We made a big dent in our attempt to reach the mountains as soon as possible. Around about 100 miles got us from Venice to Ferrara (via Padua, Dei Colli Euganei national park, Monselice, Lendinara and Occiobello).
Both of us got 'a touch of the sun' and were 'feeling it' a bit in the last 20 or 30 miles - a bit headachy. This was probably due to the fact that we just couldn't push any more water and electrolytes (and flap jacks) down our necks. It was very hot (mid 30s) and, despite the flat terrain, was quite windy (mostly in the wrong direction).
Heading south-ish, we passed quite a few single African men heading north - some on bikes, some on foot. Jackie spoke to one outside a supermarket that I'd popped into to buy more water. He was from Nigeria and his travel plans centred upon England.
When we got to Ferrara, Jackie said that it was probably the tiredness she'd ever felt.
The landscape here has been quite plain. And the towns and villages were not amongst the most attractive.
Using the GPS app. maps.me, we found that many of the routes it came up with were very 'small'. It took us along canals, over fields, along grassy lanes and once, even into the rear yard of a rural homestead, from which there was no (apparent) way on.