The first day of cycling is usually out of a big city and can be challenging due to traffic, getting used to European roads and drivers, and GPS that loses satellite contact around tall buildings. Today was no exception, plus we had an additional problem that we didn’t figure out until much later. While still in the busy downtown area of Milano we kept being directed to go the wrong way down one-way streets. We naively thought this was the Italian way and went along with the confusion. Later after being directed by the GPS to go around a traffic circle in the wrong direction George remembered that he had taken the track from a route going the opposite direction!
The ride was a nice gentle first day with no climbing to speak of and the mileage was moderate at 76 km. The first half of the ride once we left Milano was following a trail alongside a canal to Pavia, so very relaxing.
We ate lunch in a park beside the Po river.
The temperature was good to start but by afternoon was reaching the high twenties so we were definitely feeling it and appreciated our arrival at the hotel in Salice Terme. There are thermal baths here but we opted out as we were too warm from the ride.
geeteetravels 
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