I will fill you in on that shortly but first things first.

We arrived at our accomodation by 10.30 pm and jumped into bed, arising around 5 am as neither of us could sleep and out backs were complaining.

The bike bags fitted nicely into our rooms and Tony got cracking on putting them together, outside.

As we unpacked the bags, quickly there is stuff everywhere, and we have to carry it all in our bikes.

It is very noisy in our room as there is a mini river outside out door, quite literally just half a metre from our door.

I wandered around before breakfast to check the site out. We are in a rural area some 14 km from Milan airport. Our accomodation is an Agriturismo accomodation place.

I like donkeys and there are half a dozen here, along with some horses.

Tony did a great job with the bikes. They were finished before we headed off to breakfast at 8 am.

After breakfast we headed off to check out the surrounds leaving on a pot holed dirt road heading to the local village of Oleggio.

We rode to this church, but were far too close to photograph it. we did. We did not venture inside as a funeral was taking place.

Crossing the Ticino River, we followed a canal. There were many people walking and cycling. The ducks enjoyed the sun. There is significant engineering infrastructure and water diversions.

It was very peaceful, bar the sound of jets departing nearby busy Milan airport every few minutes.

We climbed away from the canal just after the Panperduto water edifice to the town of Somma Lombardo. A 2 km steady climb and a nasty polished river pebble cobble finish up the steeper section.

I jumped off ( vs falling on slippery cobbles) and pushed and admired Castello Visconte, parts which date back to the 9th century. An interesting fortification that you can tour.

Over the road is this monument to the carabiniere’s, the Italian police.

A well positioned restaurant over the road had a 15 euro lunch deal. Two courses, sparkling water and coffee. Far more food than we needed but decided that would be our main meal, and we would have a light dinner.

We then went looking for a supermarket but many shops had closed for their siesta so we had to ride heading out of town on a busy road, finding a large shopping precinct, and my least favourite supermarket Lidl.

In every country their shops are a messy muddle, and now Italy was no different.

I eventually came out intact with some dinner provisions.

As we headed back to return to the river canal route, a car was reversed straight into Tony on the busy road.

I was behind him and saw it all unfold in seeming slow motion. The car knocked him over and he face planted the road.

I was immediately cranky with the lady who admitted she could not see past the larger car next to her.

Tony was dazed and I feared a knee injury the way he staggered, blood poured from his face.

Getting him off the road, looking after him, the car driver, then the police arrived at my request.

The local polizei were super nice, spoke minimal English. I had to write Tony’s statement as his left hand had skin off three fingers and he writes left handed.

Tony did not want to get checked out for a stitch…there was a hospital just up the road. He did not want to wait and wanted to see to his buckled wheel, as the bike could not be ridden.

If not fixed, the touring trip was a non starter.

We walked our bikes to the local bike shop.

The guy at the one shop was on siesta, so we waited. The lady car driver came with us.

After my initial annoyance with her, I decided I actually liked her. She spoke excellent English and was married to a Scottish born avionics engineer working for Lufthansa, currently based in Frankfurt. Her mum lived just above the bike shop. she arranged to pay for the bike repair. We have her insurance details.

The bike shop guy was not confident but trimmed the wheel beat he could, adjusting and tightening and checking each spoke. Tony thought he did a pretty good job. Let’s hope it lasts. It will be replaced, but this size, number spokes etc, not a quick and easy replacement touring.

An uneventful ride back to our accomodation stopping at a cafe at the Panperduto to buy a cold icy pole to place against his swollen mouth, then he ate it.

Back along the river flats this is the local road. Pot holes like this feature along the 2 km.

What started as just going for a shorter, chilled ride did not go as planned. We are super lucky it was not worse though so need to be thankful for that.

It is the first time Tony has been hit by a car and let’s hope it is his last!