Day 12 - Sunday 22^nd May

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Trani to Acquaviva delle Fonti  (87 kms)

The hotel staff in Trani were very friendly and told us to take food with us from the extensive selection they had at breakfast!  So, we loaded the panniers up with cheese, salami, oranges, bananas, yoghurt etc).

We had a bit of a struggle getting out of Trani and ended up on the main road to Bisceglie.  Perhaps because it was Sunday, it was nice and quiet, so not that bad.  From Biscegli we headed inland to Ruvo di Puglia on long straight roads.  The roads got a bit busier as we neared Ruvo di Puglia and at this point it was absolutely scorchio.

After Ruvo di Puglia, a friendly cyclist (aren't we all? ;-) put us on the right road for Palo delle Colle.  The roads were a lot quieter from here but we got lost again getting out of Palo delle Colle when the signs disappeared.  We wandered around aimlessly for a while, until we came across a chap taking two of his young kids for a bike ride.  After trying to explain the road we should take, he took pity on us and told us to follow him. So, we set off in convoy, headed for Bitetto (or at least near enough so that we couldn't miss it!)

From Bitetto we headed up to Grumo Appula and Cassano delle Murge.  It was mucho scorchio now and thankfully it was an easy last 8km to Acquaviva delle Fonti, where we visited the main piazza for drinks and ice creams.

We booked in to the Hotel Regge San Paulo just off the main piazza.  We had a lovely room on the top floor with a balcony on two sides.  We could see three bell towers from the balcony, and spent an hour or so watching two hawks flying around upsetting the swallows which were darting about.  One was caught eventually and we saw the hawk settle on a TV aerial and start to eat it.

So, feeling hungry ourselves, we headed out for a great meal in a local ristorante (Bruschetta, Proscuitto e ananas, Risotto salmone, followed by various meats - and a complementary grappa!).