Day 1 - Leaving Pavia

My first sign for via Francigena! To be honest, the way marking is not very good with many junction without any direction. I had to push it for a stretch. This is the time I wish I had a fat bike. I even tried to put sticks on the path for the other pilgrims along the way. The GPS route I loaded on my iPhone (Galileo app) ready helped. I ride on the same path as the walker as much as possible but there is a few kilometer stretch where it is really difficult even for my bicycle so I had to go back to the road a bit. The worst was a stretch of very soft sandy road. It gets very bad for the bicycle as there are no traction and the bike being rear heavy was sliding everywhere. Saw my first 2 pilgrims. Judging by their backpack (Deuter) and their looks I guess they are Germans. Three more Italian pilgrims later on the road so this is not so too bad as I was afraid I may not see any pilgrims.

Day 1 Pavia

At the tourist office in Pavia to get my credential with the first stamp. Made a new Facebook friend Danilo who works at the tourist office. I guess he was surprise someone from Singapore is doing the via Francigena. Pavia is a beautiful university town with an old bridge. They even have a bike share. After relaxing a little and had a quick panini lunch I continued.

Day 1 Abbiategrasso to Pavia

The journey starts for Rosalinda's house. I have about 33 km to Pavia where I actually start the via Francigena proper and to get my credentials (pilgrim passport). A beautiful spring weather which later in the day I am only down to my shirt and cycling pants. Rosalinda is so nice and ride with me half way to Bereguardo.

Day 0 - Test Ride

Riding along the waterway with Rosalinda 13 km to Decathlon to have the front wheel true so the front brake can be adjusted properly. Back and another 5 km out to Morimondo and back. 36km in the afternoon, a good practice run.

At Rosalinda. The bike is almost ready

Just a quick test ride and maybe truing of the front wheel and it's almost as good to go.

All packed

8.5 kg without food or water. Think I can do better next time.

Will need this experience to see if I can pack lighter or even without panniers next time to really reduce the weight.

As it is here's what makes up the weight.

2 x panniers

1 x saddle bag (1 extra tube, hex keys set, 15mm and 13mm spanner combo, patch kit, tire levers, front/lights, bungee cords 2 small 2 large, small wire lock)

1 x handlebar bag (carry on in the flight with light rain/parka jacket, extra 4000Mah battery for 2.5 charges, air pillow, iPhone with offline maps/gps waypoints plus cables)

The other stuff for the panniers are similar to walking.
1 zip off to shorts walking pants (wearing one)
2 dry fit shirts (wearing one)
1x1 liter water bottle (only one cage) probably will carry a 1.5 liter water in the rear rack.
1 pullover
1 bicycle helmet
1 bicycle pants (in case zip off to short pants is not ideal)
1 cycling cap
1 buff
2 pairs if sock
1 pair of crocs sandals
1 small bicycle pump
1 sleeping bag 16 degrees (not intending to sleep outside)
1 rain pants
1 old padded open finger gloves (wouldn't have any hand positions so some padding would be needed)
1 bottle of chain lubricant
1 bag for toiletries with basic first add (gauze, antiseptic spray, medical tape and something for diarrhea)
1 small towel

That's it. Leaving later tonight.

Initial packing

2 panniers and a handlebar bag. Hopefully they can all fit into the light duffel bag. Now I am getting excited and wonder if I can keep the weight (without food/water) to 7-8 kg like a walker with a backpack. Although weight is less of an issue on a bike then walking it is still prudent not to weight down the bike too much.

OMG I can't believe how lucky I am

This via Francigena which I will be cycling later next week was original documented by the bishop Sigeric, who journey from Canterbury to Rome (via France/Switzerland over the St. Bernard pass) a thousand years ago. My journey is shorter and mainly from Rosalinda's house (a dear fellow pilgrim whom I had met on my Camino de Santiago in 2006) in Milan to Rome.

Tha would be 787 km instead of the 1900 km from Canterbury. I am so happy and honoured to be able to start from her house (or her albergue de peregrinos as she calls it).

When Rosalinda found out that I would need to get 2 things when I get to Milan, she went ahead and got me those ahead of time without my asking. The bike (with rear rack and bottle cage) and local SIM card is there waiting for me. I really owed her a lot, especially the effort on her part to get them. You are an angel Rosalinda!

 

Yes, it's the same budget MTB from Decathlon that I have already have here in Singapore (so no learning curve) which I plan to sell (or donate) upon my arrival in Rome. It's much easier for logistics than to bring one's bike on the plane and also cheaper than rentals.

Now all I need to do is to get off my a** and start packing. I keep forgetting that it's  different than packing for a walk.

Via Francigena

Leaving next week for via Francigena in Italy instead of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Time to reactivate my blog to Facebook auto-update.

Will probably start near Milan to Rome. Also this time on two wheels instead of two legs. Will be a little different in logistics but the mantra is still the same. Keep it simple and light.

Another Camino de Santiago Pilgrim

Here's the Camino video of Angie Park. There is a long story to this. Early this year Angie sends me an email representing her company (consumer products) doing a study on the Camino. I suppose she had found my Camino blog. Strange I thought, that a consumer related company would sponsor a study on the Camino. Heck, I'm getting paid for an interview over Skype so why not. It was quite an intense 2 hours interview. I never thought much about this afterwards until I got a personal email from Angie just a few days ago informing me that she had left her company and had walk the Camino Frances in Oct. What a pleasant surprise! Mentioned that she thought about some of the things I've said about the Camino while she's walking. How sweet! Anyone who walked the Camino automatically becomes part of the special family.