Half way to Taranto

700 miles completed . Wahoo!!

sunshine, rain, sunshine, stunning switzerland and the hills begin in earnest

I would like to put more photos up at this point. The ones in the rain showing Sal in her yellow peril cape are particularly funny.  Sadly i can't seem to get them across from iphoto but will try again another time. We have had the most amazing weather showing switzerland at her very best. Lake Luzerne is almost turquoise at the moment with the glacial water flooding down. The route we have been following has taken us along valley flooss, along the river Ruesse and then further and further up the mountain towards the St Gottards pass which is at 2108 metres. We are almost glad that we had the 'bad' day the other day because had it all gone to plan we would have been doing the big climb yesterday. Bruce went on ahead to check out campsites and the visibilty was about 50 yds and it was snowing at the top. Down below, following Lake Luzerne Sal and I cycled for nearly 7 hours in rain and wind. Actually, we had a great day and had a few adventures on the way......cycling across an airfield was one and taking the ferry across the lake was another. The photos we took were dark and grey.
Today was completely different. Hot and sunny as we climbed up and up and up towards Andermatt. We took endless photos as we just could not believe the colours and the beauty we were seeing. The Swiss are trying really hard to make the route 'cycle friendly' and are very nearly there. Some of the tunnels were a bit scary...but it was the noise of thundering trucks on the roads above us or the roar of the hundreds of motor bikes that over took us that was most off putting. We both managed the climb OK, walking a bit but not nearly as much as expected. Not a marmot to be seen as yet!  Bruce came and picked us up about 5 miles short of Andermatt. With any luck we will be able to get over the pass tomorrow.....Watch this space.

Then Bruce arrived again and all was good again !

Actually it was good before he arrived as well because we left the caravan south of Basle and followed the brilliant Swiss Route 5 for about 33 km through beautiful Swiss country side finally getting to Gelterkinden before getting a train and tram back to our starting point.

The bad day before five glorious days !!

Well what a week we've had ! One very bad day out of 7 isn't too bad but that is how it has worked out and we are now within spitting distance of the St Gottards Pass. The bad day meant hills we weren't expecting, Tom Tom took the car and caravan on hills it it couldnt cope with and Mary Ann  got stuck in nettles and lost in Basle.