Sunday 4th October Lake Magiorre Stresa

Being the only group in the hotel makes breakfast a lot more relaxing. The spread is very good enjoyed by all before our departure at 08:00.
Being a Sunday the roads are very quiet, it is like driving on Christmas Day!
After a stop in France we cross the border into Switzerland just as the sun is coming out. The drive through this most majestic of countries is truly stunning today with clear blue skies, high mountain peaks and beautiful lakes lining our route. It is a real pleasure to drive on a day like today.
We leave the motorway in the afternoon and begin our journey along the side of Lake Magiorre to Stresa. This is a very slow but extremely pretty drive. The problem is the roads are narrow and on my side there are rocky hillsides coming down to the road. These are very unforgiving on mirrors and paintwork so I have to be careful. It is not easy when vehicles are coming the other way too fast and near the centre of the road. There seems to be an awful lot of traffic today especially coming the other way. We have a couple of occassions where it is very narrow and tight passing other vehicles.
Having negotiated the hardest part of the route we approach the last few miles to Stresa on a much better road. Shouldn't be long now before we arrive at our hotel.
About two miles from Stresa we encounter a traffic jam that brings us to a halt. The traffic going the other way seems even worse. There has definitely been some kind of event on today.
I near Stresa and the road is shut with two policemen (well one man and a lady) directing me off to the right. I do not know this road but it must be ok. The lady policeman (policewoman!!) looks very untidy, unhappy and has got a fag on! What a sight, she should be arrested!
Our jam is slow but nowhere near as slow as the other way. We are taken past the railway station and then down a road that leads to our hotel, the wonderful Astoria Hotel. I manage to back into the hotel entrance and unload folk and luggage. I can park at the nearby Regina Hotel.
The reason for the road closure and hold up is that the Italian Grand Prix of power boat racing has taken place this weekend and has just finished.
After parking the coach I go for a walk to see if Mario the boat man is about but can only see magnificent power boats on the back of lorries. I wanted to see Mario to arrange a boat trip to the Borromean Islands tomorrow but will have to give it a miss and let people do their own thing.
I have a couple of beers with Gianluca, the barman, who is a Juventus fan, and talk football. Chelsea are playing Liverpool and it is nearing the end of the game. Thankfully they win 2-0 and I'm very happy!
There was a superb choice for dinner and what I had was very enjoyable. After dinner I go straight to my room, unpack and then go to bed without even reading. I'm knackered for want of a better phrase!