A slight oversight in planning

Ivrea - shop shutters all closed as was 1pm

Well a little bit of an "hmmm, oh!" moment last night when planing the next wee while, in that it was logistically harder than previous routing on this trip. So much so that I have taken a day to try and piece together where to from here - and the obligatory look over Rose!

So the moment came last night when I was looking for a way down the Grande St Bernard, and all I found was motorways. I am really keen to get up  Grande St Bernard for the climb but also for the history - Caesar and Napoleon both led armies across the path (and there is a cute dog named after it, or vice versa). Obviously I can't cycle down motorways so I looked into other means of transport, and that is where I came unstuck. Buses are out because of Rose, trains can take bikes but only some (and only some again that you don't have to put them in a bag dismantled), but then trains are limited in where they can go also because of the dirty big mountains they have to cross. A hire car was only available back in Milan so not ruled out.... As you can see there was a bit to figure out.

I had planned up to the end of Switzerland previously, but because I decided to skip it, I also skipped ahead of how far ahead I had planned as well. Not a biggie, it will certainly all work out, it has just become very real that time is ticking and there are still so many more climbs I want to tick off.

So the plan is to train to Aosta tomorrow morning with Rose, do the climb up to Grande St Bernard then back down and train back here to Ivrea in the afternoon. I know this sounds like cheating a bit skipping out the 70kms from Ivrea to Aosta but I think the 30km climb is penance enough.

Then the day after I will train around to Geneva, suck up the astronomical prices for accommodation and food, say goodbye to Italy and hello to the Franc leg of my journey. First up will be the Col de Joux Plane. Looking forward to starting in France!

So today, in and around planning, I walked around town a bit.

Find it incredible how they build straight on top of rocks

Newer old street

Last night - bit of an old castle in the background

Last night - tiny tiny streets

Nice old town, really not touristy. Normally once the locals realise my Italian is rubbish they try other languages, and normally the menus and signs are in Italian and another language at least (German often). Here, none of that, Italian or nothing - which is actually good as it certainly makes you learn faster! You also get to see the real Italy I guess?

Also had a crack at finding this knock in rose again. I think I may have found something with a misaligned thin rubber washer in her head tube and the top cap was too tight as well I think so could have contributed to making noises. Tomorrow we will find out! Oiled her chain and cleaned her gears as well so in tip condition.

So that is me for today, looking forward to tomorrow.

Highlight: Finding a means of transportation that is 1. open on Sunday, 2. can carry bikes without dismantling, and 3. will go from this side of the Alps to the other.
Lowlight: Realisation of time ticking away on this adventure.
Lesson Learned: It would be remiss of me not to mention planning ahead after changing the plan I guess. All part of the fun though.