Up early in Weilheim, 5am to get the 6.10am train to Munich to catch our train to Venice. After ensuring we are on the right train, we settled in for the ride, few snoozes and enjoyed the scenar as it passed through Germany Austria and into Italy. Switched train at Verona for the next 1.30hrs to Venice. At 3pm, arrived Venice train station, busier than Bourke street mall at peak time, people every where. Managed to get the water bus ticket and headed around to o...

Breakfast at 7.30am leave at 8.30, due to a miscommunication we all left at 9am. This being the biggest ride day. We all went to the end of the lake to get to the start of the Malojapass (1815m), with the tightest and most frequent hairpins anywhere. This is highest height-gain to distance ratio in all of Europe. At the top of the pass in the ski town of St Moritz we formed 2 groups as some of the riders were not going to take the Stelvio challenge. We opted for...

Left Valdengo to tackle the Italian traffic on our way to Lake Como. Stopped to cash up at a small and old village. Very narrow streets with tiny balconies overlooking the street, and lots of concrete. Lots of time on the autostrada to get to Lake Como, quick swim in the Lake, drinks on the balcony then onto dinner for pizza and pasta. This is living!!

Left Albertville with a short ride on the autostrada then climb out of the valley up the Col Du Petit St. Bernard (2188m). Beautiful scenary on the way up, quick photo shoot. Departure into Italy and down the valley for a coffee stop. Change in architecture from France. Short climp up through Italian villages with a stop at Verrayes. A lunch stop for beautiful Italian salad and pasta before yet another climb thrigh some more villages. Stop overnight in Valdengo ...