A day of epic scenery, from mountain passes to glassy azure lakewater.

On Saturday, we drove through Udine and crossed the border into the quiet winding mountain roads of Slovenia.

Milena acted as our personal tour guide to the city, taking us to the Basilica di sant’Antonio where we were able to observe the actual jaw of Saint Anthony, and then to the green room of Caffe Pedrocchi for a coffee.

We both thoroughly enjoyed Venice, and I was very happy to find a city still very much alive, thriving in fact, fed as it always has been by the tourist trade but not yet at least ruined by it.

We drove past Iseo to Paratico, where my cousin Ramona lives, had an aperitif there with her and her partner Ronni.

After traversing a large part of the Swiss Alps through a series of tunnels, we emerged to take the Bernina Pass to complete the job.

Having stayed last night just inside the Northern edge of the Black Forest, we got up this morning and drove a little deeper into it.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable few hours wandering around Strasbourg today. This was our first significant deviation from the route we had planned.

We were keen to visit this place as soon as we found out about it.

Sedan Castle, the largest fortified castle in Europe, exceeded our expectations in terms of how well it’s been presented.

Today we said goodbye to Serena and family and set off from Lille, Belgium bound.

Our first stop was in the cobblestone streets of Cassel, apparently “France’s favourite village” where we spotted this unusual looking roof.

Made it to Dover after a long drive across from Chagford and a stop off for tea and cake with Josie’s aunt and uncle near Devizes.

Today was Josie’s final clinic for the foreseeable. We had a thorough perusal of the very colourful, patchouli infused Totnes High Street.

Babbacombe lies within the bounds of Torquay but feels like its own place. We had some top-notch fish & chips with a stunning view and then a lovely stroll down the steep wooded embankment down to the beach and back.

We have actually set off! Goodbye Sheffield, hello Torquay.

So, this is just a systems test.