This year's outing is to Northern Italy, including Venice. We left home at 03:30 this morning for a 04:30 depart from Lespignan. Unfortunately, someone had parked across our garage, so they too had an early start!
We are a small group of 20 on a small bus with two drivers. We have a long journey today, more than a single driver is allowed to do. Our second driver is taking us as far as Nice and will then take the train home, while Christoph will take over for the rest of the week.
Our route takes us through Montpellier, Nîmes, Marseille, Aix, Nice, where one driver leaves us, Monte Carlo, Savona where we stop for lunch and then onto Lake Garda, where we will spend the night.
At this time of year, I just love the French motorways with their flowering bushes. In northern France, they have rose bushes in the central reservation, but here we have oleanders by the side of the road and just now, they are at their best.
Having dropped our second driver near the airport in Nice, we had a stop overlooking Monte Carlo.
From now on, we were darting into and out of tunnels through mountains for some time as we worked our way along the coast. The scenery is magnificent but taking photos while in a bus is a hit and (mostly) miss affaire.
We stopped at Savone for lunch in the Hotel Miro. The temperature was over 30 at this point and we were glad of the shaded patio to enjoy our apéro before a delicious lunch of pasta, veal brochettes and ice cream.
Finally, we have arrived at Lake Garda. The temperature was 35 degrees when we arrived, so we are glad that our room has air con.
After another good meal and time spent talking to our friends in the group, we are ready for bed.
- Pat and John on tour
