Height above sea level unknown...

Another two countries on the list.  France to have a play with the motorway tolls (the magic box is still bleeping and working from last year),  and Luxemburg for cheap fuel and a big big dinner.

435m above sea level.......
Well we made it to Switzerland!  Via a few hard shoulders on the motorway due to car gears missing in action.
The view makes up for it though :)

When you travel on a Funicular railway with the engineers and ladders you know you are in for a fun ride.
And seeing carriges going only half way down and then coming back up doesn't inspire confidence.
Anyway we made it down the mountain at Como before anyone was prevented from traveling!

201m above sea level.

The celebrations after the success of yesterday become serious today as we try to drink Lake Como dry.
This involves taking a boat to various small towns and villages for a drink in each.
Drinking Lake Como dry is impossible.

2175m above sea level.

Well we made it! There were a few casaulties along the way....  for us the loss of one reverse gear and overheating clutches,  for others shredded van tyres and fallen motorcycles.
The air was thin,  the snow was cold and the view was tremendous.

1470m above sea level.....

We we have survived all the rain,  fog and nutter Audi drivers through the Austian passes. 
The ringing cow bells were deafening though.
Onwards to Stelvio!

368m above sea level.....

We seem to be going down hill!
Today we stay in a castle for a change.  A rather strange castle as it has a very well stocked bar :)

462m above sea level...
The day in the naturist camp as preparations continue.  Obviously we cannot include these photos!

0 feet above sea level.

As with all expeditions into the unknown, one of the most difficult parts is actually the long travel involved in getting to the area to be explored.
With that in mind stopping to fuel our bodies for the task ahead was the only option. So after an arduous 8 miles we were in an American Diner restaurant doing just that.
Then it was a long journey by sea and land before we finally made it to our planned base camp.

116m above sea level...

Many previous expeditions (including one of our own) have found that trying to reach Italy via the fabled Stelvio Pass route is no simple matter.
This time many many hours have been spent on the expedition preparations,  not least of which is a specially designed wax applied to the cars to reduce wind resistance on the steep and dangerous climb.

And so it is that we are nearly ready for the off. Many of you have been in contact with our back room 'bunker'  staff asking if there will be regular updates again this year and all we can say is YES.