Italy, Switzerland and now in France (Besancon ) good roads but a long day in the saddle. We are booked into the Kyriad hotel. 24 hour self service check in using a wall mounted screen , or at least that is the idea. In practice it does not work and you have to call someone up to rescue you.
Both knackered and off for a Chinese tonight if we can be bothered hauling ourselves the 9 minutes down the road.
Anyway. Some more photos
Stunning. The only word yo describe it. We left the Bates hotel at about 9.10 this morning which is pretty early for us. Wrapped up warm because we knew we would be climbing high and it was going to get cold. At the highest point there is a cafe which the photos below were taken. Here we stopped for a very expensive cup of tea. You then decend into Brig passing from Italy to Switzerland. The thing that is immediately noticeable is how much more affluent the Swiss are. Lots of new bikes, Ferrari garages etc. No one speeds over here either. I assume the penalties adjust the mind a little bit.
Nothing lost yet today but Edwards is still putting is helmet on at least twice.
Edwards and Williams decided at the beginning of the trip that they were not going to shave and see what the facial fungi looked like at the end.
Day 8 beard off update.
Williams has a real Cruella Deville thing going on with two strange white patches that even "just for men" would struggle to hide and Edwards is going for the hobo (I said hobo not homo) look going on. He has had to sign several autographs tonight having been mistaken a number of times tonight for Albert Steptoe.
Long ride today through many many towns. We decided to avoid Milan thinking that this would avoid city riding. How wrong were were. I think we have ridden through 50% of northern Italy towns today.
A special thank you goes out to the Truck driver who thought the road needed a wash and the only think that would get it really clean was the contents of his diesel tank. Brown pants moment number 2 but this was a big one. I have no idea how the bike stayed rubber side down. I would like to tell you that it was my consumate skill that prevented me chewing the daisies on the round about but it was pure fluke. Edwards is gutted that he missed it saying "did you see that diesel?" when we pulled over. DID I SEE IT? I almost wiped my arse in it.
We stopped for a good 5 minutes for me to stop hyperventilating and then proceeded to p#$$ ourselves laughing.
We wound our way through town after town stopping at McDonald's for a hearty ground cow carcass burger.
When we reached lake magione we were stunned how many bikes there were posing around. Stopping by a picturesque photo spot Edwards decided to let them know the English had arrived by relieving himself in a nearby bush, class.
We then made our way to Domodossalo. At the beginning of the Simplon pass. We had booked into the Domodossalo Hotel, AKA THE BATES HOTEL!
We pride ourselves on how well we have done with bed and breakfast so far so it was a bit of a shock to be met by Norman Bates at the reception desk. Taking a shower before going out was a nerve wracking affair but I think Norman is waiting till later in the night to get us.
Other noticeable events in the day was Edwards realising that his sun glasses will not stay ballenced on the back of his bike at 90 miles per hour. Also of note was the fact that each time we stopped Edwards put his helmet on at least twice. Once to get ready for the next leg of our journey and twice when he realised he had forgot to put his ear plugs in. This happens EVERY time we stop.
The Simplon pass tomorrow is one Europe's highest roads at 6500 feet (it's going to be cold.) Thank you to the Ducati forum for the suggestion. It is also a Nepolionic artillery route and stays open all year round. A special thanks to Oscar "Wikipedia" Edwards for these facts.
Look what £18 a night gets you including a massive breakfast. Was going to sample the pool but I don't think the hotel staff would be too impressed with the budgie smugglers.
Ride from Rimini to the Ducati factory in Balogna. Edwards booked the tour online last night as a bit of a birthday treat but something went wrong and they had no record of our reservation. Fortunately a party that had also booked onto the English speaking tour did not turn up so we were able to get in. €10 each and you are there for a good couple of hours. I, riding a Ducati, was told that I was welcome to park my bike in the factory car park. Edwards (let's just call him the BMW leper ), was told he would have to park it in the shop car park about 500 meters away. I did the decent thing and declined the offer to park on hallowed ground choosing instead to support my unwanted friend and parking on the road.
They start by taking you around the factory which is an assembly plant only with only the cams and crank shafts being machined in house. There are separate lines for the engines with each one being finished by only two workers. Then the bikes are assembled on a number of different lines. Every bike is tested on a dyno to make sure it is making the right power and everything is running as it should. They knock out 250 bikes per day in the high season and every one is sold before leaving the factory, essentially built to order. Our tour guide (lets call her Mandy because I cannot remember he name) had a tough crowd on her hands but did a good job of drumming up some Ducati spirit. All except the Venezuelan puke who kept trying to wind her up by saying it was a Germany bike now, knob ! There is always one. After that you got to look around the museum of their sporting heritage which was very interesting, I touched foggies 916, the excitement was almost to much but then I remembered there were children present so I had to control myself.
We went for a bite to eat at an American dinner that does not serve food until night time (two coffees then) and set off on a ride up to lake Garda where Edwards had done us proud it being his turn to book the accommodation. We are now sat on our balcony drinking tea made with Creme contemplating our next bike purchases. And considering a ride to the lake for beer and cakes.
The bikes are parked in an underground secure car park and if you rev your bike to the Rev limiter down there, not only do you look like a childish Dick but you also get the pleasure of watching Edwards shake his head in dissaproval, well he is a bit older and more sensible than me.
All in all not a bad birthday.
