Borso del Grappa

My bike arrived at the luggage counter called Fuori measura, outside measurements. I found the Hertz counter and my car and was on my way. Managed to make the drive to Borso in 3 hours and did not make one wrong turn. Did the same last year from Rome. Will still not make up for ouir first time here 4 years ago when Nancy and I were hopelessly lost numerous times. All my mistakes. I even had the name of the town we were staying in wrong. Nancy ultimately found the hotel, that god! I thought we were staying in Bassano del Grappa, but it was Borso del grappa, about 15 minutes away. Ok, enough said about that night! Not my best work!

So I was very proud that I made the drive again this year without issue.

As I pulled up to the hotel I saw a man I had met here 2 years ago. He and his wife are retired marine core band members. A tuba player and a clarinetist. I met two other people here biking for the week too.

I went to put my bike together and discovered that for the second time in 3 years that my rear deraillur was bent out of alignment. I wasn't pleased. I took the bike to the local bike shop but it was closed, so I decided to go to the supermarket. Also closed for afternoon siesta. So I went and had my favorite treat, a gelato. When the the going gets tough the tough get gelato!
It was delicios, as always.
After Siesta I tended to the bike and watched as Leopoldo did his magic. The man is a wizard with a bike. He is married to Patrizia, a woman from the usa who came here 25 years ago with George, to start the Italian Bicycling center, which is where I met her and George and Leopoldo. Patrizia and G split up years ago and she married Leopoldo. He speaks not a word of English and she is fluent in Italian.
Having my bike fixed I am a happy camper, especially after searching several towns and all of Bassano for the one restaurant that is open. Yes, there is only one. Oddly I must have passed at least 15 german bars with much beer drinking and merriment, but no real food. So I have my penne and my pizza and am carbo loading for domani.
At least this restaurant has no americans or brits. It's all italians and not a tourist trap.
But I searched the whole center of the city and not one restaurant or even pizzeria. Nancy would have had a fit about looking for this, although she would have eaten today whereas I ate nothing all day save for a roll in the morning on the plane and my ice cream.

Bon appetito!