L'eroica 24 hours and counting

What an absolute b*stard of a drive. In the car for 29 hours in total. UK fine, even London fine. Picked up the bikes from Mr.Bridger. Hit the Eurotunnel sooner than expected. Straight on to an earlier train just before 10.00pm. The drive starts well but before you know it Groundhog Day. In June I drove to Corsica with two mates for the start of the Tour through non stop rain. The only difference this time was the addition of thunder and lightning. Grabbed a couple of hours kip at one of the many service stations around 4.00am. Up, coffee, crack on towards the alps. Pay for the pleasure of the Mont Blanc tunnel. This drive never seems to end. French and Italian roads full of pretty easy going drivers until I hit the Milan area around late afternoon. Have to say the sat nav I have been leant is brilliant map and photo image at all interchanges, through the hills in back of beyond Tuscany, right to my door. 

Bed, sleep. Woken by big thunderstorm clattering around the valley. Lightning forking outside. Wake up to this beautiful view of the Italian countryside....

A pea soup soon to be followed by deluge after deluge of rain throughout the day..... met up with Lance, Merlin and Algy. Great pizza in the piazza..'Who ordered tomato, mushroom and water?' cried the waiter!

Registration amongst rumblings of the whole event being called off, though die hards said it would never be so. Health and safety wont be featuring tomorrow.

A great mix of nationalities signing up. L'eroica Brittania and L'eroica Japan being launched next year. Bakewell or Mount Fuji......

A good afternoon wandering around the numerous stalls and sheltering from the rain was followed by an evening of pasta, cappuccino and brandies sheltering from the rain......

Off to bed its gunna be an early start!!