Garry McGivern’s Italian bicycle tour, Friday 11th-June-2010 Savigliano to Ivrea. 81 Miles. I had a bad experience in the hotel restaurant last night, after swallowing a piece of meat that was too big, which lodged itself in my throat. And wouldn’t move, no matter what I tried! Coughing and swallowing didn’t work. I also tried taking a sip of wine, hoping that might work, but it didn’t. The wine just sat on top of the meat swishing around in my mouth. I was now starting to worry.
What could I do? I was sitting in a restaurant in a foreign country, with nobody speaking English. How would anybody know what’s wrong with me? I was close to panicking, as I could feel my chest tightening! But, with one final cough and a splutter, it flew out of my mouth and across the table along with the red wine, making quite a mess on the crisp white table cloth. I was so relieved to be able to breathe again. I wasn’t going to die in some foreign country after all! It was quite a frightening experience! Something I’ve never had before and something I don’t particularly want to have ever again.
It’s been an easy ride today. And compared to yesterday, it’s been pretty flat. Apart from the last twelve miles or so. But then I am heading towards the Alps! Tomorrow is going to be a tough day! I passed through Turin today and had more cobbled streets, which weren’t as bad as Naples! I should make it to Aosta tomorrow. I’ll then decide if I’m going to tackle the Col du Grand St-Bernard at 2473-metres! Or take the easy option and get the bus through the Monte Blanc tunnel!
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