Italy

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Ferry to Italy, which port Bari or Ancona to north, as usual I chose wrong one, picked 7hr shorter ferry journey, thought I could run the 500km quicker by road & save €25, but spend more on fuel and tolls, result is just a tough day on Interstrada. If U intended to visit the foot of Italy, Bari is a good choice.



Pulled off Interstrad about 6pm at small town Faenze, not a planned stop, just had enough, very last few € cash to pay toll - credit cards would not work, they let U run 600km with no toll booths, then grab big bill at end €43. What a fun place Faenza is, real narrow crazy one way streets, found Victoria hotel on foot, little bit pricey €60 but comfy, bike is parked just across square, but what a fiddle down16 tiny side roads, enter by authorisation only!! Supper in Frank's Pizzaria, Conso Gauboldi, hardly word of English but they found me a fish to eat.



Long chat to Sebastian another diner on his own, thinks travel makes U younger!, he makes authentic ceramic tiles on island of Elba, top quality product but with too few sales. But shop buyers only buy cheap imports from far east, what would the tourist buy and pay for? No choice if shops only display the cheap imports. How does Europe help? Very little, set up TTIPO trade deal to protect profits of US nuclear industry, but very little for a small business in Italy.



500km jolly up into Alps, sunny and warm, so try find few significant roads in Alps before winter arrives on Monday, perhaps the Stelvio pass. Signs recommended snow chains should be carried, but other bikes were coming down, anyway the hotel was on other side. Maybe 4°C at top - but felt very cold, on 2nd highest pass in Alps, at 5pm in November day with fresh snow on ground (just pushed off the road this week), what a change from deserts at 40°C just 3 weeks before.



Stayed in Salandro village just down below in valley, the hotel had not seen any bikers since September, U'r British well Ok, where have U been, perhaps now a bit of disbelief.

Breakfast with 'Wolfe' and his family in the viilage, originaly met him in Istanbul sitting while girls shopped, good banter, which route did I take from Italy to Turkey? Discussed tea in Pakistan and risks of too much sugar in Egypt.

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Photos

The Alps? can't be its too soon.
When I left Bari these mountains appeared very soon.
But on wrong side for Alps, maps suggest is Gargano mountain on a promentary into the Agean.

Solar panels provide shade at a service area.
Good application, where as a green field site takes growing space, & I thought photosynthesis was more efficient.
So maybe 60x 12m² panels is a big area, Max sunshine 1kW/m² I think, but conversion efficiency maybe 25%, still few kW power. But fixed position, not tracking sun as some do.

Faenza narrow streets, imposing architecture.
Towns in this regions have fun narrow streets, only suitable for two wheels!

Church in Faenza
Different to Mosques, bit quieter too.

A22 towards Verona, Alps bounce out plain.
It soon becomes impossible to stay in valley floor, what is up there? Quickest route to Silandro is through Bolzano & Merano, but vered west at Trento,

Fair castle overlooks valley, near Picante?
Scenery & architecture, the Alps have lots to see.

Piccolo Dain near Sarche
Just stopped to look at gorge below this rock.
Then noticed bit activity on rock itself.

Zoom in on previous rock.
Think I counted 20 climbers on the one face.
Suggest 10 pitches, some bottle to do overhang above that drop!

Mountains, bends, fresh air, fun fun fun ...
Have to stop often, still fail to get best photo.
Was lucky with weather yet again blue sky, but was cold, keep gloves on while moving.

Brenta mountains, just north Tione
Approx 3400m lump, do need comeback with skis to play on this one.

Looking down Stelvio pass
Yes exceeding steep, in fact the road is nearly stop go, but for me the wider banked turns provide a better run.

Tiger Stripes
Do the black & white stripes camouflage bike in snowy mountains?
Perhaps I have been road too long!