lake view, but a little later I see there's a road around for traffic. Which I try, and have a short photo break with lake view.

	Approaching		Castiglione del Lago
	At the Lago di Trasimeno		The staircase I refused to climb

I redescend and follow the lake for 17.5 km, with a favorable wind. After day 1 the average speed was less than 16 km/h; today it goes up to 19 km/h. At the south east corner of the lago I decide to 'risk' a climb, and indeed ride up to Agello, and after a quick descent get onto the S220, leading into Perugia. During rush hour (or so it seems) this is quite an annoying road, and the closer I get to Perugia the worse it gets; I'm not even sure whether cyclists are allowed on it. After the fast afternoon part I reach Perugia reasonably early; way before 6 p.m.

	Sidestep via Agello		Approaching Perugia
	The architecture I haven't much eye for		Around de Piazza IV Novembre

However, I have to find Little Italy Hostel, right in the (old) center! With the sun behind the clouds it is difficult to know/guess the right direction. I suppose I will have to get up to reach the historic center. I definitely do! On foot through the train station to pass the railway (as suggested by a local), and then two taxi drivers give quite clear and correct route information: Turn right at the semafori, and then it's four km up! They are (alas) quite accurate indeed. From the corners of my eyes I notice many towers and panoramas, but I don't give them much attention. Even with the knowledge that the youth hostel is only 100 m from the Piazza IV Novembre the Via della Nespola is very hard to find. At last someone knows where to find this little alley. In this hostel they've certainly made the most out of the little space that is available. I get a (numbered) bed in a 12-bedded dormitory (4 x 3 level high bunks). As often when there's ample choice in restaurants I have difficulty finding the right one. I end up in a place where the waitress is Dutch, but where I remain the only (sitting) guest. I'm starting to feel a bit lonely. Back 'home', the bed (mine is three up) is okay; people keep coming back all through the night – well, what would I expect. In the morning it appears that I have shared the dorm with thirteen (!) others.

Three beds high