Following in @DBK 's footsteps to Sicily and beyond...

[moulin 87]

As the title suggests we decided after following @DBK 's thread a year or two ago to follow in his footsteps to Sicily.

But being awkward it is only the 50 kms or so we've travelled today could we say that we've literally travelled along the same route and in the same direction!! (Perhaps another 50kms in France as he literally passed our house on route across France...)

We've been on the island 7 days now and here are a few thoughts...

If you don't like litter/rubbish dumped everywhere don't come to Sicily.

If you are very protective of your motorhome keep to the main coastal route and motorway. Similarly if you dislike the thought of ending up having to ask cars behind you to back up because you are stuck in some hillside town and the road ahead is too narrow to make the next corner.

If you like fantastic wild camping opportunities, they are everywhere, but the ones in the hills and the middle of Sicily take some getting to, on roads you can only describe as 'ATROCIOUS' but having said that they are worth the effort!!! ( There are no campsites in inland Sicily, perhaps a few sostas, wild camping is the only choice.)

Mile after mile of empty beaches. Mile after mile of empty roads in the centre, we travelled 400 kms and didn't see another motorhome of any nationality.

Food is cheap, fuel is very similar price to France, just remember the BRAVEST have right of way.

A few photos to whet your appetite... A view of Trapani as we arrived on the ferry from Toulon in France

20 hours on the ferry to arrive to this

But then again we've stayed here for free

Updates when time allows..

 

[moulin 87]

For us it was let the ferry take the strain..

€200 for the 19.5 hour crossing from Toulon, France to Trapani, Sicily with Corsica Ferries. A new route for this summer. without the dog and the dog friendly cabin it would have been a €100 for the MH and the two of us.

Normally I get bored crossing the channel but it passed quickly and for us smoothly, some others who used the Pullman seats during the night suffered with seasickness. The dog was allowed everywhere on the boat, all lounges, restaurants etc.

Our only problem, as per normal, was getting on and off the ramp. We have a long and low overhang but if we come off straight it is normally a scrape with no damage but in Sicily they insisted we come off at an angle because cars were parked near the ramp, so it was a scrape and a split rear skirt.. We carry a glass fibre kit so I just needed to repair the previous repair from an incident in Norway!!!

Our first sign we were approaching land, the arrival of the pilot boat at 2 in the afternoon!! It wasn't rough but the visibility was a few hundred metres...

The first few days were mixed, plenty of cloud in the mountains but now just hot and sunny on the south coast.

 

[DBK]

Sorry, missed the start of this thread. That ferry sounds very convenient. Are you going to use it for the return?

 

[moulin 87]

Sorry, missed the start of this thread. That ferry sounds very convenient. Are you going to use it for the return?

No, it was an option but we'll be moving off Sicily soon and heading off to explore the foot and heel of Italy before gradually heading North. We'll zigzag across hopefully touching on Tropea, Matera, Lecce, Gargano...

It's seriously hot at the moment we've just hit the coast after spending a couple of nights on Etna cooling down.

Hope Corsica is living up to expectations..

 

[DBK]

No, it was an option but we'll be moving off Sicily soon and heading off to explore the foot and heel of Italy before gradually heading North. We'll zigzag across hopefully touching on Tropea, Matera, Lecce, Gargano...

It's seriously hot at the moment we've just hit the coast after spending a couple of nights on Etna cooling down.

Hope Corsica is living up to expectations..

Corsica has been excellent but it isn't cheap as there are very few aires and wild camping is generally frowned upon so we are using campsites.

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[moulin 87]

Corsica has been excellent but it isn't cheap as there are very few aires and wild camping is generally frowned upon so we are using campsites.

Well I'm sure you remember Sicily is quite cheap, supermarket food and pizzas especially, though not milk!! Plenty of places to stop for free!! especially in the west and centre..

 

[moulin 87]

As our time in Sicily comes to an end a few more thoughts for those thinking of visiting in the future..

The eastern half is significantly better than the western half. More to do, more to see, more affluent therefore the beaches, roads are in much better condition especially in the mountains, national parks and of course on Etna. Dumped rubbish is similarly less of an issue. The opposite is that the main towns/resorts are packed in early June and motorhome parking is a lottery...

A few photos of the last full day on Sicily

Our 'freebie' for the night

At 6am, sunrise over the Straights of Messina and a last look at Etna

A few inhabitants we met during the day

We have now arrived in Calabria at Tropea, not without incident requiring more repairs to the rear skirt of the MH, the fibre glass repair kit has been in action again!!!

 

[DBK]

Did you visit any of the temples on the south coast such as Selinunte or Agrigento? We found the south and east coasts the best but we were "templed out" at the end.