Lakes...

As has become customary on our European trips, we spend a night relaxing by the beautiful shores of Lake Garda where we can forget the noise, sweat and grime of our day on the road and unwind with a nice meal and a glass of wine or two.

Monday was certainly a day of two halves. The trip there from Florence in the worst rain most of us have ridden in was interrupted when Brian, enraged upon finding out that the local Police despite dressing like strange ice-cream men don't actually carry or sell cans of lager, went on strike and was recovered by George and Joey. The rest of the journey found lightening skies and on arrival in Desenzano del Garda we spent the evening with the RLB Groupies who had flown in the day before. A baker's dozen from Ashbourne all together in Italy. Good effort chaps.

We awoke on Tuesday to a few sore heads, due mainly to the party animal James Filer who
really knows how to let his hair down, so to speak. The ride to Lake Como though relatively short provided more stunning mountain scenery and some very challenging roads (many of the lanes high up in the hills get little or no traffic and therefore receive virtually no maintenance... literally as we found out). Lunch by yet another lake preceded an easy run into Como hastened by Tony being late for an appointment with the toilet.

Lake Como, like Garda, is very beautiful and is an easy place to relax in. What is noticeable at this point is that we are all absolutely worn out. All the fresh air and concentration required to ride these bendy roads is taking its toll. Because of this, and

that the Groupies were flying back early next morning, I am almost ashamed to say that an early night was had by all. Well, it would have been but for an unusual ritual emanating from Andy, Brian and Carpet Mark's room late evening. Much banging kept us all awake and next morning Mark's bike boots appeared to be completely filled with water. Odd.

Tip for the day... don't ever let Richard near a megaphone. It is rumoured that with such a piece of equipment in hand he was heard by every person within 5 miles of Como leading a resounding rendition of 'God Save the Queen'.