Half Way - Part 1

Is a place between Bandon and Cork and is also where I'm at right now after 16 days. The route can be split into three separate areas: 

The first part is the Val d'Aosta which goes from the Swiss border into the Aosta valley. The route is on the east side  and is mostly downhill. The only down side is that the motorway splits the centre of the valley and the sound rises. In terms of towns nothing really special to see. Arnad is nice and the fort at Bard is very impressive with the funicular up to it. Ivrea has one of the few natural water slalom courses.  To be honest, too hot to be enjoyable. The Alpes are terrific in fairness, really amazing. 

The next part is the plains. Some ok towns - Vercelli is nice - but walking on completely flat routes through the rice paddies and back roads all the time is monotonous. Again, stifling heat, and little shade. 36 degrees at 6pm in the shade is too much. The lake at Viverone was a big disappointment. Pavia does look very nice to be fair, very nice indeed.

The ferry experience with Danilo was great but you'd have to ask whether it was worth the hassle. I think not, taking the bridge at Castel San Giovanni is the better option, otherwise you can get stranded on the wrong side of the Po, like I did.