Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
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 on the road by 10 am, eager to have more of yesterday...
I was soon back in the small village where I stopped yesterday. Into the mountains and back on the twisties. The WW1 route that TET route indicated with a POI came. It got tougher & tougher and realised I should have switched off my ABS could not stop as it too steep. Got to top of the mountain taking the berms in corners enjoying the riding as it was within my ability on a big loaded bike.
Stopped as trail in front slipped away quickly and looked rather iffy.
So I walked the trail - cut up soft clay and off camber, made the right decision to turn around. Went for a walk and within metres of where I stopped I found WW1 tunnels and a huge bunker. Went for my head torch and went back with video camera - if only those walls could speak. It was eery walking through in the dark with only the beam of my head torch and no sound except for the squeak of my Sidi boots. Found their dunny clearly still visible.
Returned to my bike turned her around and let air out of both tyres for grip. Setting off with both video cameras running was not going to make yesterday’s mistake. We had enough adventure for one day. So headed off down hill on a bitumen road that the TET crossed in a few km. I was tempted to rejoin and if on a lighter bike with some buddies may have.
Eventually came out on a small village square with only one bar everything else had closed long ago and was boarded up. Hunger was big so ordered large cafe x2 big Panini ham and salad, only ridden 16 km. I was looking forward to the Ferry ... will FB live to use up my data with a day to go why not...!
Back up the huge mountain to miss the signed ‘steep section’ and blimey if this is the bitumen road I definitely made the correct decision! to go around. I could barely turn around some corners in first gear slipping the clutch taking the whole road!
Eve usually made it to the ferry. So I facebooked live with an update, gosh I liked rough. Other German bike riders on ferry it cost 8€
Off ferry took some pics by the lake into familiar country it was raining now. Decided I looked scruffy on FB video recalled a barber at Baveno where I stayed a few nights ago. Parked up in high profile location for safety in front of town hall. Found barber and used google translate to get a price I said I like it longer on the top. During the cut he asked me if I wanted a shave! Why not I thought. Videoed the experience. €20 haircut ($30 Aus) - €15 shave ($23.70 Aus) ... judging by the smile on his dial I made his day and probably got tourist prices!
Eating now in Hotel Vittoria around 2 km walk downhill from my camp site (7 Camini All Seasons Camping) again on TET route and again off the tourist trail. Considered staying in a Hotel however they were all very expensive and I’m actually enjoying the camping and visiting different camp sites.
Have no idea what I’ve ordered except spaghetti starter and trout main with half litre of house red.
A very moneyed old lady dripping in gold sat next to me on the other table she wished me a good meal I Italian, however when she Kraft she spoke perfect English and had worked out my nationality by hearing me speak to the waiter.
It was one of the best Italian a la carte meals I’ve ever had, pat tbr excellence.
Way back church bells were chiming at the same time as an owl was cooing, masked by barking guard dogs ...a veritable cacophony of sounds that tricked the senses.
What a day a real mix of emotions and stimulation of every nerve and sense in my body ... what will tomorrow bring ...
- comments