Day 1 - Prato, Italy to Ancona, Italy

After a night of broken sleep due to growing anticipation and tiny beds the first morning was upon us. A hearty breakfast was consumed by all and then we're off to the depot to be reunited with our babies. A very spatially aware taxi driver managed to get all our gear and us into the taxi with no expletives or throwing arms in the air.

We're taken into a massive warehouse filled with bales of Hessian cloth and rolls of polythene. Right at the end, still packaged in their transport stillages are the trusty steeds. Some very helpful and enthusiastic Prato warehouse workers help us unpack. They even help Slash find his misplaced black washer using a variety of hastily assembled tools, wires and torches.

Then we're off and running, a quick jaunt through Prato and its off up into the hills. Quite a start with switch backs and hairpins coming at us thick and fast. After about an hour we stop for a drink and whilst we sip our well earned beverages a classic car procession makes its way through the little village. Many car makes represented including a Morgan ( not really my kind of thing but I'm sure Warrior and Hawk could elaborate). Lunch is taken at a local pizzeria where "you guessed it" we all had more bready, tomatoey and cheesy goodness. The weather is absolutely stiffling reaching 28 degrees. Certainly not the weather to be standing around for any length of time in full bike gear!

For the rest of the afternoon its a dash to the ferry at Ancona. We see our first sight of the Adriatic (after negotiating one of the lowest bridges/tunnels you'll ever find). At one point we thought it might take the GoPro straight off of Hawks helmet.

On approach to the ferry port there is a really long tailback. Hawk begins operation filter and its nice to see that the oncoming traffic is courteous and doesn't try to take us out for fun. This is especially poignant when we discover the cause of the tailback is that a scooter rider and a car have had a nasty falling out. We're then sent on a diversion where we encounter the worlds strangest 30 degree inclined roundabout. After a big gulp, holding of breath, squeezing of thighs and gripping of bars we all successfully navigate.

We make it to the ferry in good time and make our way to our spacious 4 berth cabin. Great view of the lifeboat but not somewhere I'd like to spend more than one night with 3 sweaty bikers. We shower and get changed in shifts finally making our way out on deck to make sure the ferry pilot doesn't crash us into the breakwater. He does a good job so off we go for food and beer.

There is hardly anyone on board the ferry so our choices are endless! We settle in the bar with some over priced Peroni and soak up the entertainment. A man and woman duo stood inside their booth of musical delight impress us with their amazing repertoire to the point where we can't take it any longer and have to find protection from a conveniently placed stairwell bulkhead.

Food is a canteen style affair of varying success. My beef and pees ensemble is very tasty - so much better than the world renowned 'meat pasta' which would have been my other choice. Back to the bar then so Warrior can fulfil his destiny and partake of the well known SNAV ferry company red wine classic.

Its then time for 4 tired boys to hit the sack; three of them hoping desperately that they'll drop off before Warrior begins warning any other ships in the Adriatic of our current location with his snoring early warning system.