Cycling Through Tuscan Countryside

"You didn't come this far to only come this far." ___ This is a quote I've seen floating around for a while, and it was what was in my mind as I cycled through the gorgeous -- but steep -- rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy, with Cortona Wine Tours. Specifically we were in the "Val d’ Orcia", a stunning and fruitful UNESCO World Heritage Site. ___ I'm not going to lie; this ride was TOUGH. These weren't e-bikes, and I had to use every ounce of my strength to make it up some of the steep ascents. SO MANY TIMES during the ride I whispered to my boyfriend "I honestly don't know if I can do this," to which he'd whisper "Yes you can. Just breathe." ___ And so, I did. And as I did, I allowed views of medieval hilltop towns, olive groves and vines of red wine grapes to push me forward. I'm also a big believer that walking or biking is the best way to feel the beat of a place, so I allowed this connection to the landscape to take my focus. ___ By the time we reached our final destination -- a gorgeous al fresco restaurant with an aerial view serving farm-to-fork dishes -- I felt incredible. INCREDIBLE. Soaked with sweat, I put the bike down, took a deep inhale and paused to take in the Val d’ Orcia from overhead. The waitor came over and poured glasses of locally-made wine for us, and we cheersed to an incredible (yes, I used that word again) ride. ___ So many times I clink glasses without really having a purpose. But on this day, I truly had one. ___ * * *