Our room at the Imperiale was the width of the third floor, all three windows you see in this photo!

Every morning involves putting your gear back on your bike, and making sure you have water, snacks and sunscreen for the day ahead.

Tom fixes his cleat in the breakfast room while Bill and Marci look on in doubt . . . 

We pedaled by the public hot springs pool as we left our hotel.

We cruised through town, which was lovely, including this flowing fountain.

We stopped to enjoy this artwork, which consisted of tiny tormented-looking human figures trudging around the wheel. What does it signify?!!

There is not much new construction in the Italian countryside, but this looks like . . .  a raised ranch?

On this steep hillside, you see where the vineyard died or was destroyed due to pest problems. We saw this several times today.

Today we enjoyed another grueling climb. But the scenery is incredible!

At the end of a hellish climb, we tuck into a market to refresh.

We kept Martina busy filling waters, serving cokes, selling us snacks.

emJay was excited to buy regional snacks . . . except it turned out they were U.S. imports! She also picked up roasted hazel nuts which are local. We biked through many cultivated hazelnut tree groves.

Yes, we are following the wine route!

Here you can see young hazelnut trees in the foreground.

What goes up must come down! Here our riders appear as tiny dots whizzing down the road.

After yesterday’s long lunch with Mama and Papa, emJay demands a quick lunch ‘rapido’  and we enjoy salads and gnocchi in this little town.

Occasionally the water is not potable. Beware! It is still good to dunk your helmet or neckerchief in to cool down!

At the top of another rise, we stop to remember this community’s World War II dead.

Piedmont Panorama.

Piedmont Piggies made from clay.

There are mountain bike routes; this one says “bike to drink” in the small print!

And the track goes straight up this hill! Soon we settled into Alba where we stayed at the Hotel Langhe. We enjoyed a dip in their pool! As we were exhausted, we just walked a few blocks to a local pizzeria.