Mission 2 – Breakfast by the Lake
Start Point: Dunkerque Port
Finish Point: Lake Garda
Mileage: 797
We get off the ferry around 9pm local time. The official route avoids
Switzerland, heading through the Mont Blanc tunnel towards Italy. We’ve punched
our end point into both sat nav systems, and both routes indicate that the
fastest route takes in Switzerland. There’s practically no difference in the
mileage to the official route.
We’re aware that Cannonballers have received heavy fines in the past in
Switzerland (http://www.cannonballruneurope.co.uk/uk/previous_events_2002.htm)
and as such we may not be made to feel most welcome, but it’s dark, we’re in a
discreet car with tinted windows, and God is our co-pilot….
We make the call. We’re going in.
We get cracking, and start making some good progress.
And then comes the rain.
Heavy rain - the heaviest rain we’ve ever seen on the road.
The wipers are barely coping, and the lack of cats eyes or visible road markings
in these dark conditions are making things really treacherous.
Dave performs heroics over the next few hours, maintaining a great pace despite
the visibility problems.
At some time in the middle of the night, we hit the Swiss border. We’re asked
for our passports, Dave’s driving license, and our end destination, and we’re
told to park to one side in front of a garage. We wait fully 10 minutes in the
car, during which time we turn off the video camera running beside the front
headrest.
We fear the worst. Are they going to let us in?
Eventually, the officer returns to the car, and stonily advises that once the
€30 visitor road tax is paid, we can proceed.
This we do. We obey the speed limit almost perfectly all of the way through
Switzerland – our border experience has made us paranoid as hell! We take the
opportunity to do another round of Red Bull, Pro plus and Buzz gum. We’re
receiving text messages from other teams advising where they are on the
official route. We respond in suitable vague terms, advising that we’re way
behind etc. We’re being asked where we are, and doing everything we can to
respond without disclosing we’re technically cheating!
The early hours of Monday morning now, and we’re approaching Italy.
Cue a spectacular thunder and lightening show, which replaces the earlier
evening’s precipitation in France as the heaviest rain we’ve ever seen!
The rain stops, and the sun starts to rise as we proceed towards Milan. We’ve
been driving all night, and hit morning rush hour traffic as we skirt around
Milan – not pleased. We’re tired now, and complete the rest of the route on
auto-pilot. We get to the checkpoint at 8:30 local time.
Stepping out of the air-conned cabin, we’re blown away by how hot it is – We’re
a little overdressed in the priest suit! We head for breakfast in Grand Hotel
Gardone Riviera, which backs directly onto Lake Garda. It’s a stunning setting.
We’re pleased to note that there aren’t that many teams in yet – our
skulduggery has paid dividends.
More teams start to arrive for breakfast – many are surprised to see that the
priest-manned BMW diesel has made it in so soon before their £60k+ supercars.
We notice that the breakfast area is starting to thin out, then receive a text
from Andy & Len “The Dirty B**tards”, driving the Audi RS4. ‘Bratislava nxt
leg’.
Unknown to us, after an hour break, you can approach the checkpoint and get your
next mission pack – Andy and Len have legged it!!
We assume that they’re winding us up, and decide that there’s not much point
waiting around Lake Garda! We approach the checkpoint desk, retrieve our
envelope, and tear it open……