Those of you who have been following the journey will have been waiting for the continuing story of my feet. well, they have nearly stopped play at the moment due to the extra toes that is trying to grow out of the bottom of my foot.

Due to the growth (blister), progress has slowed after a fair gallop into Lombardia. I’ve based myself in Verona for the last few days in what has easily been the best hostel I’ve stayed in so far. I’ve met lots of interesting people here, most coming from south of Odcombe, well Australia to be precise.

Anyway, it’s time to move on again and into the mountains.

Michele came over last week for the first time. We based ourselves in Bergamo and walked up the Brembana Valley towards the Passo St Marco, high in the Orbi Alpie mountains. When I get the chance I’ll download some of the pictures she took.

On Sunday John (kitman) is coming over to join me in walking into Switzerland via the Passo st Marco and the Splugan pass, leaving off from where Michele and I got too (it does all add up). I hope my foot is better or we might not get out of the airport let alone up to 2000m, although walking in the snow will do it some good.

The following weekend John and I meet Michele in Zurich for a weekend of beer and recovery. Then Rob (FT banner artist) comes over to continue the walk via the highest mountain we can get up, I’m sure Tom wont mind if we go off course a little, he didn’t have to cope with a few million Italians armed with steel boxes.

After Rob goes I’m getting a bike to ride along the rest of the route, where Tom went by boat. Yes, that does mean I’ll be in Germany for the football world cup. Should be entertaining trying to find accomadation.

I’ve got so much to tell, but always too little time to write posts. Subjects you can look forward too include;

• Why is there a fish on the pavement?
• The cities of northern Italy
• Italian traffic and why I hate it.
• What am I going to do when I get home ???????
• Really, any good ideas would be most appriciated.
• Irrigation channels on the flat bit
• Exsistance
• Random restaurant stories
• Why do birds keep pooing on me ?
• Squeeky boots

Fueled with a rather healthy hangover, I got to the hostel in Venice after ‘Easyjet’ did their stuff. I’m not sure if my physical state helped my mental state, but my bottom lip kept wobbling as I strolled around St Marks Square for the first time, without Michele. I know we have made the right decision for me to do the return journey, but it is hard.

As i’ve mentioned before, the return is being planned with millitary precision, so I decided to start the plan with staying in Venice for an extra day. 25th April is a public holiday in Italy, it’s Liberation Day and St Marks day. Both significant occations for Venicians. So I was expecting a Venitian style party.

The first couple of days in Venice were spent generally wondering around, visiting museums, searching out hidden corners and spending a day visiting 12 churches !! Tom had a bit of an obsession with churches and cathedrals so I thought it only fit that I did the same. Venitian churches are museums, galleries, and anatomy lessons all in one. There is a fine selection of bits of saints, bishops and other important religious figures on show. Fingers seem to be a favourite, the more shriveled the better.

I allowed myself an indulgence, a coffee in the Caffe Florian (1720), an amazing cafe in St Marks, but to be honest, it really is a tourist trap. So I only had a 5 euro espresso, that has to be the most expensive in Italy !? It is the most incredable place though, I think I have found myself in a lot of tourist snaps as they walk past the window and without really looking, just snapped away. In the Florian I got taking to three Americans who also though it funny that we were in so many photos. We were talking about all the crowds when one of them exclaimed; “I was surprised to hear so many Italians in the crowds”, I couldn’t resist a response, “Well, we are in Italy”. A little cruel but I couldn’t resist. Sorry, if you ever read this.

So we get to the 25th with a hint of excitement on my part. I was in St Marks by 8:00am (you try sleeping in a dorm with 16 other people). i had been told by the tourist (mis)information that there is a big regatta around St Marks. So I was all ready, and I waited, and waited. Then went for a little wonder, then sat on a bridge and finally it all started. Eight four man gondallas paddling along in the distance, just eight, no huge crowds, no flotilla (sp) of support vessels, no partisan support, no drunken revelry. Really, it was a bit sad, I had the overwelming feeling that it was Venice saying “this is what we used to do”.

Venice really is an amazing place, I’m sure we will always try to return, now and again. But it is really now a museum for the world to look at, not a living breathing city. It may be a place that Tom would easily recognise physically, but he might wonder where the famed courtisans and the debauchery have gone………….

Aparently all the brothels were shut, as they were across the whole of Italy, in the 1950’s.

I’m back in Verona and I àm trying to get some photo’s on the site, but I’m having problem’s with computers again.

Anyway, we have another new toy. If you go to the Route page you will see a satalite image of my progress so far. Well, you will if you use firefox but not properly if you use Internet Explorer. Have a play, it’s great, you can zoom right in to Venice for instance.

Ok, I think the photo’s have worked now, so take a look at progress so far at the photo’s page. I’ll get on with writing something.