Another beautiful hot day in store today (Friday). I'm leaving Verona for the reasonably short drive east to Venezia (Venice). I wanted to leave reasonably early to maximise my time at Venice as I have planned only a fleeting single day soiree with my departure the following afternoon. The drive was probably the easiest so far this trip, except for a clown I encountered on the motorway whilst in the fast lane. He was in a FIAT van that loomed up very close to th...

Leaving Bormio this morning and off to Verona. You know, the town made famous by Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet, Two Gentlemen of Verona and Taming of the Shrew are all set in this town. I have an appointment for a wine tasting at the Viviani winery in Mazzano, just outside Verona at 1pm. The GPS this morning plotted me 3 different course options, the fast option was back over the Stelvio Pass. So I chose that route, partly because I wanted to see the road on th...

Not much planned for today other than a ride up the very difficult Stelvio Pass. The weather forecast was a little variable with rain/showers forecast throughout the day and a max of 18deg at 3pm. After a very boring breakfast at the Eden Hotel I unpacked the bike and got ready. Lots of stuffing around really because I didn't hit the road until 1pm. Plenty of sunshine for the first 5kms, made it really tough. My legs were not responding, perhaps general fatigu...

Awoke early this morning at Hotel Metropole. Great sleep! I wanted to get up early and get down to the waters edge to get some photos with the sun low in the sky. 7:00am the job is done, time for brekkie on the terrace. Great spot the Hotel Metropole, sorry I wasn't staying a little longer.... maybe next time with Susie. Next assignment was to whip around to Portofino and take a few pics. This joint must be one of the most photographed/painted places on th...

I farewelled the guys this morning. We were all on different schedules, going this way and that. My pathway today starts with a train trip to Sanremo to pickup a car, then 200k drive to Santa Margherite Ligure on the Portofino coast. Steady driving along the coastal motorway, past the odd snarl or 2 or 3, and into my hotel at 18:30. Great spot this, Hotel Metropole, overlooks the bay with vast magnificent manicured gardens and walk ways down to secluded ...