Day 3 May 23rd Lausanne-Bellagio

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Day 3 May 23rd Lausanne – Simplon Pass – Italy – Bellagio

Having experienced the Sat Nav Fanny incident yesterday, which involved an interesting three point turn in a tiny mountain village, we programmed Fanny but also plotted the route with MAPS. This brought the possible risk of the most common argument between couples “but you said left”, “well, I may have done, but I meant right” (a girl is entitled to change her mind isn’t she?).

We wondered if you would like to know how we came to call the Sat Nav FANNY?
F (feeling) A (angry) {at} N (navigational) N (nonsense) y (just to round it off…)
and MAPS ? (Maybe Accurate, Possible Stress)

We chose to hug the lake until Vevey and joined the motorway running along The Rhone Valley. A valley familiar to all those that have driven to ski in the Alps. The major towns on the road cater for the necessities in life –supermarkets, garages, light industry, stone quarrying, hydroelectric plants all abound. Having practised our chat-nav (latest phrase from my nephews regarding ‘banter’ or ability to chat in an interesting way) we decide to embark on running another piece of equipment – the iPod. The lead is connected and after much pressing of buttons on the cab radio the iPod springs into life. The compilation is impressive and entirely appropriate:

Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen); Bat Out of Hell (Meat Loaf), Born to be Wild (Steppenwolf), Radar Love (Golden Earring), Highway Star (Deep Purple) and Silver Machine (Hawkwind)!!

We leave the valley at Brig to embark on the Simplon Pass climb. The Lorry never fails us; she grips the road and climbs to 2005m with hardly a bead of sweat on her. I leave the photos to tell of the journey up.

Having been waved on by the 10 Italian border guards (presumably working on the principle that if the Swiss had let us in then the Italians could) we immediately noticed that the downhill run (definitely a ‘black run’ in skiing terms) was very different to the uphill – the roads changed gauge, the tarmac was damaged and there was often no central white line. We reach the valley floor, lorry brakes intact (thank you God). Map in hand, Fanny protesting, we take the scenic road towards Lake Como. It was short-lived…..first we saw the sign warning of a tunnel ahead with headroom of 3.5m (remember we are 3.4m – and we had forgotten about the sky light!), we hesitated but drove on, before we got to the tunnel we then saw another sign pointing out that the width was 2.3m wide (Big Bess is 2.45). Decision Taken. Co-Pilot jumps out to offer guidance (or was it self-preservation?) Pilot mumbles “don’t care about blocking the road, am bigger than the others” and starts his three point turn. Not for the first time I am amazed by the Pilot’s skill – in three he manoeuvres Big Bess downhill and off we go to join the motorway.

Motorway all the way to Como – more loud music and chat-nav –then around Como’s light industrial area (no more interesting than any other town) and off towards Bellagio. We take the road that coils up the middle of the peninsular. Bellagio is perched at the head of the peninsular which in turn lies between Lake Como and Lake Lecco. The journey is beautiful, slow, vertiginous, forested and lined with small hamlets. The lorry invites stares from everyone but we are encouraged by the sight of a coach travelling the other way. I am only going to say this one more time (for fear of dispensing too much praise and increasing the size of his head so much that his riding hat will no longer fit….) BUT Duncan’s negotiation of the tiny switch back lanes was astounding.

We have arrived in Bellagio, reputedly the most beautiful town in Italy, and the temperature is 29 degrees 😊

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Comments

[Guy Richardson]

The Simplon Pass
Good Evening Great achievement over the pass and it sounds as though you have only had to do 2 x 3 point turns which in the big scheme of things is excellent. Weather sounds fantastic - down to 10 degrees here yesterday with 80-90 mph winds which was not great. There is talk of another 'ash cloud' halting flights so your mode of transport is spot on. G x

[Tricia]

Well done to both you and your friend 'Fanny' for getting you so far. Stunning views with gorgeous weather, lucky you. One and all are just about recovering from the usual excellent McLean entertainment - the whole of Shropshire, bar '2', being there! Whether perfect for the day - all good fun! Much enjoying your blog. Takes me back to 'gap year' days...! Makes exceedingly pleasant bed time reading, so keep going. Much love Tricia

[Nellienoos]

Impressed!
Obviously, I don't want to make your life harder but I think I have to say that 3 point turns with big bess on mountain roads in (Co) is pretty impressive!!! Enjoy the views!