BUDGET:

Flight $800
Bike Luggage Supplement $80
Ferry RT €95.80
Train RT €60
Campgrounds €208
Hotel in Cagliari €50
Room in Stintino €50
Meals, Food, Expenses €1000
Scuba €90
Bike Equipment $200
Extra Equipment $100
TOTAL $3200

WISHLIST FOR NEXT TIME:

Full Length Thermorest
Odometer
International Cell Phone

THINGS I DIDN'T NEED:

Only 1 Spare Intertube
Only 1 Patch Kit
Screwdriver (Redundant with Leatherman)

THINGS I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT:

Bigger Towel
Blanket or Sleeping Bag
Full Bottle of Sunscreen
Lip Balm
Skin Cream
Mask & Snorkle
Map of Camping Facilities (can be found online at www.faitasardegna.org or www.faitasardegna.it
Michelin Map
Repaired Tent
Bar of Soap + Shampoo + Laundry Detergent
Bactine
More Bandaids
Nail Clippers
1 More Book

CONCLUSION

The highlights would have to include those mountain passes, and the curvy roads wrapping around the sea. Screaming down those hairpin downhills with incredible views of rocky capes and indescribably beautiful coves. Being out there surrounded by all that beauty, experiencing it in the round. Being on a bike is so much more immediate than being in a car. As the New Zealander said, you have to earn your views on a bicycle. There's something to that. The experience is quite special.

I never really did fit into the Italian schedule of things here. I usually did my sightseeing during chuisora, Italian siesta time. I headed to the beach typically when everyone else was leaving. I went out to dinner generally hours before everyone else. I visited Cagliari when it was literally empty. What can I say? I had to plan much of my biking around the heat of the day. The sun was too strong for me to sit exposed on the beach in the afternoon. And, I'm not Italian.

There were no serious problems or mishaps to speak of. I had no major mechanical failures. I never even had a flat tire! There were no serious injuires. I had no major losses. There were never even any bugs!

The training in Bassano was smart. It put all the Sardinian hills and mountains in perspective.

The iPod was a great asset, as was the hammock.

I reckon I travelled 1000Km.

8/16 DAY 17: THE FERRY HOME

As I leave Sardinia I feel sad. I wish that I could have completely circled it. I heard that Barbagia was beautiful. I would have needed four more days. I should have planned my trip better from the start. The entire island is totally doable in twenty days, including taking time out for sightseeing, swimming, and frolicking. That being said, this is the longest I've stayed on any Mediterranean island. My stays on Crete, Cyrus, and Sicily were much shorter. I got a good feel for much of this place, and I enjoyed it. As for bicycle tourism- I like it. Next time I'll have to bring along a partner. It's good to have a relatively small area to cover, like an island. I'm already scheming- perhaps Ireland will be next.

Oh it kills me to sail by the coast I didn't get to. It's back to business, back to reality for me.

I had way too much limoncino to drink last night. I woke up in the middle of the night, parched for water. I moved inside the ferry and slept until morning.

8/15 DAY 16: CAGLIARI

I headed into Cagliari today. I left the campground by 9 and was smack in the center of town by 11. The oncoming traffic was thick as residents fled the city in droves. Cars were lined up for miles like a string of smog belching pearls. I approached the industrial part of town on a four lane highway and rode through the obligatory tunnel. Cagliari was like a ghost town. I had it completely to myself. Everything was closed. I got myself a room in the center of town, and then rode around for a few hours exploring. Cagliari sits on a big bluff, on top of which stands a massive fortress. The hill slopes down to the busy port. There are lots of narrow windy streets in the center of town. It's very pleasant. That evening I found a nice outdoor cafe to have dinner. I'm gonna miss the seafood here.