An overcast start to the day, looking back over Lake Lugano for the final time, before riding towards Lake Como.
Our route took us by this beautiful nature reserve lake.
From there, the bike path followed an old rail line.
Well sign posted. We were heading to Menaggio, a town on Lake Como.
Our first view of Lake Como.
By now the rail trail had fizzled out and we were on cruddy dirt descending to the lake road.
Looking towards Menaggio
We had plenty of time to kill today as our ride was shorter at only 68 km and we could not check in until after 2 pm.
Pootling around the town, the nicer vistas were unsurprisingly lakeside.
The lakeside road was quite busy, and narrow. Multiple times we had to stop as manoeuvres occurred for a truck and bus to pass in opposite directions.
We stopped at this church and the statue is further in at another church.
Stopped at red lights, this was a great graphic of the area we were riding.
We stopped to check this interesting building out on the lake foreshore.
It is the Tempio Voltiano built in honor of Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the electrical battery, who was born and died in Como.
The museum is dedicated to the scientist, and houses many memorabilia related to his life including the first version of the battery.
The building was opened in 1927, 100 years after his death.
Como itself was super busy. A tourist infestation and in many places they wandered so aimlessly taking over all free spaces without any awareness of surrounds or other people. We walked to safely pass through.
We had hoped to sit down and lunch at Como but given how densely packed it was we just snacked on what we had with us at a quieter spot on the lakes edge.
Heading out of Como involved four nasty little steep pinch climbs. The advantage is the view.
Our overnight stay is in Nesso, a lakeside village on the side of the hill. A 1.5 km climb got us in the general vicinity of the accomodation.
The instructions were then: find the striped house opposite the grocery store. Cross over at an angle and locate steps. Go down 7 steps, turn left. Proceed 30 metres and go down more steps….and there is number 26.
We knew rain was coming so we were keen to get out and walk…down countless stairs to the water front to the local famous attraction.
This bridge and the gorge behind it were made famous, apparently, by Alfred Hitchcock. The spot is known as Ponte Della Civera and the movie, The Pleasure Garden, shot in 1925.
It took time to have the bridge free of people as it is a popular photo stop. Water craft hovered to our right hand side, with passengers busy with their cameras.
Standing on the bridge, looking back towards the gorge and waterfall.
We then climbed far too many pebble steps back upm giving our quads and glutes more of a workout, as well as our lungs.
So this view is at the top looking back down, you can see how small the bridge appears.
Here is a zoomed in version of above.
Food for dinner was looking a bit scarce on our walk. There was the possibility of a restaurant opening at 6.30 pm further up the hill, but given a few were not opening Tuesdays, we took our chances with reheated pizza from the icecream shop.
It was actually heaps nicer than either of us expected and quite filling.
Heading back to our accomodation we noted the waterfall flowing under the houses.
The little shop near our accomodation had reopened at 5 pm, so we grabbed some fresh strawberries and yoghurt to finish off our meal.
Today’s route is below.
Tomorrow we are scheduled to ride to Bellagio, then climb to the iconic Ghisallo cycling museum before riding down past Lecco to Lake Garlate.
Weather warnings are out with solid rain the next two days leading us to plot Plan B. We will see what transpires.
Thanks for reading, hope to,catch you tomorrow and not be too soaked. 😊❣️
yakkablog 
I am really enjoying your travelogue!
Here’s hoping that the rain relents, and that Tony heals quickly.
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Thanks …..we’re going to get wet…..😝
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Brings back memories for us – having ridden the same area and up to the Ghisallo Church as well.
The photo of you two looking out over the lake is very sweet. I hadn’t realised Tony is using a walking stick now!! Although he well deserves one after his little mishap!!
Try a restaurant for dinner tomorrow night eh… other people wont bite you know!!
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Need to have one open in the first instance…..per the blog, the ones we found all closed on Tuesday….this was not our preference food wise, but more of a necessity to eat something that was readily available.
We don’t travel five star, with a van to transfer you to a three star Michelin hat restaurant 🤣🤣 or transfer you if the going gets a bit rough.
It is how it rolls with self supporting travel vs leaning on a supported tour operator to cover off on these other things.
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Ok, let’s see if attempt No. 3 actually works lol. Sorry but you did have comments written for Day 1,2 &3 but they’ve disappeared into one of those lakes! 😉
Well, so very very sorry that you got ran over Tony and I hope that thigh is getting better by the day. Not a great start at all but hopefully that will be the only bit of bad luck.
Loved the blog so far and all the photographs. The stories are wonderful and make me smile too. Smashing those hills fully laden too! Impressive but I shouldn’t be surprised.
Take care both of you, have fun and hears to reheated Pizza! 😉 xx
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Hey that worked. Thanks xxx
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Blimey! I have to put another comment cos attempt 4 worked lol 😉 xx
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🤣🤣🤣🤣
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I might have send two very similar comments today! Maybe they don’t appear until approved.
The second one was :-
“I think I left a comment just now but yet again the WordPress interface on a small screen makes it awkward, so here goes again! I wonder if you saw or are going to see George Clooney’s house on Lago di Como at Laglio? Quite a few stars have/had homes on the lake. I remember swimming out one time as we drove past on the way to Ancona in the Marche as was usual. I got out about 100m and then froze (in fear, not cold) and realised how easy it is to make such a mistake. I’m a good swimmer so all was well, but it was quite hard to keep my body moving. Ann was distinctly unimpressed! See the stars’ homes there at https://www.thetrainline.com/en-us/via/europe/italy/your-guide-to-celebrity-spotting-in-lake-como-italy#:~:text=What%20celebrities%20live%20in%20and,the%20shores%20of%20Lake%20Como. your travelogue is wonderful. Surely there must be a book in every one of your trips! PS I hope Tony is recovering and regaining his good looks!”
If indeed you do have to approve each comment anyway, it would be a whole lot easier If I didn’t have to login. It’s kind of awkward on a small screen!
Your trip today was such a familiar area to us, but not by bike, except on Tacx films more recently in my training bike.
If you want to relive riding a bike around Como, I thoroughly recommend the Tacx film of Como. I think that’s the one following a Ladies’ bike racing team around the lake.
Nowadays I use Zwift, which is more dynamic, being different each time, with other riders’ avatars to ride with.
But the scenery is NOTHING compared with Lago di Como!
Allez Yaxleys!! Or should I say Forza Yaxleys!!
Best
Brian
Brian Sutton
iPhone +44 7753 535353
Tel +44 141 942 7662
bdocsutton@hotmail.com
http://www.briansutton.uk
Skype briansutton
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Yes not a very user friendly site at times…..times I grimace and cuss too.
I missed George…I seemed to have lost the invite to stay ha ha.
Thanks for the links, I’ll check them out, have plenty of time as it is pouring outside, it’s only 2.30 pm as we truncated our ride today due to the inclement weather.
I thought you were pre approved as usually only have to approve new people. My friend Ali also had some issues commenting too.
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