After only a few kilometres riding in the morning I found a busy bike path. The award winning Alp Adria Route goes from Strasberg to Trieste and followes a former railway. I understood the term cycle tourist for the first time; restaurants and cafes dotted the way offering food drink and even showers; here was the most people on tour I’ve ever seen in one place.

The scenic path ducked under several tunnels, crossed streams, even wide rivers and valleys. I was going the opposite direction and had to dodge the stream of tourists heading down valley. By mid afternoon I suddenly realized that I had made it to the eastern most end of an Italy, but I wasn’t ready yet to leave. After procrastinating around town I continued along the route to Fusine. Tortellini dinner was a success, but I found it difficult to find a suitable camp and so ended up putting my mat down on the blown out margine of a hairpin turn which was somewhat level. I thought it would be a quiet night but was surprised to get disturbed a handful of times.