Today starts with a special stage, which needs to be completed in 10 seconds and also ensuring you pass the start line at exactly your nominated start time. I did not think I would be doing maths to calculate this so early in the morning. However, after the calculations, due to a communication error in that I was going to do a countdown for the 10 secs section, and my compatriot driver thought it was going to be for the start. We missed both targets.

Our failings did not stop there. During a very nice drive throug the Italian countryside, a message came in on WhatsApp to say a road was closed at a certain point in the route book. While trying to work this out we missed a turn. This meant we had to turnaround and retrace our steps  meeting the other minis going in the opposite direction and wondered what we were doing.

We eventually arrived at a Balsamic vinegar producer for a very interesting talk and tasting by the owner, followed by a lunch accompanied by balsamic vinegar and honey. Sounds horrible but was in fact, loverly.

The four course standing lunch in 26° sunshine was pleasant if not warm.

This was followed by another short timed event in which we did not fair much better. A joint failure of stop watch and communication again.

The rest of the afternoon was free, so we drove into Moderna for an explore and drink in one of the squares.

The evening was a dinner with dancing and karaoke. No prizes for who took part in both.

The most exciting activity for me was finding a garage with three litres of 15/40 mineral motor oil, which should be enough to get us home.