Today the alarm set off early, around 5.00 a.m., because the couchsurfer had to go to work (at AUDI, of course).

I hit the road early, but with an inconvenient. I stopped to check the maps and while picking up one that flew away with the wind I delicately laid my vespa on the ground. So delicately that the screw holding mirror and front cowl together was shattered to pieces.

I stopped in Leipzig to buy screws and repair the damage.

All of today’s route is on the motorway, not much fun.

Around 9.00 p.m. I get to Neuruppin, a town north of Berlin. I buy a few groceries and when I arrive at Franzi’s, the couchsurfer, we cook spaghetti.

I wake up and I find a thunderstorm. I was prepared as the forecast already said it. After breakfast and thanking Ilaria, the rain stopped falling, but I put on my waterproof clothing anyway. Indeed after the first kilometres it started raining again and it didn’t stop until the afternoon.

I was prepared for rain but not for cold weather. After passing the Austrian border, I had to stop under a bus stop to put on some more clothes.

After passing the border there’s bad news, the new roaming I counted on doesn’t work so well. In Germany not at all. To get in touch with the couchsurfer I had to go into a biergarten in Inglostadt that had a wifi. The good news is that the beer was good.

First of all thanks to those that came to say goodbye friday night and saturday morning. But I’d like to thank also those that couldn’t be there and didn’t forget to wish me good luck. So I’m leaving, hoping I didn’t forget anything at home.

Riding a vespa, you imagine being caressed by a pleasant breeze. I suffered scorching heat up to Venice instead. I’m not complaining, though, because temperatures will be a little less pleasant the norther I go.

In the late afternoon I get to Udine and take a stroll around the city centre. Luckily, I stumble upon an old bike parade.

I get in touch with the couchsurfer. She lives in the outskirts. We even organize for a BBQ.

Before going to bed I check the weather for the following day and it doesn’t look very promising.

When you’re about to go on a trip with a vespa and cover many kilometres, the first person you turn to for support and reliability is your mechanic. That’s why one day I went to Stefano’s garage to show him my project. I wasn’t even done talking, that he had already started the engine, taken side coverings out and started tuning the vespa.

At the Honda Center I got all dressed up for rain and cold weather instead. Seeing my open helmet, which I use to go everywhere, they must have felt sorry because they gave me a larger visor right away.