7^th may.

Had a pleasant stay in Arkista village next to where the ferry's go across to the island of Evia, it was a very nice spot next to the sea and it had free wifi at a local hot spot, next morning we took the ferry across to the island, we turned left when we came off the ferry and ended up in the mountains, but the villages were the problem the streets were nearly the same width as the motor home, and a lot had right angled bends round houses, was I glad when we hit a decent road to send us on our way.

We travelled South until we hit a perfect stop over where we could park up on the beach, it was so good we stayed for a good 10 days, there were two Dolphins swimming past every 3 days or so, it must take them this time to go round between the island and the mainland. Our stop was well spent as I managed to strip down the gas side of the fridge which had stopped working as it was full of dust from our trip through Albania.

We got the scooter out and had some good rides on the island, we found everything for our stay, in the next village Limini 10 kilometres down the road they had a communal water tap and the next village the other way were some shops, so all in all a pleasant stay.

17^th May

travelled over the mountains and the bridge at the other end of the island onto the Greek mainland and on till we arrived at our next port of call a beach we stumbled upon, parked up was another British van with two Australian folk who now live in the UK, we stayed 3 days as I completed all the outstanding odd jobs fixing things back which had fallen off on the trek through Albania and the non existent roads.

20^th May.

Moved on to a Stelplaz in Ancient Corinth for a night, the owners greeted us with two cups of Greek coffee when we arrived, and when I asked him if he had wifi he said yes and lead us to his house sat us down in his living room and turned on his computer for me to use, which was fine but the key board was a Greek one which made it interesting.. Nice people and the old granny gave Sandra a sprig of mint and the young daughter painted some boiled eggs for us to take away.

21^st May.

Moved on to the sea lake at Vouligmenis where Sandra came across a dead dog in the beach shower after her swim, she gave it a shower thinking it might reserect itself, alas it was past a miracle, the next day we went to a nearby lighthouse a couple of kilometres away and saw the ancient ruins of Cape Malangari, it was a good rummage and quite interesting.

Travelled on for a few days up in the mountains and round about until we came to our next stop at a beach called Agios. Konstantinos where the main point of interest was a wreck high and dry. We met some Dutch folk and spent some time with them and one night we all got together with some Belgium Italian, French and Germans singing and playing the guitar along with another Dutch guy who also had a guitar. A good night.

30^th May.

We moved on to another good spot on a beach, we found it totally by accident as we were travelling past, there was a beach shower to get water, a toilet block with a grubby squat down toilet which is OK for emptying the toilet cassette, we stayed here for a few days so we got the bike out and had some good exploring, on one part we came across a snake on the road, it was bright green but well squashed with the traffic.

2^nd June.

We moved onto Katakloo Port 5 Euros per night all in. We pulled up behind another tag axle Hymer exactly like ours and it was a British couple Dick and Diane who was gob smacked as we were the first English folk they had seen for quite a bit, and we turned up with the same make and model of motor home..

We had a very pleasant night with them as Dick had brought his guitar so we sat down and jammed until it got too dark to see the music.. Nice folk and we would like to see them again if our paths crossed anywhere near each other.

4^th June

Went to Olympus to look at the site where the Olympics started, we had a hot sticky day walking round the ruins, and then heaven as we went into the air conditioned museum. Then on to Astakes Port which at first seemed OK but as the night progressed more and more trawlers came in clanking and revving their engines as they unloaded their catch I had at most an hours sleep, of course Sandra being deaf slept through it all.

5^th June.

We called into a beach near the Port of Igoumemitsa where we caught the ferry to Brindisi on Italy, on the beach next to us was the first Australian couple we met earlier, small world, we went down to the ferry office to ask about booking, the young girl said it sails at 12 midnight and she took 180 Euros off our card and we were booked on, or should I say shoe horned on, good job they let you stay in the van on the overnight crossing, we couldn't open the doors we were that packed in, not a very good nights sleep, but hey ho! We made it to Italy, or should I say the open tip with mounds of rubbish piling up everywhere as the refuse collectors are probably on strike,

6^th June.

We ended up on a car park near a beach as we just wanted somewhere we could crash out after the nights sailing.

We toured round Italy dodging the rubbish so decided to go over to Sicily.

8^th June.

Stumbled upon another brilliant stop over by the side of a beach that had all the facility's nearby, and it was here an Italian guy who was parked up next to me came over as I was playing the guitar, and even though he couldn't speak any English and I couldn't speak Italian the universal language of music kicked in as he had a go on my guitar, another nice man!/

11^th June

Went to the port to buy a ticket for the ferry to Sicily and the man took 47 Euros for the crossing and pointed to the ferry that was just coming in, and that was the one we caught perfect timing. It is only a short crossing and we were soon landing in Sicily, and what a difference the place is clean no piles of litter everywhere.

All right where to go?. Straight up Mount Etna as you do, we went as high as you can by driving which turned out to be 1800 meters, with the summit about the same distance again above us.

Sandra got out at one of the Lava Fields to collect some lava to give to our grand children when we get back, we stayed the night all alone up the mountain in a strong gale that rocked the van all night, and the temperatures outside fell away to daft degrees meaning we had the duvet out instead of the single blanket we have been using at sea level, where the temperature even at night rarely gets below 25 degrees.

We toured round until we came to another beach location where we spent the night unfortunately Sandra had a bought of feeling unwell and kept being sick. Next morning as I opened the blinds there was a black snake slithering across the sand next to the motor home, I woke Sandra to show her, well that was it we are not stopping here so we moved on to where we are now at a place called Ragusa Marina which is an haven for Italian motor homes with them coming and going all the time, it's nice and clean and a reasonably level hard standing car park, and of course like most of the places we stay free!.

12^th June

Off on our travels.

13^th June.

Lucky day we picked any old town off the map which happened to be Ragusa Marina and what a nice place it is, it is well frequented by the Italians and at one time there was a good dozen vans parked up.

We went for a walk along the front, well not so much a walk as a hike it went on for ever and when we finally got to the end there wasn't any shops only restaurants so it was a hike for nothing, and our feet were aching with walking in flip flops, never mind it was a beautiful day for a hike!.

14^th June.

Among the Italians was a very nice guy who spoke quite good English and seemed to live permanently at this spot, a bit of a Beach Bum, he seemed to want to talk to everybody so we nicknamed him “A professional friend”, he did come up with some useful information by giving us the where a bout's of a “Sosta” where we could get water and empty all the waste and it was only a couple of Kilometres away, so this enabled us to stay a few days and not have to look for these facilities. And of course while we have access to a good supply of good water we take the opportunity to have a shower as we can top up the tanks again when we have finished showering, and Sandra will do any washing in the sink.. All this usually normally occurs at the side of some road or other where there is a fresh water spring where the locals fill their water bottles.

Ah! the life of a wanderer, you have to take every opportunity when it presents itself, water is a precious thing when you haven't a tap which gives you it all day long like at home

17^th June.

Fridge started playing up again when run on gas so we decided to bite the bullet and find a camp site somewhere where we might get it fixed. We came across an absolute gem of a site complete with swimming pool for the princely sum of 15 Euros all in, the guy said he would take me the next day to get the fridge working, and he was true to his word, the folk here can't do enough to help you, they are great that is until you put them in or on something with wheels on, it is at this point they are barmy!. The technician fixed the fridge and bearing in mind the last time we had the same work done on our last van at a motor home place in France they charged us a 100 Euros, he announced as he looked at me apologetically for asking the exorbitant sum of 10 Euros for the same work as the French guy wanted 100 Euros.. Hmm good for the Italians and come to think of it the Greeks.

18^th June.

Moved on up into the mountains as we looked for relief from the constant heat by gaining altitude to find some cool air, it was as we were threading the van through the narrow streets of a mountain town that Sandra noticed a sign for a motor home stop. I swung off course from our present route and followed the signs until we came to a newly opened area that would take a dozen vans, except it is too new and it seems folk haven't heard of it as we had it all to our self s and there were no tyre tracks in the newly laid gravel.

It was a great spot overlooked by a big castle, we had a walk round it the next day, it cost 4 Euros each to visit. We also overlooked at the bottom of the valley a large lake which was the home to a herd of cows, their cow bells clanging as they went about their business,

20^th June.

Driving round trying to find somewhere to stop as the day was getting late and after trying to get into various marinas and being thwarted by the narrow inaccessible streets we ended up on flat bit of road stoned area back up in the mountains after following a hair pin road for miles, well needs must and any port in a storm sort of thing we pulled up on the road stone which at least was back off the road and away from the traffic noise, and this is where we stayed the night, then next morning off again until we spied down against the sea a motor home parked up, once again from our high vantage point we could see a railway line that would thwart our attempts to get down to the sea, well if he got there we can so I put on the map facility on the tom tom and spied a road which got us under the railway and on to the sea front where we parked up on a waste bit of land overlooking the sea, and that is where we stayed.

We planned on staying one more night and settled in for a day of longing and sun bathing. A short time later two more Italian vans turned up, it seems they had seen us as they drove past and had the same idea as me, which was all well and good except now we were high profile and this attracted the local plod who invited us all to bugger off or give us an on the spot 41Euro fine.

We all buggered off!.

In fact we buggered off completely we went to the port caught the ferry from Sicily back over the Italy.

22^nd June.

Now in Italy and faced with some long driving stints as we made our way North up the left hand side of Italy, as we were driving along Sandra saw a motor home sales with a few motor homes and caravans parked up there were also some trailers for sale. We want a motor bike rack to hang the scooter on the back of the van instead of inside the van garage, so we decided to turn off at the next exit on the motorway which turned out to be a good twenty miles then another twenty miles back to the turn off for the motor home sales.

The motor home sales which was very prominent at the side of the motor way was a very different kettle of fish when approached from the city and I drove past the road down to the motor home sales, as you do when you are looking for some where. OK I will reverse back except this is Italy and every driver is barmy and drives every where with one hand on the horn looking for any opportunity to blast away with it.

So as I was reversing back along with the accompaniment of blaring horns I saw a small road that I could reverse into so I could turn round, I reversed in no problem which left me broadside to the traffic which of course was full of Italian drivers that are barmy and will not stop for anything as they have to drive at full speed with their mobile phones stuck to their ear swerving all over the place. I saw a gap in the traffic just big enough to get out so I went for it, except behind me was a small wall and as I turned the back end pivoted on the rear wheels and caught the wall, with the consequence that the rear bumper departed from the van.... Bugger!.

They now let me out, hmm

So out with the drill and some screws and Sandra and me fixed it back into position as I turned down the road to the motor home sales which was shut for their 4 hour dinner time.

OK while we waited we fixed the bumper back on as good as the day it was put on and there wasn't a mark on it to show it had been in the wars, the only thing was the wires to the drivers side rear lights where all disconnected and some had ripped apart.

Come 3.30 when they arrived back at the sales and I asked them if they could fix the lights put on a scooter rack and a ladder on the back the guy just shook his head.

Using his computer and Google translate he said follow the young girl from the office and she will take you to an auto electrician in the city and he will fix your lights, which he did, once again apologeticly asking for 20 Euros for a good 2 hours work, the same work in England the guy would not have opened his toolbox for 20 quid never mind doing the job.

It was such a stressful sweaty hot experience we just pulled in on a Sosta among the piles of rubbish that is collecting more every day and spent a hot uncomfortable night at the side of the motorway with the lorries and cars tearing by all night and moved on the next day

22^nd of June.

I put on a way point Sandra gave me to a camp site that charges 20 Euros a night all in and that is where we are now, and this is where we will stay for maybe 5 nights as we unwind and chill, well not chill it's too hot, at least we can get the bike out and go exploring especially now the old Garmin will work as it has the Italian map in it's memory. Now being surrounded elbow to elbow with shouting Italians and screaming kids.. Heaven!..