The e-bike wins easily; we are almost converted. No, he already has them in stock! We plan the shortest and fastest return route from northern Greece, involving two overnight ferries each way. The extremely helpful Konstantina quotes a very good price for an open return, costing little more than the single fare.
We are ready for our beds and a slow calm crossing. Open all year. Free WiFi in clubhouse, if open. At Other drinks and puddings cost extra.
By the time we disembark at Ancona it is dark for the anticipated afternoon drive to Modena. Another 5 miles to the Sosta on the way into Modena, where we join a few Italian campers for the night. It's busier than it was in November, with a floodlit match in progress on the adjacent rugby pitch. Autohof Bremgarten Free parking and WC at truckstop. Fuel, shop, restaurant, snack bar, McDonalds showers and laundry available. After 10 miles we join the A1 at Modena North bound for Milan, then it's motorway all day, with few heavy trucks over the weekend.
Coffee break at 60 miles at the large services at Fiorenzuola. Again there are regular signs insisting that winter tyres or snow chains are obligatory as far as Chiasso the Swiss border. We'll try to get some in England for the return journey. At the Swiss border we buy the obligatory month Vignette for vehicles up to 3.
This single-bore sub-alpine tunnel was the world's longest road tunnel Work on a second tunnel at St Gotthard is scheduled to start in , eventually providing a separate tunnel in each direction. That would certainly feel safer. Emerging with relief into the German-speaking cantons of northern Swizerland, we descend to lunch at the next services at miles.
