Tough day. Slept well in my little secluded campsite. Lovely views and Sacha relaxed although I found a tick on her. Put more anti tick oil on her back.
Journey started off ok but the it went to pieces. Sat nav kept trying to take on impossible roads. The worst was when I ended up on a narrow cycle trail for miles. Lovely scenery but I wasn't sure that I would be able to emerge. When I did I breathed a sigh of relief. The sat nav told me to turn right and I drove about 5 kms on a smooth new road. When I had to stop at some lights for roadworks I asked the workman the way to Italy. He seemed surprised and said that it was the direction I had come from.
Anyway eventually I made my way over the 2000mts Simplon Pass. The vistas of the snowcapped mountains were amazing. I didn't mind going wrong as the scenery is worth it. However all the twisting and turning has made my shoulder worse plus the heavy van door slammed against me and it took me minutes to get over the pain and swear.

Now in a campsite near Ghiffa on massive Lake Maggiore which I had never heard of.

The campsite is small and friendly with a little tunnel under the busy road to its private small beach.

When we first arrived it was very hot and I was exhausted from the shoulder pain. Poor Sacha immediately heard some motorbikes backfiring which set her off again. It was time for us both to have a rest in the van.
Both better now and I'm sitting on a boat watching Sach paddling on the waters edge.
Decided to sample the food in the restaurant attached to the campsite- La Sierra. Had gnocchi and the house wine on the terrace overlooking the lake. . Very good and looking at what others had,the portions were huge. The wine came in a carafe which was 2 glasses and it came to less than £10.

Decided stay another day and rest. It is now lunchtime and terribly hot. The next place I'll have make sure I find a shady pitch.