J23 – 1/9/2006

We left the B&B of Matrei where we had a very warm welcome.  Serge had the right to an omelet with bacon for breakfast because our host had looked at our web site and saw that he needed lots of calories.

As usual, Serge left at 8H00.  He lost time at the Brenner pass waiting for the camper so that his arrival in Italy could be filmed.  Unfortunately, Pascal and Laure arrived too late, detained by difficulties getting an Internet connection.  There are days when nothing goes well and energy is wasted.

The Brenner pass (1375m) was reached at the 16th kilometer and the col marked our passage into Italy.

We are following route S12, a national road which runs along the toll road.

We are in southern Tirol.  In Italy this region is called Alto Adige. There is a succession of enclosed valleys and the sunshine has trouble breaking through the clouds.

Serge has some pain in his ankles, which are especially stiff and sore in the morning when he wakes up.  Laure now has the time to give him a massage of almost 20 minutes each day and it seems to help him relax. Fatigue is visible on his face but Serge’s determination is not shaken.