Day of departure

What a foul day! Left Curry Rivel at 10:20 en route to Gatwick via Ramsbury, Charvil and the Chipstead. Didn't stop raining the whole way and was torrential at times - good job we were in the Hilux and not on a bike just yet!

The forecast for the first day of riding is clear skies and a temperature of 26 degrees. Fingers crossed the forecaster concentrated on their 'how to predict the weather' course.

Considering the task of getting 4 blokes all in the same location on the same day with a complete set of passports, bike keys and a variety of currencies its all started very well.

Of course, Slash decided to bring his top box wrapped in an unconvincing bubble wrap profilactic which meant a leg aching walk of at least 100m to the oversize luggage desk.

The first pint was on the table by 15:45 after a short debate over whether the beer kitty should be in pounds or Euros.

A second pint was required ( we are on holiday after all (supposedly)) Which was quickly followed by a swift shimmy to gate 49 with still minutes to spare!

The well known budget airline Vuelling obviously don't pay Gatwick air traffic control enough for their take off slots and we are left sat on the tarmac for literally moments waiting to taxi. This was followed shortly after by quite a squirly take off.

An uneventful flight by modern standards apart from the debacle over only being able to buy 2 baguettes, a croissant and a club sandwich between 4 strapping lads but Warrior made them suffer by paying the 24 Euros in many coins of small denominations.

Here's a little tip for Florence airport - book a taxi! After a wait of aeons a Prius turned up and with cries of Mama Mia the driver managed to get us and our luggage in to the great delight of the baying amphitheatre of onlooking taxi queuers!

The Wall Art hotel in Prato (~prayto) is very pleasant. The smallest lifts you've ever seen but very pleasant. A quick beer and then straight out to Il Capriccio for some pizza based nourishment, lots of arm waving and translation later and we're satiated. Warrior tries to convince a local he's Don Corleoni and we're at the end of the day.