Bikepacking Italy | Day 10 | Giovinazzo to Matera | 3 seas, 9 regions, 20 days

After two days of mandatory rest, I could finally cycle again without too much pain. My hip held up, so the big test was a success! To keep things manageable, I simplified my routes from here on out. Riding as directly as possible and cutting out unnecessary elevation where I could. Today marked the official start of my crossing from the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian Sea, with a quick visit to the Ionian coast later this week. What a joy it was to ride. I crossed from Puglia into the Basilicata region, two areas I had never visited before. One notable thing, though, once you leave the towns, there is quite a lot of litter along the roads. I even saw someone casually toss a full garbage bag out of a moving car right into the ditch, quite a bizarre sight. Since it was Easter Monday (Pasquetta), Italians were out in full force, either picnicking in the forests or strolling through the city in their finest clothes. I arrived in stunning Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Also known as the "City of Stones," with roots dating back to the 10th century BC... so yeah, pretty old! And finally... the weather! I could finally ride in short sleeves and shorts. At 25°C, it was almost too hot after all the recent cold and rain, but what a relief. Thanks again for following along, and see you on the next one!