Italian Gadabout

At the moment Jeff, you can have all the rain you want! We need sunshine here!
As we speak we are slowly working our way South to catch the ferry to Sicily on Friday, we have so much scenery but not enough Sun.
 
Cancel that! We have arrived at Villa San Giovanni, two days early. So we’ve brought the crossing forward one day, we can cross tomorrow, but still come back next Friday.
Got here just in time to see the blooming boat go without us! Damn!

Weather doesn’t look any better over there…..
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We have parked in a little campsite called Eden Parking for Easter. There are many Germans, Dutch, Belgium and of course Italians. There is one other English couple here, who have been here for 23 years! They are so useful for teaching us the ropes.
Won’t be posting too many photos for a few days as we are running desperately short of data.

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Well what a turn up for the books! We are in Lago Sirino, with the most fabulous views over the lake and the mountains of the National Park but it’s not stopped raining since we left Matera this morning. Currently, it’s lashing down with gusting winds, blowing the van from side to side. We have just pulled into a sosta, and are sitting it out. The forecast for tomorrow is fairly promising, so will see what happens then. Chins up!View attachment 66612
We stayed there both ways..
One of our all time favourites !
 
@RoamingRog - that's just 20km from our first place we plan to stay when on Sicily.

How was the ferry crossing Rog?
 
@RoamingRog - that's just 20km from our first place we plan to stay when on Sicily.

How was the ferry crossing Rog?
Tbh Graham we didn’t even know we had set sail! The queue to board was manic but once we were on board it was great. The signs said to leave your vehicle and go upstairs but nobody moved, everyone just sat in their cars, so did we. The first we knew about landing was when the bow lifted up and people were starting their engines. It was a stroke of luck that we managed to bring the crossing forward from Good Friday. Arriving on the Thursday meant that we could get a pitch, ahead of the Easter rat race. We are staying here until Tuesday before venturing round the island. We have developed a whine when we get to 85 km/h. Not sure if it’s a wheel bearing or something more serious, it stops when we go round a long right hand bend but then returns when we straighten up. I feel sure it’s a result of the problem with pot holes over here. The surface has been abysmal since the Mont Blanc Tunnel, I find it very distressing having to swerve about just to avoid them. It takes the pleasure out of driving because you can’t check out the scenery. I have a piece of tyre missing from my near side front wheel meaning I shall probably have to replace the tyres when we get home.
 
Thanks Rog although sorry to hear your woes.

Was the signage down to the ferry port clear? I.e clear and idiot proof?
 
You've been on this earth long enough Rog to know that your earlier post [IIRC, the gist, if not verbatim], '2006 M/Home just keeps chugging along, never misses a beat, don't know how it does it', was inviting the 'Kiss of Death' from life ... :rolleyes:. And there's a global banking crisis developing, so you can email your Bank with a 'I've been trying to stave it off by starting a one man effort to keep the Bank in business by borrowing a few bob until Pension Day' exolanation. Might buy you a few days grace, and remember, 'God loves a Trier'. It's what keeps me going ... :D

Steve
Lol, I thought the same when I read the post, tempting fate!
 
Thanks Rog although sorry to hear your woes.

Was the signage down to the ferry port clear? I.e clear and idiot proof?
Only if you know where you are going! We parked up on a little car park, next door to the boarding point, thinking we could just slip round in the morning and board. How wrong can you be?
Check In is at the end of the E45. Coords N38.214982, E15.636182
There will be plenty of ‘helpers’ around if you don’t know what to do, but expect to part with €10 in gratitude.
Then you join the queue, through the town, and eventually to the boarding lanes.
 
Thanks Rog although sorry to hear your woes.

Was the signage down to the ferry port clear? I.e clear and idiot proof?
If you are travelling from Messina back to the mainland the signage is non-existent until you get very very close, or at least it was in 2017. Basically head through town till you get to the seafront and turn left!! Keep going and you will come to the boarding lanes, if it is still the same you need to get out and buy a ticket from the booking office, cost around €55 in 2017.
 
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We have our return ticket already but I have a funny feeling we may have to take our Telepass out of the windscreen, otherwise we could end up paying twice. Our return price was €50.60. Thanks for the directions, always handy!
 
What's the temperature like with you Rog?
 
We’re enjoying it very much,but I wish they would do something about the potholes in the roads. It’s rattling the bus to bits!
You should try the road from Badajoz to Pomarao, surprised nothing had dropped off and the suspension not wrecked - never again!
 

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