Day 14/15 Leg 4 Merone- Gaggino 33 km. Gaggino- Sesto Calende 57 km

After 2 long days of cycling, a shorter day was called for, as we were both pretty tired.

After a leisurely breakfast, we didn’t start riding until 11am.

Within 10 minutes we were into a woodland path, running alongside of Lake Alserio. Nice and cool in the already warm day. First obstacle, within 10 minutes was a fallen tree across the path.

Before long, we were descending along a gravel track, which launched us into the touristy town of Como. It was heaving everywhere and the cycle track was covered in well dressed people who seemed to know that Como was the place to be seen. Actually, I have to say, that some of the females were worth seeing🤭

We fortunately found a table at a busy restaurant and decided to have a descent lunch «people watching» on the lakefront. A great pastime over a beer at a busy tourist place! We both enjoyed a really good meal, that didn’t involve Pizza😁👍🏼

This trail then became smaller and steeper until we were climbing on cobble stones which then became loose stones, and we both fell off!

To be fair, we discussed the options of busy roads dodging Italian drivers, or a woodland trail, and we unanimously chose the latter.

After fixing Sue’s mirror we were only 7 km from our destination. Our very chatty Italian host gave us a tour and recommended a really good Pizzeria😁!!

Thankfully we’d eaten a good meal at lunch.

We had a snacky supper with our bikes, next to a lemon tree, washed down with a chilled bottle of Puglian Rosé.

Day 15

Our family hosts here were really chatty and so friendly. They saw me trying to clean the dusty bikes with a small cloth, so immediately the man of the house dragged out a hose and sponge and we once again had shiny bikes with minutes.

Needless to say, we didn’t start early, so it was hot when we left the village on small but certainly not quiet roads.

I realised that we were now only 75 kms north of Milan so were within commuting distance and were therefore in an area of much greater population density. People like to live near the mountains and lakes of the Alps.

We love cycling this kind of trail; who wouldn’t, but it only lasted a few kms and we were once again dumped onto roads with little, if any consideration for bikes

Thankfully there was only 1 km like this, then we passed a motorway junction and the big trucks disappeared. We entered the city of Varese although, there was still no cycle path😡

After an unpleasant 10 minutes which seemed like an hour, I saw a « coffee mug tree» through a metal gate and, without hesitation,we left the bus lane, and pushed our bikes into the garden.

We sat down, still trembling and stressed. However after a very cold Poretti beer for me, and a Prosecco for Sue, we began to calm down!

Having had lunch in this lovely shady garden, the rest of the day was delightful following very good trails around Lake Varese and then Lake Comabbio .

Finally we arrived at our very spacious apartment in Sesto Calende and went looking for a non pizza restaurant

I enjoyed a seafood feast; which commenced with an eighth of an octopus. Sue had her usual steak which she also enjoyed.

That was the end of a great day, except of course for the terrifying bit in the middle.