Jun 08

Ciao!

Well, as Jon has written, unfortunately we have gone our own ways, with me and my 3 wheels heading west in Greece towards Igoumentisa and a ferry to Itlay. I cannot describe how tough a decision it was to break away from the planned route. After many years of planning, and a very long time saving, it was depressing to realise how quickly we were getting through our money, and as jon said, it wasnt as if we were living it up! In short i have decided to consoldate my money into enjoying a 3rd month on the road, rather than scraping through the original route. I have decided to to try and not dwell on the enormous dissapointment, but rather look forward to spending some time exploring a country i have loved for many years, yet never travelled further south than Venice.
The obvious line has been to head west to the east coast of Italy and then spend a couple of weeks exploring this incredible country before reaching the Dolomites for a shower and a wash of my clothes...
I ending up blasting 180miles through northern Greece, after, like Jon, i found myself on a motorway, however, no-one else seemed to have discovered it, for many miles i was alone and it felt like i was in a "The day after Tomorrow", it got eery!. It was heading the right way, but was so new it wasnt even on my map! In 40 degree heat this was no easy feat, and my air conditioning seems to have been playing up recently...
I got to the port later that evening, and managed to get on board the Siren, basically a freight ferry. It certainly wasnt any "Pride of Bilbao"!
And so yesterday morning i found myself once againg on Italian roads, and I'm sure the Ape sounded and performed better for it! Another long day took me most of the way across the country, with my goal being the Amalfi Coast. Struggling to find either a campsite or even a hotel, i pulled over at a little restaurant, where they greeted me like an old friend and let me camp on the little front lawn!
This morning i was invited in for coffee with the family, before Giovanni called in his English speaking brother and elderly father, and proudly spent the morning showing me around his beautiful reconstruction of an ancient roman baths. Its a huge project, but is incredible and should be finished by next year. Its already on the list of places to return too!
Today saw me arrive a little hot and sweaty to the stunning Amalfi coast. A pizza, beer and and leisurely lunch time swim set me up perfectly for the last 20miles of cliff hugging roads to Sorrento, from where i am writing this. I have landed on my feet again, in a great little campsite, and am just about to go and explore...
As I said, i cannot descirbe what a shame it has been to go our seperate ways. Trying to be optomistic as usual, and looking at it as simply another chapter in this incredible journey.
Good luck Jon, I hope your miles are coming easily, and you enjoy every one of them.

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