Ups and Downs

One of the things about touring is the emotional, as well as physical, Ups and Downs.

We left Patra last night, the boat pulled out about 18.00, and stopped at Igoumenitsa on the way to pick up more lorries. That happened about midnight, and woke me up, so I took a picture...

We sailed? chugged? rumbled - what does a diesel boat do? - into Bari on time, about 9.30 Italian time. We just got an hour back in the switch...

A beautiful clear day, with a great view of Bari which these pictures don't really do justice. An Up, I'd say.

The bikes were on the entry deck, two floors below, so there was a bit of shuffling to get the gear there safely. The boat has escalators!! Madness.

Jim waiting somewhat disconsolately for the crew to let us into the car deck. It was packed with lorries, some reversing out, so it was a bit hairy getting organised. After that it was an easy get off the boat, then a lap of the exit roads while we work out where we're going.

Rather than stick to motorways and tolls, we select the "no motorways, no tolls" route. This is a good plan - eventually we make it to the Adriatic Highway SS16, and although there are lorries and things, it's not too crowded and gives us a great rolling view. It's also pretty straight, but hey, you can't have everything. A good temperature and cool air, lovely - Up.

This place, Bari and on is poor, an has gone seriously broke. Roads are very holey, lots of closed shops, warehouses and so on, and... Lots of sad looking young ladies sitting on chairs beside the highway selling their bodies. Usually alone, they have a chair, some water, cigarettes and are often in the phone - it's a lonely job. And in case there's a suspicion of cultural confusion on our part, they were wiggling their asses and showing lots of leg above the thigh high boots below the micro skirts. lots to think about, and a Down.

But the good thing about normal roads is normal places, and lunch was at La Fantine. Seafood risotto for Jim and a plate of assorted grilled fish for me. With excellent crusty bread and salad, this was marvellous. Definitely an Up.

Then there were a few ups and downs and bends along the coast, which were pretty nice. We had a great view of the Adriatic on our right, switching places with the railway and autostrada all the way.

The atmosphere of many of these seaside towns is a bit like Morecambe - closed up, shut down, nobody here. A bit boggy and sad! Then it started to rain, just as we pulled away from a long road works hold up - big splashy drops, wet in moments! Down...

And so it stayed through rush hour Pescara - solid slow traffic. But the emotional sun comes out - the hotel came along, it has parking, and room is enormous and the beds marvellous! 

Beer time. Up.