Up early coffee at camp site the grumpy cafe manager who could not connect my laptop to the internet last night seemed to be in better form. The camp site was definitely attracting more working class than outer sites I’ve stayed in. Charged for everything 50 cents for shower - 2€ internet. The cafe served no brekky so I ate just fruit. Found out my maps app could guide me back to the TET and in the route it gave me turn by turn was just like a Rally Roadmap...

It was hard leaving such a good hotel 3 star but I would have given it more. Breakfast was huge and I ate like a hampster not knowing when my next meal would come. Was starting to feel tired and had not eaten well since breakfast, the rest of the route looked very steep and many turns with a ferry crossing across a lake to look forward to. I will be back in familiar territory as was at Verbania when I first arrived back in Italy from Switzerland a couple of day...

I find myself in a small (10 room) hotel in San Fedele Intelvi CO, Italy at 700 metres elevation just east of Lugano. After a big hot transport stage it’s 6.15 pm. Just had a swim in their great pool ! I was very lucky as one guest left early €50 including breakfast however first time I’ve splashed out on this trip. I rode the transport stage on the Autostrada as it was quickest (only around 10€ in tolls) to get here and at the end that tiny windy road ...

Italy bound ... Up 6.30 away by 7.50 which is a trip record. I had two artisan pale ale beers left so decided to give them to the CZECH boys especially after last night Roman - George - jiri. Feeling rather sluggish as the 50 + proof CZECH evil brew left it’s mark so started slowly as both bike and body felt heavy. The Valley was quiet down but not so up which was busy already with a steady stream of vans and trucks. Scenery was amazing with old bridges ...

Just got back from the Matterhorn 5 hour hike with Oli and Amedine two fellow HU Swiss attendees who arrived late and camped beside me last night. With sun kissed skin and legs that tell me I did something most unusual today I feel completely tired but satisfied. Amedine is from Geneva - French and Swiss and her partner Oli is a Catalan from Barcelona who lives in Chamomix and is also a really keen mountain biker. Oli is the man as asked me would I like hot ...