Wings and Wheels
Italy Stage 01 – Mon 27th June 2016 – Milan Malpensa Airport to Sesto Calende (22 Km)
Weather: 17⁰C min – 28⁰C max, clear and sunny
” Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring “ ~ Desmond Tutu
Today I made an exit from Britain and arrived in Europe, so I guess this qualifies as a Brexit! How good it is to be back touring in Italy, this time through the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto, from Milan Malpensa airport to Venice Marco Polo airport.
Arising at 5 am to get to Gatwick airport by 7 am was not much fun, but the logistics of getting my boxed bike and luggage to the airport was made a lot easier by my dear wife Melveta joining me as far as London Victoria Station, helping me to carry the heavy bike box up the steps, then returning home with my little hand-truck to use again next time. What an absolute gem she is … they don’t come any better!
Arriving at Malpensa Airport (about 50 Km NW of Milan) around 12:30 pm, I eventually found my bike sitting by itself over the far side of the baggage collection room, then found a quiet spot outside the terminal to unpack it from its cardboard carton and re-assemble it, relieved to find it had survived the two hour flight from Gatwick in good condition. Disposing of the carton was not an issue because there was an obliging cleaner emptying a bin nearby… and he didn’t even accept my offer of a €5 bribe.
Soon I was rolling along under a perfect blue sky without a care in the world. Having lived in London for the past couple of months, I had forgotten it was summer on this side of the world. With the temperature nearing 30 degrees it didn’t take me long to strip off the outer layers of riding apparel, baring myself to my lycra shorts and jacket.
After about 3 Km I found myself on the cycleway alongside the beautifully clear, green, fast-flowing, Ticino River, which I followed for the next 20 Km until I reached Sesto Calende, where I am staying tonight at the delightful B&B Rosetta. Sesto Calende is a magical little town at the southern tip of Lake Maggiore, located in the province of Varese, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy.
Riding along the flat, smooth path was easy going and the scenery was spectacular, with lush green vegetation on both sides of the beautiful Ticino River. Along the way I stopped at a river-side café for a refreshing can of Fanta, watching from the deck the happy swimmers cooling off in the river below. Around the next bend I got my first glimpse of Lake Maggiore, surrounded on both sides by the beautiful village of Sesto Calende and behind it the snow-capped mountains of northern Italy and Switzerland. Although it is a very warm day in the middle of summer the snow is still plentiful, an indication of how high the mountains are. How glad I am that the eastward route I have created to Venice follows a contour just south of the foothills!
When I arrived at my B&B about 4 Km north of the main township, I was greeted by a friendly, English-speaking hostess who made me feel at home right away. After checking out my spacious suite, showering and changing into my street clothes she made me a welcome cup of green tea which I drank while watching the soccer game with her (Italy vs Spain). Naturally, I cheered loudly whenever Italy went near the ball and I shared her joy when the final whistle went with Italy winning 2-0. When in Rome do as the Romans do!
Looking out the window I was fascinated by a small lawn-mower robot meandering around the lawns like a drunken creepy crawly pool cleaner, chomping the blades of grass unlucky enough to be in its random path.
The nearby restaurant that my dear hostess recommended didn’t open until 7:30 pm because understandably the owner wanted to see the end of the soccer match. The food was every bit as good as she assured me it would be and, as I sat there in the charming garden terrace on a beautiful balmy evening soaking in the tranquillity of Lake Maggiore and the snow-capped mountains, I couldn’t help thinking there was nowhere else in the world I would rather be right now than Sesto Calende.
Well-fed and content I went down to the lake and watched the sun set on a perfect first day of my Italian tour.
Gooday Kevin
Thanks for the photographs and commentary.SYD WX CAVOK temp 0900LCL + 09.
Keep on pedaling
Cheers
Ken Lewis,
Hello Ken.
Good to hear from you. We were thinking of you and the rest of the gang the other day when you were due to catch up for lunch.
I am really enjoying Italy. Just as well I have scheduled short rides for the first three days, as there is so much beautiful scenery to see along the way. Looking forward to Lake Como tomorrow, in fact I am spending an extra day there so I can catch a ferry up to Bellagio. Say hi to Pam.
Cheers, Kevin
“… so I guess this qualifies as a Brexit!” But with some important differences! You’re embracing Europe, not leaving it. You have a plan for the entire ride, not uncertainty over the next steps. Your ride leadership is not in doubt, unlike the major parties in Britain. If a Brexit is unavoidable, yours seems the preferable strategy!
Kevin, your introductory narrative and photos were delightful and engaging – but with one small failing. They have again incited the deadly sin of envy!
Ken G
Point taken … your comments about Brexit are spot on! What I did was leave Britain and embrace Europe, which is exactly what Scotland is suggesting right now. Maybe I should change the word from “Brexit” to “Scexit”. England made another exit from Europe last night, courtesy of the minnows Iceland who beat them 2-1 in the soccer! The English football coach has resigned, the PM has resigned and the opposition leader Jeremy Corben is on borrowed time. England is not a happy place at the moment, except for the press which is having a field day.
I hope I haven’t led anyone into the deadly sin of envy! But hopefully I have given some cheer to my Sydney friends and helped them to survive the winter chills. Rgds, Kevin
I think that since you enjoyed the ride from the airport so much you are going to just love the lakes. As you ride along in 30 degrees think of us back in Sydney where the city has been air conditioned – with the thermostat set way too low!
We are just back from a couple of weeks of indolence indulgence in.donesia. We only went on bikes once and one of us fell off …. !
I went near three Lakes today and as you suggested they are stunning. Looking forward to Lake Como tomorrow, in fact I am spending an extra day there so I can catch a ferry up to Bellagio.
I won’t ask which one fell off! Hopefully no damage.
Actually, you have more luck than us in Finland regarding the weather. Keep cycling!
The weather here is unbelievably good at the moment. When I left London yesterday it was cold and wet, but when I arrived at Malpensa it was almost 30 degrees and cloudless. I hope your luck changes in Finland.
Hi Kevin, we love your stories and photos of your adventures very much. They are unbelievably good! We are looking forward to seeing you in Cochem in August and following your daily travels in Italy, warm regards, Judy and Roy
Hi Judy. Good to hear from and likewise I am looking forward to the Mosel bike-barge. I believe it has turned cold in Sydney, but I hope you are still able to do some riding.
Hi Kev glad you arrived at your destination safely. Once again great photos and it appears that your weather is so much better than our crappy English weather rain and sun, sun and rain. Keep on riding and stay safe as the Italians can be quite aggressive in their driving, no doubt you knew them as you have ridden in Italy before.
Hi Kevin, this is an apt description – “without a care in the world”. I know. In Venice you cross my route. I wish you a nice tour. Take care of yourself.
It seems you like touring as much as I do Rolf. I really enjoyed your recent Alps blog, some of the photos were fabulous.