Three Go Adventuring Again
- Thread starter DBK
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Jamwitt
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Worked on my iPad
kcy
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J
Well the video worked for me, clever little boy. Sorry him not you! Apple air
Another lazy day mostly spent reading although I didn't summon the energy to wash to van windscreen which I've been promising for the past week.
We took Charlie for a very short walk this morning, straight to the beach, where he had a paddle...
View attachment 110991
Then a shake...
View attachment 110992
Then the lucky boy found a stick, or more accurately a bit of plank!
He was fine and no reoccurrence of yesterday's little drama.
PS: The Internet is too slow here for me to watch the youtube video, it took all afternoon to upload so could someone please tell me if it doesn't work?
PPS: And yes, we forgot to take Charlie's tick collar off before he went swimming!
Well the video worked for me, clever little boy. Sorry him not you! Apple air
- Jul 29, 2014
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Worked a treat for me.
I suspect those olive trees might be even older than that. Fabulous.
I suspect those olive trees might be even older than that. Fabulous.
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DBK
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My original guess was 150 to 200 but I didn't want to exaggerate too much.
They are planted very far apart, sometimes in pairs and threes but I'm not sure if that was deliberate (I've seen that done in Spain) or the original tree has died and rotted and the new ones have come up around it.Subscribers do not see these advertisements
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DBK
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Thought I'd better write something but we really haven't done a lot - having a few relaxing days by the sea.
And yes that is the bar in the background, but we've only been once. Our waistlines can't cope with a second visit. We ordered some glasses of wine and they came with three huge bowls of nibbles, think breakfast cereal sized. Nuts, cheese biscuits and about fifty olives. Seemed disrespectful to send them back uneaten though I couldn't manage all the olives.
We are at ACSI 3099 a little south of Viesta, the main town of Gargano which we drove through on the way here and if you come this way I suggest you do the same - drive through it.
Although we probably didn't see it at its best as it was blowing a gale and dust and sand was whipping across the road.
Directly below our pitch is a nice shingle beach.
Which Charlie enjoyed, although he was spoilt for choice on which stone to pick up.
I saw some birds on the water which seemed very dark which got me wondering if they were some sort of exotic gull.
But after peering at them through binoculars for a while and consulting my book I realised they were probably just immature Herring Gulls! Later, when the light was better I got a better view of an adult which more or less confirmed it I think.
Charlie was oblivious to all this.
What you can't see in the photograph was the fan was on speed 2 of 3 and all his fur and his ear were waving in the breeze.
And yes that is the bar in the background, but we've only been once. Our waistlines can't cope with a second visit. We ordered some glasses of wine and they came with three huge bowls of nibbles, think breakfast cereal sized. Nuts, cheese biscuits and about fifty olives. Seemed disrespectful to send them back uneaten though I couldn't manage all the olives.
We are at ACSI 3099 a little south of Viesta, the main town of Gargano which we drove through on the way here and if you come this way I suggest you do the same - drive through it.
Although we probably didn't see it at its best as it was blowing a gale and dust and sand was whipping across the road.Directly below our pitch is a nice shingle beach.
Which Charlie enjoyed, although he was spoilt for choice on which stone to pick up.
I saw some birds on the water which seemed very dark which got me wondering if they were some sort of exotic gull.
But after peering at them through binoculars for a while and consulting my book I realised they were probably just immature Herring Gulls! Later, when the light was better I got a better view of an adult which more or less confirmed it I think.
Charlie was oblivious to all this.
What you can't see in the photograph was the fan was on speed 2 of 3 and all his fur and his ear were waving in the breeze.
andrewjw
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Hope that your adventures south of Vieste are going well...
Another way of visiting Croatia would be to get the ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik via Jadrolijna lines ( an old Brittany ferries boat) ...and then drive home up the Magistrale through Croatia.
If you have time you could even get a ferry to Patras from Bari...the Peloponnese is still quiet ...that much further to go...but is a treasure to be explored!
Another way of visiting Croatia would be to get the ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik via Jadrolijna lines ( an old Brittany ferries boat) ...and then drive home up the Magistrale through Croatia.
If you have time you could even get a ferry to Patras from Bari...the Peloponnese is still quiet ...that much further to go...but is a treasure to be explored!
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DBK
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Another bit of driving today, taking us to an uninspiring campsite, ACSI #3097. We should have learned our lesson by now, if the map shows a long flat coastline with no hills and wriggly roads - stay away! The site is OK but it is just a boring bit of coast with nothing of interest here for us. So why come here? Here being where the blue spot is on the map is. Not quite the heel of Italy, but close.
And this will be as far as we are going on this trip. There are things to see further south, Greek ruins amongst others but we have passed the psychological halfway point in terms of time so we are going to turn around and start heading back. Sicily and the other interesting bits down here will have to wait for another day - and there will be another day here because we are firmly caught in Italy's web. We shall return.
But why come to this particular bit of Italy? The answer is the Trulli houses, little round houses with conical roofs which are most concentrated in the village Alberobello which has an aire listed in CamperContact but apparently with a very officious warden who won't allow you to sit outside, so after a bit of digging I have found a non-ACSI campsite
which should be a good base to visit even if it is going to be a bit pricy.
The Trulli houses don't just live in Alberobello but are all around this area, our own campsite this evening has one - though it might have been made with a bit more concrete that was traditional.
And for €305K you can buy your own: http://www.gate-away.com/property_detail.php?id=143968&feat=1
But before I forget, a final word for the Gargano Peninsula where we stayed our long weekend. This is a great area if you can find a good campsite, as we were lucky enough to do.
Talking to my Italian neighbour there it seems the attraction here is the peninsula juts a hundred kilometres into the Adriatic and is surrounded by sea on three sides. This gives it very clean water and it is probably cooler in summer than the rest of the coast either side. Litter on the coast was non-existent where we were, which can't be said for our our current location, which is filthy.
And this will be as far as we are going on this trip. There are things to see further south, Greek ruins amongst others but we have passed the psychological halfway point in terms of time so we are going to turn around and start heading back. Sicily and the other interesting bits down here will have to wait for another day - and there will be another day here because we are firmly caught in Italy's web. We shall return.
But why come to this particular bit of Italy? The answer is the Trulli houses, little round houses with conical roofs which are most concentrated in the village Alberobello which has an aire listed in CamperContact but apparently with a very officious warden who won't allow you to sit outside, so after a bit of digging I have found a non-ACSI campsite
which should be a good base to visit even if it is going to be a bit pricy.The Trulli houses don't just live in Alberobello but are all around this area, our own campsite this evening has one - though it might have been made with a bit more concrete that was traditional.
And for €305K you can buy your own: http://www.gate-away.com/property_detail.php?id=143968&feat=1
But before I forget, a final word for the Gargano Peninsula where we stayed our long weekend. This is a great area if you can find a good campsite, as we were lucky enough to do.
Talking to my Italian neighbour there it seems the attraction here is the peninsula juts a hundred kilometres into the Adriatic and is surrounded by sea on three sides. This gives it very clean water and it is probably cooler in summer than the rest of the coast either side. Litter on the coast was non-existent where we were, which can't be said for our our current location, which is filthy.
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DBK
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It's certainly possible, and I think we may do that one day but we've decided to stick with Italy for this trip. Our "Grand Design" is to reach Sicily by way of Corsica and Sardinia but beyond that the planning is a bit loose. Returning via Greece, Bulgaria and Romania is my idea but it may take a bit of selling to Mrs DBK!
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DBK
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A short drive of just over an hour brought us to Alberobello, the trulli capital of the region. We are staying at the aptly named Camping dei Trulli, which isn't in the ACSI book but they have a sticker saying they were ACSI inspected in 2016 and they give a 10% reduction for the ACSI card. It's a small site with mostly German motorhomes here plus several Swiss and a Dutchman. Amazingly, given what we have found elsewhere, there is not a single Italian motorhome. Looks like it is only the north Europeans want to see the quaint trulli houses.
We arrived here by a scenic route which avoided the coastal dual carriageway, going past Ostuni, a white town perched on a hill then through some impressively old olive groves.
We were now in trulli territory and they were dotted all over the landscape, many along this route looked like they had been recently converted into private houses or more likely holiday homes. Some looked very expensive.
The campsite is about a kilometre and a half from Alberobello on a fairly busy road, but with the help of Google maps I found a quiet route on back roads this afternoon when I walked to the outskirts. The campsite run a shuttle bus but if it is not too hot we will walk in tomorrow morning.
I found a couple of trulli houses (the singular is trullo) on my little walk. The first well abandoned.
Interior.
And one being renovated.
Roof detail. If you look at the arched bit, on the left of the window, you can see large blocks then the flat stones laid on top. This is how the conical roofs are built. An inner layer of blocks which are self-supporting then traditionally a layer of rubble then the flat stones to keep the rain off.
There are something like 1500 trulli in Alberobello - so expect more pictures tomorrow.
We arrived here by a scenic route which avoided the coastal dual carriageway, going past Ostuni, a white town perched on a hill then through some impressively old olive groves.
We were now in trulli territory and they were dotted all over the landscape, many along this route looked like they had been recently converted into private houses or more likely holiday homes. Some looked very expensive.
The campsite is about a kilometre and a half from Alberobello on a fairly busy road, but with the help of Google maps I found a quiet route on back roads this afternoon when I walked to the outskirts. The campsite run a shuttle bus but if it is not too hot we will walk in tomorrow morning.
I found a couple of trulli houses (the singular is trullo) on my little walk. The first well abandoned.
Interior.
And one being renovated.
Roof detail. If you look at the arched bit, on the left of the window, you can see large blocks then the flat stones laid on top. This is how the conical roofs are built. An inner layer of blocks which are self-supporting then traditionally a layer of rubble then the flat stones to keep the rain off.
There are something like 1500 trulli in Alberobello - so expect more pictures tomorrow.
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We did our walk into Alberobello this morning so as promised here are lots of pictures of trulli houses.
First a couple of construction shots. The first shows how the flat outer stones are laid on a bed of rubble on top of the supporting structure of larger blocks.
The interior is much neater.
Here's an abandoned Hobbit house ready for renovation by someone.
This rooftop shot of part of Alberobello shows how closely packed they are, sticking up amongst the more modern buildings.
Some parts were relatively quiet.
But other bits were more touristy.
Charlie survived despite temperatures approaching 30C, we just gave him lots of drinks and poured water over him, which he enjoyed. There were several public water taps dotted around the town, he's standing beside one in this picture.
And then it was our turn - lemon and pistachio. Very yummy.
But what's that car in the background?
First a couple of construction shots. The first shows how the flat outer stones are laid on a bed of rubble on top of the supporting structure of larger blocks.
The interior is much neater.
Here's an abandoned Hobbit house ready for renovation by someone.
This rooftop shot of part of Alberobello shows how closely packed they are, sticking up amongst the more modern buildings.
Some parts were relatively quiet.
But other bits were more touristy.
Charlie survived despite temperatures approaching 30C, we just gave him lots of drinks and poured water over him, which he enjoyed. There were several public water taps dotted around the town, he's standing beside one in this picture.
And then it was our turn - lemon and pistachio. Very yummy.
But what's that car in the background?
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DBK
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A Fiat 500 Estate with cabriolet top!
All in all a good morning out, we got back just before one having left a little before ten.
The origin of the trulli houses is not known for certain. The popular explanation is they were built without mortar so they could be dismantled quickly when the tax inspector showed up. This sounds convincing until you realise many of the houses are not that old. A photograph from the late 19th century shows much fewer trulli houses in Alberobello than there are today. Apparently there was a building explosion of trulli in the early 20th century before they later began to be abandoned as folk moved to larger houses or simply moved elsewhere. It is possible the answer is trulli houses are just a useful way of using the local limestone, which clutters the fields and they are a sensible design which is cool in summer.
All in all a good morning out, we got back just before one having left a little before ten.
The origin of the trulli houses is not known for certain. The popular explanation is they were built without mortar so they could be dismantled quickly when the tax inspector showed up. This sounds convincing until you realise many of the houses are not that old. A photograph from the late 19th century shows much fewer trulli houses in Alberobello than there are today. Apparently there was a building explosion of trulli in the early 20th century before they later began to be abandoned as folk moved to larger houses or simply moved elsewhere. It is possible the answer is trulli houses are just a useful way of using the local limestone, which clutters the fields and they are a sensible design which is cool in summer.
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DBK
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Sorry for no update yesterday, we ate out (more of which later) and by the time we got back we got caught up in Referendum fever!
After leaving Alberobello we drove to the autostrada and put a few miles in, stopping around mid-afternoon at a sosta a little west of the Gargano Peninsula which we had visited earlier. We chose Agriturismo Padre Pio Girvane near Chieuti, a little distance inland from the coast and slightly elevated above the coastal plain. My Italian being non-existent beyond ordering a limited range of food and drinks I didn't find out the reason for the name of the place, Padre Pio was a Twentieth Century Saint, but that is all I know.
The place is listed in CamperContact #20088 where it is shown has having the usual waste dumping facilities - but it doesn't! I spoke to two people, including someone who I think was the manager and both agreed this was a "problem".
However, it is a very smart place with a long tree-lined drive and about half a dozen pitches with electricity, or not electricity as I thought when we plugged in. Eventually I discovered our main circuit breaker had tripped, which when reset restored power. When checking all this I also found our solar panels weren't charging either! All this I hasten to add in high heat and humidity which convinced me without any arguments I would look at the solar panel problem in the cool of the next morning.
Our pitch was beside their tractor shed.
And this smart building holds their restaurant.
They also had a very smart (bathing caps obligatory) swimming pool which I forgot to photograph.
While waiting until supper time I heard a very melodious warbling in a tree, so with long lens fitted I went searching for the culprit. That I couldn't see it deep in the canopy of a walnut gave me a clue and a brief flash of yellow confirmed it - a Golden Oriole. Too quick to photograph but the Swallows were better at sitting still.
We ate in the restaurant and it was very different from our previous experience, nothing really elaborate, just good tasty cooking and huge portions. There is an Italian phrase for "just like Mama makes" which escapes me at the moment. But that would describe it.
Starters were a very delicate ham and sweet melon. The ham wasn't like Parma, for which you need sharpened teeth to eat, just very tasty.
I then had a pasta, tomato and basil dish, Mary declined on the basis of stomach capacity but they brought her an empty plate so she could steal some of mine!
Very nice and another reminder how al dente they serve pasta here in Italy.
For our main course, I had grilled chicken.
And Mary roast beef, which turned out to be fillet of beef, sliced thinly and served cold with parmisan shavings and balsamic vinegar. I think she made the best choice! Both dishes were served on a bed of rocket.
We finished with ice cream and I had a coffee. Total bill just €40 with a bottle of their own wine. Even the pasta was made on the premises using grain from their own fields.
Today we put in more miles than planned to reach an excellent campsite run by a Dutch couple, which is just here, where the blue dot is. More details to follow later, I now need to look at the BBQ!
After leaving Alberobello we drove to the autostrada and put a few miles in, stopping around mid-afternoon at a sosta a little west of the Gargano Peninsula which we had visited earlier. We chose Agriturismo Padre Pio Girvane near Chieuti, a little distance inland from the coast and slightly elevated above the coastal plain. My Italian being non-existent beyond ordering a limited range of food and drinks I didn't find out the reason for the name of the place, Padre Pio was a Twentieth Century Saint, but that is all I know.
The place is listed in CamperContact #20088 where it is shown has having the usual waste dumping facilities - but it doesn't! I spoke to two people, including someone who I think was the manager and both agreed this was a "problem".
However, it is a very smart place with a long tree-lined drive and about half a dozen pitches with electricity, or not electricity as I thought when we plugged in. Eventually I discovered our main circuit breaker had tripped, which when reset restored power. When checking all this I also found our solar panels weren't charging either! All this I hasten to add in high heat and humidity which convinced me without any arguments I would look at the solar panel problem in the cool of the next morning.
Our pitch was beside their tractor shed.
And this smart building holds their restaurant.
They also had a very smart (bathing caps obligatory) swimming pool which I forgot to photograph.
While waiting until supper time I heard a very melodious warbling in a tree, so with long lens fitted I went searching for the culprit. That I couldn't see it deep in the canopy of a walnut gave me a clue and a brief flash of yellow confirmed it - a Golden Oriole. Too quick to photograph but the Swallows were better at sitting still.
We ate in the restaurant and it was very different from our previous experience, nothing really elaborate, just good tasty cooking and huge portions. There is an Italian phrase for "just like Mama makes" which escapes me at the moment. But that would describe it.
Starters were a very delicate ham and sweet melon. The ham wasn't like Parma, for which you need sharpened teeth to eat, just very tasty.
I then had a pasta, tomato and basil dish, Mary declined on the basis of stomach capacity but they brought her an empty plate so she could steal some of mine!
Very nice and another reminder how al dente they serve pasta here in Italy.
For our main course, I had grilled chicken.
And Mary roast beef, which turned out to be fillet of beef, sliced thinly and served cold with parmisan shavings and balsamic vinegar. I think she made the best choice! Both dishes were served on a bed of rocket.
We finished with ice cream and I had a coffee. Total bill just €40 with a bottle of their own wine. Even the pasta was made on the premises using grain from their own fields.
Today we put in more miles than planned to reach an excellent campsite run by a Dutch couple, which is just here, where the blue dot is. More details to follow later, I now need to look at the BBQ!
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But back to electrical problems...
When we returned from our meal I dusted off the TV (we haven't used it since leaving the UK) to see if we could find anything on BBC World about the Referendum. But the TV was silent! No lights glowing so clearing something was wrong.
I put this problem on tomorrow's agenda and we turned in.
Woken at 5:30 by the dog being sick (the joy of puppies) we made a pot of tea and checked up on the Referendum results, which I won't discuss here!
We showered in the van but before it was my turn I rummaged in the back of the wardrobe, getting hot and sweaty, to check the fuses. I had already checked the manual and one fuse fed both the TV (defunct) and solar panel (not charging) and as I had hoped this fuse was blown. I changed it from the stock I now carry (been in this position before) and by magic both the solar panels and the TV (had we wanted to watch it) were now working. I've no idea, what blew the fuse or had tripped the circuit breakers but everything was now working.
We put in another long drive today, by our standards, of nearly 300km and we have stopped at a really excellent campsite, #3060 in ACSI.
More on the site tomorrow when we've had time to explore. But this was this evening.
When we returned from our meal I dusted off the TV (we haven't used it since leaving the UK) to see if we could find anything on BBC World about the Referendum. But the TV was silent! No lights glowing so clearing something was wrong.
I put this problem on tomorrow's agenda and we turned in.
Woken at 5:30 by the dog being sick (the joy of puppies) we made a pot of tea and checked up on the Referendum results, which I won't discuss here!
We showered in the van but before it was my turn I rummaged in the back of the wardrobe, getting hot and sweaty, to check the fuses. I had already checked the manual and one fuse fed both the TV (defunct) and solar panel (not charging) and as I had hoped this fuse was blown. I changed it from the stock I now carry (been in this position before) and by magic both the solar panels and the TV (had we wanted to watch it) were now working.
I've no idea, what blew the fuse or had tripped the circuit breakers but everything was now working.We put in another long drive today, by our standards, of nearly 300km and we have stopped at a really excellent campsite, #3060 in ACSI.
More on the site tomorrow when we've had time to explore. But this was this evening.
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DBK
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And the phrase I was looking for about the style of the meal has come back to me: cucina casalinga. Which means "home cooking" but the word nostrano could also be applied. It means "local" which it certainly was.
And my Italian hasn't suddenly improved - these words are all in Eric Newby's books about Italy.
And my Italian hasn't suddenly improved - these words are all in Eric Newby's books about Italy.
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DBK
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Thank you. The trullis are worth going to see - just a pity they are so far away. We have recorded about 2400 miles since Roscoff before we turned around and started heading back. Of course we meandered quite a bit! A quick check on Google maps suggests is it is atleast 1500 miles from the Channel ports to the tip of Italy and probably a bit more unless you went the most direct route.
ACSI 3060 is at Monteciccardo. Their website is www.podereseipoorte.it
Apart from the heat and humidity it is one of the best sites we have been on, we've even got a fully serviced pitch! They also have a good bar, restaurant and swimming pool. The toilet blocks are tiny, but dotted all around the site so it isn't far to go for a shower. Very friendly staff, all Dutch with good English of course. Dutch campers must make up 80% of those here.
ACSI 3060 is at Monteciccardo. Their website is www.podereseipoorte.it
Apart from the heat and humidity it is one of the best sites we have been on, we've even got a fully serviced pitch! They also have a good bar, restaurant and swimming pool. The toilet blocks are tiny, but dotted all around the site so it isn't far to go for a shower. Very friendly staff, all Dutch with good English of course. Dutch campers must make up 80% of those here.
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DBK
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It certainly has more character than the nearby coastal sites. A bit of a drive to get here but worth it. The approach is up a narrow road which gives no hint of the Little Holland you find at the end.Thanks for that...could be a good stopover for us on the way home.
Have a safe trip..
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DBK
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Friday and most of Saturday were uncomfortably hot, it wasn't the actual temperature though it did peak at about 32C but the humidity was a killer. We just sat in the shade reading all day, which was pleasant but even going on a short walk with the dog was hot work.
In the early evening of Saturday clouds built up, thunder rumbled distantly then just as I went for my evening shower the rain arrived. It probably only lasted twenty minutes and I watched it from my shower cubicle, the door of which opened onto the site.
When it stopped I went back to the van to find Mrs DBK had coped well with the deluge and hadn't got too wet while she shoved furniture under the awning, closed windows and skylights!
It was much pleasanter the next day, still hot but the air was clear and the humidity back to comfortable levels. I even went to take a few pictures of the site.
The bar/restaurant :
And swimming pool :
I tried photographing one of the many lizards which were scurrying around. They were wary blighters and easily spooked.
The Common Wall Lizard I believe.
So this morning we decided to get away from the heat and head for the hills. We left at ten and arrived here at five. Here being the blue dot and ACSI #2951 which is beside Lake Corlo in the foothills of the Dolomites.
This is the view from our pitch:
There are paths through the woods and by the lake shore so tomorrow we will do some exploring.
In the early evening of Saturday clouds built up, thunder rumbled distantly then just as I went for my evening shower the rain arrived. It probably only lasted twenty minutes and I watched it from my shower cubicle, the door of which opened onto the site.
When it stopped I went back to the van to find Mrs DBK had coped well with the deluge
and hadn't got too wet while she shoved furniture under the awning, closed windows and skylights! It was much pleasanter the next day, still hot but the air was clear and the humidity back to comfortable levels. I even went to take a few pictures of the site.
The bar/restaurant :
And swimming pool :
I tried photographing one of the many lizards which were scurrying around. They were wary blighters and easily spooked.
The Common Wall Lizard I believe.
So this morning we decided to get away from the heat and head for the hills. We left at ten and arrived here at five. Here being the blue dot and ACSI #2951 which is beside Lake Corlo in the foothills of the Dolomites.
This is the view from our pitch:
There are paths through the woods and by the lake shore so tomorrow we will do some exploring.
Lovely pHotos again , thanks for sharing . Safe travels !Friday and most of Saturday were uncomfortably hot, it wasn't the actual temperature though it did peak at about 32C but the humidity was a killer. We just sat in the shade reading all day, which was pleasant but even going on a short walk with the dog was hot work.
In the early evening of Saturday clouds built up, thunder rumbled distantly then just as I went for my evening shower the rain arrived. It probably only lasted twenty minutes and I watched it from my shower cubicle, the door of which opened onto the site.
When it stopped I went back to the van to find Mrs DBK had coped well with the deluge
It was much pleasanter the next day, still hot but the air was clear and the humidity back to comfortable levels. I even went to take a few pictures of the site.
The bar/restaurant :
View attachment 112676
And swimming pool :
View attachment 112677
I tried photographing one of the many lizards which were scurrying around. They were wary blighters and easily spooked.
View attachment 112678
The Common Wall Lizard I believe.
So this morning we decided to get away from the heat and head for the hills. We left at ten and arrived here at five. Here being the blue dot and ACSI #2951 which is beside Lake Corlo in the foothills of the Dolomites.
View attachment 112679
This is the view from our pitch:
View attachment 112680
There are paths through the woods and by the lake shore so tomorrow we will do some exploring.
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DBK
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We've found the autostrada fairly safe and with a generally much better road surface than the rest of the Italian road network. Not too expensive either, a bit over €20 today on tolls but if we had done it on normal roads it would have taken two days.
We had originally decided to do it in two hops but the inland aires around Parma, where we would have stopped looked pretty unexciting - just carparks and the thought of arriving at one in the heat of the day wasn't attractive. There are lots of campsites south of Venice and we did plan on stopping at one but decided in the end to press on for the mountains.
I would have liked to explore around Parma, if only for the cheese and ham, but I think it will need a cooler time of the year for us wilting wallflowers!
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DBK
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We went for a short walk this morning along the path around part of the lake shore, which wasn't as flat as I had hoped, there were some definite up and down bits!
There were some nice views of the lake in places, the surface was smooth, where not disturbed by birds or fish (carp) giving some nice reflections.
In the distance you might just see a Grebe swimming left to right. In the foreground Charlie is doing his Grebe impression.
"Come back Charlie! "
The intrepid explorer.
But it was a very pleasant walk with lots of butterflies about and flowers, err, flowering. And a moment of excitement, a brief glimpse of a snake. It was sort of greenish without obvious markings. With my non-existent knowledge of European snakes it might have been an Aesculapian snake, but most likely probably not. The habitat was about right, mountainous, but a five second glimpse is hardly definitive.
Perhaps tomorrow we will visit this place! Hopefully we won't be bitten there by a snake!
There were some nice views of the lake in places, the surface was smooth, where not disturbed by birds or fish (carp) giving some nice reflections.
In the distance you might just see a Grebe swimming left to right. In the foreground Charlie is doing his Grebe impression.
"Come back Charlie! "
The intrepid explorer.
But it was a very pleasant walk with lots of butterflies about and flowers, err, flowering. And a moment of excitement, a brief glimpse of a snake. It was sort of greenish without obvious markings. With my non-existent knowledge of European snakes it might have been an Aesculapian snake, but most likely probably not. The habitat was about right, mountainous, but a five second glimpse is hardly definitive.
Perhaps tomorrow we will visit this place! Hopefully we won't be bitten there by a snake!
OP
OP
DBK
LIFE MEMBER
Forgot the link to the Aesculapian snake, the name means relating to medicine and doctors. This is why the cap badge of the Royal Army Medical Corps has a snake in it. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculapian_snake
kcy
Free Member
Loving all the photos, while on the wildlife note a slightly ominous silence has come over the garden. I'm missing my bees!
OP
OP
DBK
LIFE MEMBER
The next day, which was yesterday, we walked along the path to Arsié, getting away at 9:30, which is early for us, to try and avoid the worst of the heat.
The path was well maintained, although steep in places.
When we got to Arsié it wasn't anything special. The first building we came across was an abandoned church.
And the owners of this place might consider an offer if you wanted to live here.
But it wasn't all like that and we sat at an outside table in the centre of the village at a bar and enjoyed a cold drink and an ice-cream!
Charlie found the walk back hot work. Here he is flattening himself against the ground in a shady spot to cool down.
But when we got back to the lake he knew what he really wanted to do. Who wants to walk to boring villages when there are sticks to fetch from the water?
If the surface of the water looks a bit dirty it is grass - they had just finished strimming the lake shore at this point.
Today, being Monday, it was time to move on day, although we didn't plan to move very far, just 40km as the crow flies but it was to take us over two hours.
We climbed up past some spectacular Dolomite scenery.
The road went over the Passo di Rolle which doesn't seem well known, I couldn't find anything about it in English on Google but it seems well known to German, Swiss and Italian bikers because there were dozens of them going over it. The road has a very good surface and numerous hairpin bends and with very light traffic, apart from the motorbikes, it was a pleasant drive.
We have stopped for the weekend at ACSI #2919 near the village of Predazzo.
Which is where the blue dot is on this map.
There are lots of walks from the site into the surrounding forest, so we will get some exercise this weekend - and it shouldn't be too hot for our canine member of the party.
The path was well maintained, although steep in places.
When we got to Arsié it wasn't anything special. The first building we came across was an abandoned church.
And the owners of this place might consider an offer if you wanted to live here.
But it wasn't all like that and we sat at an outside table in the centre of the village at a bar and enjoyed a cold drink and an ice-cream!
Charlie found the walk back hot work. Here he is flattening himself against the ground in a shady spot to cool down.
But when we got back to the lake he knew what he really wanted to do. Who wants to walk to boring villages when there are sticks to fetch from the water?
If the surface of the water looks a bit dirty it is grass - they had just finished strimming the lake shore at this point.
Today, being Monday, it was time to move on day, although we didn't plan to move very far, just 40km as the crow flies but it was to take us over two hours.
We climbed up past some spectacular Dolomite scenery.
The road went over the Passo di Rolle which doesn't seem well known, I couldn't find anything about it in English on Google but it seems well known to German, Swiss and Italian bikers because there were dozens of them going over it. The road has a very good surface and numerous hairpin bends and with very light traffic, apart from the motorbikes, it was a pleasant drive.
We have stopped for the weekend at ACSI #2919 near the village of Predazzo.
Which is where the blue dot is on this map.
There are lots of walks from the site into the surrounding forest, so we will get some exercise this weekend - and it shouldn't be too hot for our canine member of the party.
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