After being made redundant in southern England at the end of July, I had three months to do a little end-of-summer, start-of-autumn bikepacking tour through western Europe. I intended to spend a month getting to Italy and then two months through Italy (as I love the food, scenery, people & learning the language) before returning to the UK and then back home to New Zealand. But, best laid plans and all that – I ended up having a great time, but saw a lot less of Italy than I intended. However, the time I did spend in Italy was absolutely fantastic.

• From a ferry
• Belgian Rain & Wind
• Antwerp and onto the GR5
• Ticking along around more canals
• Now what am I supposed to not be able to speak?
• GR5 done and tractors
• Rest day - or not; then actual rest day
• Rear-rack back-track
• Deeper into the Saarland
• Volklingen Iron Works
• To pretty Wissembourg
• A Strasbourgian Birthday
• Saint Louis south
• The hills may be getting bigger
• Continuing through the Juras
• Many metres lost
• Back into mountains
• Great St Bernard Pass
• A hike - Mont Corquet
• A week in the Aosta Valley, e un po più.
• Harvest day, wine-making and a departure
• A return
• A hike in the Alps - Col de Malatra
• Les Granges - through another's eyes

With my Europe time over a month earlier than expected, I was delighted to be back in East Africa for a few weeks of cycling, exciting camping and spending time with friends.