Wow, It's almost half past ten in Pescara and another delightful day is ending in sunny Italy. Day two of the Albania Adventure and I'm not yet in Albania.  The journey so far:

Day 1: Up at 1.30an Monday 19 August:  70 mile journey to Dover. DFDS Ferry to Calais. Five hundred mile drive to Lyon.  Arrive 7.30pm. Five stops on the way. Read a good book (not while driving), called Fibber in the Heat by Miles Jupp. Very funny book about cricket reporting.

Day 2: Up at 5.30am and buffet breakfast at my hotel (called B and B). On the road by 7.20 and just drove 660 miles to Pescara on the Italian coast.

Worth noting that if you take the autoroute through the many tunnels, it'll cost you about 100 euros. One tunnel was 40 euros alone...50 euros if you were returning in seven days.  Drove in torrential rain and thunder and lightning in Ancona. Italian drives are a little mad.  In Turin, we had 30 degree heat and I burnt my right arm. It looks a little odd compared to the other one.  How did I find the Dita e laluna Hotel tonight? It was dark, so I asked at an outside bar when I thought I was close. Two of the locals then gave me an escort in their car. Sheer kindness. This hotel doubles up as a smart restaurant. I am not smart today and not in need of food right now.

Tomorrow four hours drive to Brindisi and then the ferry to Durres at 3pm . And it's the first day of the final Test at The Oval. Will I get to see that on the ferry's television??? (Not a hope).

Lots of love

Steve xx