In May this year, Young Bristol embarked on another trip to Italy, this time plotting a route across Lake Lucerne, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. Thanks to Roger and Deb who have written the following accounts of their 2026 trip!
European Tour 2026 – Lakes, Mountains, Boats and a lot of miles! – Written by Roger
Monday 18th May marked the start of this year’s European Tour adventure. After arriving in Calais via Le Shuttle, the intrepid crew – Ruth, Malcolm, Allason, Jean, Tracey, Jackie and Roger – pointed themselves south and set off through France. After several hours on the road (and no doubt a few snack stops), we eventually reached our first overnight destination: Châlons-en-Champagne.
The following morning, it was an early start as we hooked up and headed towards the spectacular setting of Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. We arrived in Buochs in typical mountain fashion – greeted by light rain and mist. Not exactly postcard weather!
We met up with Paul, who had arrived the day before to carry out some reconnaissance work. Sadly, conditions meant there was no rowing, but that didn’t stop us enjoying ourselves. We hired an extremely comfortable “sofa boat” and took turns gently meandering across the lake in style.
Thankfully, the sun eventually decided to join us, giving us the perfect excuse to visit Lucerne and venture up Mount Stanserhorn via the funicular railway and open-top cable car. The views from the top were absolutely breathtaking and, as an added bonus, we were welcomed by a couple of curious marmots. We also celebrated Malcolm’s birthday, and yes, there was cake… with all the trimmings, of course. Some traditions simply cannot be ignored.
Friday saw us hook up once more and head south into northern Italy via the Gotthard Tunnel, arriving at Gravedona on Lake Como by mid-afternoon. This year we opted for a slightly longer route to avoid some rather terrifying hairpin bends that were definitely not trailer-friendly. Everyone’s nerves were grateful for that decision!
With YB finally in the water, we were joined by Debs, Lisa, Tom, Lucy, Sean (and Leo the dog), Karen, Klara, Corina and Barbara. A special mention must go to Giovanni, our wonderful host at the sailing club, who was always on hand with his trusty tractor to help launch and recover YB. The sound of “beep-beep!” quickly became part of the daily routine.
When we weren’t out on the water, we hopped aboard ferries to Varenna and Bellagio for a spot of sightseeing, shopping and, naturally, plenty of ice cream. By now temperatures had climbed to a sweltering 33°C, and the picturesque villages were bursting with tourists.
Evenings were spent enjoying meals hosted at our B&Bs. One, in particular, deserves a mention for having perhaps the most unusual décor imaginable. Outrageous ornaments were scattered everywhere, prompting many questions… Where on earth did those telephone covers come from? And what exactly was the “serious incident” referred to on the mysterious wall plaque? Some secrets may be best left unsolved!
One thing was certain, however – there was no shortage of delicious food or cold beer. Thank you to everyone involved.
Before leaving Gravedona, we made a small presentation to Giovanni to thank him for his incredible hospitality. We very much hope to return the favour and welcome him to Bristol one day soon. Our next destination was Lake Maggiore – Pallanza and Verbania – where temperatures somehow climbed even higher, almost rivalling the UK at the time!
Swimming in the lake quickly became an essential survival technique, and YB was launched only during the cooler early mornings and later evenings. Here we said farewell to those returning to the UK by air, while Sean, Lucy and Leo headed off to the Dolomites in search of cooler temperatures and mountain air.
Then it was time for the journey home with the original crew. We travelled via the magnificent Simplon Pass, before passing through Montreux and Lausanne, eventually arriving in Dole, eastern France. The following day we continued to Béthune, around 50 miles south of Calais.
Sunday marked the final leg of our adventure – a quick hop back to Calais, onto Le Shuttle, and home to Bristol by 5pm. By the end of the trip, we had covered an impressive 2,019 miles.
A huge thank you goes to Malcolm, who took on the lion’s share of the driving. We all agreed he was an exceptional driver (and deserves a few beers).
And finally, an enormous thank you to Ruth, whose hard work, organisation and determination brought the whole adventure together.
Another fantastic European Tour complete – full of lakes, mountains, laughter, cake, tractors, mystery ornaments and wonderful memories. Until next year! 🚣♀️🚐
YB on tour: Being on the water – written by Deb
I arrived in Gravedona on a sunbathed evening to the beautiful sight of Young Bristol out on the glassy smooth waters and smoky colours of Lake Como. Not quite the last to arrive, there were soon 17 of us gathered at the sailing club so wonderfully arranged by Barbara and her friend Giovanni.
The sailing club was buzzing over the weekend with us being just one part of the action. In the boat we explored up and down the west coast of the lake between Domaso and Dongo – enjoying the architecture and the mountains and avoiding the shoaling beach and the fast ferry. Lots of swimming, shade hugging / sun bathing (delete as appropriate) in between. Accommodation styles varied enormously – from the shabby grandeur of a second floor apartment where we all shared a pasta meal to the modernised chic of an open plan apartment with garden and wonderful canapes.
A visit to the honey pots of Varenna and Bellagio on Sunday only made me appreciate more the tranquil beauty of Gravedona – not yet on the day trippers route from Milan. I shared a glorious few hours with Ally, Ruth, Tracey and Jean in the botanical gardens at Varenna feeling grateful that we weren’t born in the selfie / social media generation. Others fled straight to the station and back to the peaceful north of the lake, spending time instead in Colico. Those in Bellagio enjoyed a meal with lake front views. One last morning coffee watching the housemartins swoop for flies and we were off to Pallanza on Lake Maggiore.
If the boating logistics had been a joy at Gravedona, the opposite was true in Pallanza and the physical heat was building too. I have several (now comic) flashbacks of how we ‘sprung’ the boat from a potential hostage situation and the odd (and sometimes uncomfortable) places that people spent time in order to both get a day’s rowing and then to store the boat. Enormous thanks to Ruth and Malcom in particular for scouring the town in the van for options – and for Barbara’s back up on the phone. The rowing highlight was a circumnavigation of Isola Madre, but Pallanza was also a beautiful town with many lakeside restaurants, gelato and a beach. Never have so many towels been squeezed in to the shade of a fairly small tree!
Just one short week after joining the club on Lake Como, it was off again and home. I’m so grateful to the towing crew for making this Italian Adventure possible – definitely some memories to treasure
Bristol Gig Club 