Friday Night Varenna Lago di Como

Frodo has gone home. Yesterday was a bloody tough day. We left Le Bourg D'Oisins, totally cleaned the three floors, left the place spotless, and we piled into the vehicles and commenced the drive to Malpensa Airport.

I drove the first section over the Alps and onto to the autostrada until I needed a break and grabbed a coffee, a wee wee, a chocky, and sat in the back seat for the next section.

Malpensa was typically antiseptic, when we realised that we should set off towards Varenna on Lago di Como, so OGF and KK looked after Frodo until he made the checkin with Emirates.

We were making steady progress north until the GPS's started having a lovers tiff. Tory Wanker (on SM's iPhone) and Google Girl (on BB's iPhone) started contradicting their messages, we got sent on a couple of bum steers but we didnt drive into the lake, we didnt hit any other car drivers, we made it, but it was draining for all in the Scudo.  It was far worse for KK and OGF in the Jumper van. A bit wider, a bit taller, a bit more ungainly, on the tight streets heading into Varenna this was a hassle.

We made it, were greeted by Greta, a vision of efficiency and caring, who was also on her way out with a bunch of mates and was keen to get away. We got our rooms, well almost enough, but this being the Tour de Shambles we survived and no-one was injured.

Our ride today was a cheap little sojourn into Switzerland. Easy, get off the ferry, ride over a small lump and roll into Switz, grab some chocolate, eat some fondue, get out.

Warm today, after a day off the bike and a team cold making its presence felt, we weren't exactly in an even state.

Also What the actual fuck is an Italian breakfast? A croissant and a coffee? I cannot ride kilometres on that. By 12 o'clock I was HANGRY. We passed fifty friggin cafe's all serving probably edible carbs with frilly green lettuce. All passed by.
I ranted halfway up a hill. Ranted and ranted and blew off steam because I am an idiot and didnt eat enough.
We found a cafe, I had a beer, tortellini, and ice cream.
Feed me and I am ok

Lugano. I am hangry.

Its hot. We a have massive climb to get back to Italy.
Map and profile.

Ober"Its just an average of 6%"GruppenFuhrer shows the way. We leave the lake, the expressway and immediately we are into 12%. My legs are fresher and can cope, but others aren't doing so well, I am particularly concerned by SuperModel's cough. I stop a couple of times in the shade, second time to refill my twice drained bottles.
Some amazing scenery in Schweiz a lot of it uphill. We go straight into 18% ramps and switchbacks. Its insane. We might have been ok if the percentage sign had not been there, "Yeah this is steep" I zigzag my way up, its way easier. We near the border post at Mendrisio, and its vacated. So I take a shot of the lads. Body language speaks.

The gradient softens, the hills on either side no longer seem so far above us. We crest. We roll downhill. We use brakes. We regroup. The view to the north opens up.

Its hot, we descend, and TT and miss a turn. Wait to regroup but OGF is nowhere. BB works out we missed a turn and we then head off. I am feeling super good, so I go into Time Trial mode and smash the return to Menaggio. Big chain ring up hill, standing and climbing and mashing it. Food!
Beers, and chips at the ferry terminal, then I get a Telecom Italia SIM card and finally I have access to innernets while mobile. First world problems.
We toast Frodo and hope his flight is smooth, his operation is quick and his recovery positive.

Stairs up to our house

Goodnight!