13/9 - 1/10 (Palea Epidavros, Greece)
Thur 13/9 - Lake Trasimeno 27m today, 1571 total
Short drive to Castiglione del Lago on Lake Trasimeno, along I would say probably the worst road surface I have ever driven on - it was appaling - could only crawl in places.
To Camping Listro - a €12 ACSI site right on the lake. Pitched up overlooking the lake and battened down the hatches because by 9.30am is was chucking it down again.
There’s been a real change in the weather from 40c a few days ago to 16c wet and windy and downright orrible. Reading day today I guess, Sue down to last book and wants a Kindle. Did manage an evening trip into Castiglione del Lago, another lovely medieval walled town for drinks in the square. Bought some tasty local cheese.
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| Not a lot to do when its chucking it down !! |
Fri 14/9 - Lake Trasimeno 10m today
What a night: howling wind and chucking it down most of the night. Feels like Blackpool prom in winter. Told its due to buck up tomorrow - it had better - our tans are fading !!
Moved to other side of lake today (wind and weather offshore) to Camping Kursaal at Passignano, a really impressive £16pn ACSI campsite located in hotel complex and includes use of all hotel facilities, free WiFi, Pool, Beach etc.
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| Camping Kuursal on Lake Trasimeno (near Perugia) |
Sat 15/9 - Lake Trasimeno 2nd day at Lake Trasimeno & Camping Kuraal
We like this site - have full use of all the hotel facilities but retain the comforts of the MHome pitched up by the lakeside and all for just €16pn and the weather is back to normal today - sunny and in the 30s. Excelenti !! Took the Scooter for a Battlefield tour today. In 217 B.C. just north of our campsite was the battle of Lake Trasimeno where the Roman army suffered its heaviest defeat (15000 dead) by the Carthaginian army under the command of Hannibal (2nd Punic war).
Ate in the hotel tonight, in the conservatory dining room overlooking the lake.
Glorious sunset over the lake (see pic).
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| Sunset over Lake Trasimeno after a stormy day |
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| Camping Kursaal on Lake Trasimeno (near Perugia) - We liked it here |
Sun 16/9 - Lake Trasimeno 3rd day at Lake Trasimeno & Camping Kuraal
Another glorious day.
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| Passignano market |
Mon 17/9 - Gubbio 48m/1619m
Couldn’t decide today whether to go to Assisi (birthpace of St Francis) or Gubbio both apparently vie for Umbria’s most medieval (stuck in time) town. Went for Gubbio in the end and parked up at the towns MHome sosta, just €5 for the night, elec extra if required. Quiet spot but next to school, so no chance of a lie in after 7.30 when all the kiddie winks start arriving in their Vespas and Piaggios for school, which starts at 8am (they finish at 1pm).
Eve meal at Fabiani’s a restaurant set in a 15c palazzo that had deep well inside.
Pretty much had the place to ourselves, excellent huge pizzas and a good house Sangiovese (only €6.50). Had couple of drinks in a square earlier and got some really tasty snacks with the drinks.
The days are still lovely and sunny but cooler in the evenings - fleeces required (bit like Tenerife in January)
Tue 18/9 - Ancona
To ferry port ready for crossing tomorrow to Greece. Big shop and fuel up at Auchen first. Stayed at the Sosta a few k from the port situated high up overlooking town and harbour. €12 incl pretty useless 3amp elec (Mrs B couldn’t even use hairdryer), but nice quiet spot. Did consider free car park close by, which although on main road would have been fine for 1 night, lots of other MHs there.
Wed 19/9 - Ancona Caught the 1.30pm ANEK Ferry to Greece today.
Arrived at port early in case of any probs, but pretty straightforward really. All the Motorhomes etc were put on last, so waiting in line for a long time. Booked onto the camping deck so had full use of the Motorhome along with all the ships facilities - showers etc, ideal for the long crossing.
Had to pay extra for the Scooter trailer which I hoped they would miss, alas No - €72 thank you Mister !!. Probably would have got away with it had we not arrived at 7am and been put in point position for all to see.
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| Ancona ferry port - Waiting to be swallowed |
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| Were in there somewhere |
Thur 20/9 - Diakofto/Greece 50m
Arrived in Patras at 2.30pm to a lovely sunny Greek day, should have been 3hrs earlier but it seems the ferrys go slower these days to save fuel.
Followed an English couple we met on the ferry (Colin & Sue) out of Patras along the old coast road toward our 1st stop at Diakofto, a lovely free overnight right next to the sea.
Alas our sense of euphoria was soon spiked when diesel fumes started to permeate the air and we discovered the return of a previous problem - fuel leaking out of the fuel filter through a failed rubber seal. Phoned Fiat assist (had to go via our UK dealer) - told would be first thing tomorrow as it was now past 8pm.
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| Getting fuel filter leak 'sorted' |
Fri 21/9 - Loutra/Greece 120m
Breakdown guy arrived first thing to check problem, not much he could do so followed him to nearest Fiat dealer approx 20k back toward Patras.
Repair done and away from garage around 1pm and headed south to to Camping Aginara on the Kastro penninsular (approx 70k south of Patras).
However could smell diesel again and sure enough filter still leaking altough not as bad. Phoned Fiat assist again and they are arranging for a new filter unit to be ordered and sent to nearest dealer.
Sat 22/9 - Loutra Killini/Greece
Beach and chill day on this really nice site. Moved pitch to be nearer the beach then the German Clampetts pitched up next door with 2 noisy kids to spoil our bit of paradise. Took the Scooter into local village for scoff and drinks in a comfy relaxin bar next to the sea.
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| Mrs B looking cool |
Sun 23/9 - Katakolo,Greece
Thought we would try and limp to our next stop - Katakolo (and closer to a Fiat dealer). Seemed ok initially - just a small trickle, but after restarting engine to park up it started pouring out. It stops as soon as you turn the engine off but awful smell of fuel inside the MHome, getting p****d off with this now.
But Katakolo is a lovely harbour and town and a port of call for cruise ships heading for Olympia. Stayed overnight on the harbour wall with the fishing boats and yachts - lecky,water,showers etc all for £5.00.
Very much a town for locals today (Sun) as no cruise ships in, Greek music and dancing in the bar near were we are parked on the jetty and all the bars that front the harbour were really buzzing with the local young, but what a difference Mon brought when 2 huge cruise ships came in - the place wore a very different hat but still very pleasant none the less.
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| Katakolo, camping on the harbourside - great spot |
Mon 24/9 - Olympia,Greece 1890m so far
Temp repair done to Fuel Filter by local Fiat dealer in Pyrgos, who bypassed the filter unit with a short piece of hose and 2 jubille clips. New unit to be ordered and fitted by Fiat dealer in Kalamata - hopefully (never happened).
Then headed approx 30k inland to Ancient Olympia and Camping Diana. Warmly welcomed by a very friendly and eccentric 90year owner. Only 4 MHomes in the site (with us) and much to my surprise 3 are Brits and as you do (well I do) had a good natter with them.
Went back after lunch to visit the surprisingly excellent Museum which contain stunning 2500 year old statuary and scultures that have been recovered from the site. This must have been some place in its heyday !
Tue 25/9 - Kalo Nero,Greece 33m today - 1923m so far
Early start today to visit the Archeological site at Ancient Olympia.
Managed to walk down the long arched tunnel into the 200m stadium and get the obligatory pics on the original marble starting and finishing blocks before the masses arrived from the cruise ships.
Went back after lunch to visit the surprisingly excellent Museum which contain stunning 2500 year old statuary and scultures that have been recovered from the site. This must have been some place in its heyday !
Then moved on, driving an hour down the coast to stay overnight right by the sea with a few other motorhomes at Kato Nero, a small resort witha few hotels and tavernas.
Weather still glorious and had dinner outside then a short stroll to the nearest taverna at sunset for drinks (half litre of execllent house red just €3.00).
Weather still glorious and had dinner outside then a short stroll to the nearest taverna at sunset for drinks (half litre of execllent house red just €3.00).
This place has a real end of season feel about it with very few customers in any of the Tavernas.
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| The start line at Ancient Olympia |
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| Olympia before the crowds arrived |
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| Beam me out of here Scotty |
Wed 26/9 - Pylos,Greece 34m today - 1957m so far
To Camping Erodias at Gialova, approx 8k north of Pylos - excellent ACSI campsite right on the beach overlooking Navarino Bay (famous sea battle 1827 - when a combinded British fleet defeated the Turks securing Greek independence).
Thur 27/9 - Pylos,Greece
Camping Erodias 2nd day at this great campsite.
Trip out on the Scooter to see the remains King Nestors Mycene Palace (big pal/ally of Odysesus during the Trogan wars).
Lunch and Mythos on the pleasant quayside at Gialova, a very naughty crepe for MrB. Went back Gialova for dinner after a trip to the not so impressive Pylos which is just a very run of the mill town.
Fri 28/9 - Nafplion, Greece 134m
A real mix of driving conditions today: the usual rough pitted and uneven roads, high mountain passes with endless switchbacks and then what joy lovely smooth toll motorways (I would gladly have paid 4 times what they asked just not to be shaken around for a while).
Our destination was the lovely harbour town of Nafplion, overlooked by two floodlit citadels it was for a while the capital of Greece. We parked for the night on the huge carpark next to the harbour with about 6 other campers. Saw a Cruise ship anchor up send one tender ashore and back and then leave, all in less than an hour - odd.
Extremely hot at the moment, OK during the day when there is a breeze but very oppressive at night once the wind drops.
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| Nafplion, another excellent harbourside overnight, but oh so hot |
Sat 29/9 - Palea Epidavros 29m
Had planned to stay at Nafplion for a couple of days, espescially as its free, but just to hot, we need a campsite with some shade and elec for the aircon so headed for Camping Nicholas at Palea Epidavros. Very quiet campsite so pitched on a great spot right adjacent to small beach (€20). Nice taverna and bar next door right on the waters edge.
Called at Ancient Epidavros on our way (free entrance for some reason) to have a look round the stunning 15000 seat ancient theatre which is part of a larger complex dedicated to Asklepios, the god of healing (apparently they were big on using snakes, more specifically letting snakes have a little nibble at you as part of the healing process).
Cracking sunset tonight with a full moon appearing in a red sky reflected on a flat calm sea - very pretty.
Sun 30/9 - Palea Epidavros
Relaxing day today, chillin swimmin and moochin. Even suzie braved a couple of sea swims today. Palea Epidavros is a base for Yachting firms Sunsail and Sailing Holidays and it was fasinating watching them both share the same jetty, Sunsail have all thier yachts move off Sun AM as Sailing Holidays have thiers returning Sun PM. Will be our turn in a weeks time.
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| Mrs B taking some rays at Camping Nicholas |
Mon 1/10 - Palea Epidavros day 3 at Camping Nicholas
Another very relaxing day on our prime beach front spec.
Tea out tonight at one of the harbour tavernas, veal for both of us and the very passable cheapo house wine.
