Bikes and beaches

Today our family decided to rent bikes and explore Lido island.  The rental place had a great map so we headed to the local cemetery first, then to a small church, then along the beach road.  After an hour we decided to trade in our double bike for all singles.  We rode about 4 miles down the coast of the island and saw one of the special olympic venues (equestrian).  Part of the route had a special designated bike lane with a curb dividing it from traffic.  Much better than the part that had tree roots pushing up the pavement and making a very bumpy ride!

Our double bike - geared well to make it up and over canal bridges, but on the flat I found that my legs were pedaling very fast and not getting us very far.

Delaney nearly ran this nice man over as she got used to her new bike.  He offered to help her adjust it to fit better (and save other innocent pedestrians no doubt) : )

Our lunch break spot.  You can see the navigation poles along the shoreline. 

The water was very still this morning.

We looked below us and could see the bottom, maybe 3 feet deep along the wall, AND we could see lots of crabs (about palm sized).  This guy is white and just above David's foot in the picture.

Apparently there was a nude section of the beach farther up the shore.  I'm glad I did not walk quite that far.  The group noticed that no matter how old or young you are, women only wear bikinis.

David and Delaney taking their first swim for the summer in the Adriatic Sea.  (Ocean side off Lido island).

I asked the bike rental guy if the large sea walls that they are constructing to keep the high flooding tides out of the city in the winter have been completed. (There are 3 narrow inlets into the Venetian lagoon that they are working to close off with sea gates). He said 'no money, two or three more years.'  He then showed us where the tides come up to in his shop and said they flow even in the center of the city because they rise through the storm drains (noticable holes in the stone side walks throughout the city).  He said some were worried that without the influx and outflow of the tide, the lagoon and city will start smelling more.  It will be interesting to see how well the final project works.