So this project is to cycle along the length of the River Po from its source in the "Cottian Alps" (yep, new to us too) to its delta in the Adriatic just south of Venice. A distance of 650 km. Its source is North West of Turin. It is 2,065 metres above sea level on a glacial ridge called the "Pian del Re" (Plain of the King). It can be reached on a tarmac track, but it is very steep and tortuous with many hairpin bends. It is one of the steeper cycling cols - up to 14.5%. The Giro d'Italia has been there twice.

So the initial challenge was how to get there on our bikes. We started from our flat in Aosta. We took a train to the nearest station (which was not very near) at Savigliano. We enjoyed a lunch in the main square - said to be the prettiest in the province of Piemonte. And then we had a pleasant cycle ride across the Po plain (the "pianura") which is very flat. And then into another beautiful town - Saluzzo - where we had an ice cream, before the final stint up a gentle climb to the hill town of Paesana which is in the foothills of the Cottian Alps and the starting point for cycle rides and walks on or around the Monviso peak (3,800m) which is the big mountain round here.

The weather was warm - 23ºC with no breeze. Great for cycling in fact.

Our plan was to hire e-mountain bikes to cycle to the Source and back down to Paesana.

We stayed in a family hotel ran by two brothers who spoke slowly to us in Italian so we could understand. Thank you.