Italy from top to toe (1 Viewer)

[Wanders from Glos]

Don't you just love absorption fridges !!!
After a few years of trial and error mods with adding fans, new thermal paste, and chimney mods, our Dometic fridge/freezer had been nice and cold and freezing well for the past 18 months or so including our last outing at the Swaffham Shindig.
Parked up last night and the fridge and freezer temperatures were starting to rise.
Checked we had a flame in the morning which there was, but it looked a bit sorry for itself.
Giving the burner a thump and blowing away any detritus did not improve things.
Fortunately, we carry many spares for the "just in case" which include a new fridge burner assembly and jet.
Swapped out the old for new and bingo, we have a working fridge/freezer again.
Now onto finding out why the solar heated water is only on half power. The tank is heated by 2 x 150 watt heating elements and it looks like either one of the elements has packed up or it's not getting power to it, so it's out with the multi meter next.

Now arrived at Rocroi, so we are about to toddle off for a look around the fortified village and no doubt visiting the boulangerie.

View attachment 763464

View attachment 763465

Now that is an impressive range of spares to carry.

 

[TheMachMan]

Sounds good we like the look of Mantova and Lucca. The weather in Iseo isn’t great so time to try somewhere else on Monday. Not sure whether to head to Tuscany, the Italian coast just south of here or cut our losses and go to another country. One place we definitely want to go to is Verona, but that could be on the way back from Tuscany. We have three weeks left too.

Camping Village Verona is a good site. Would recommend as modern and spacious unlike Italian sites! And bus outside straight in/out no fuss. Tickets from reception. Monday we’re heading near Levanto on west coast then likely to France based on Ventusky.

 

[Manic]

Don't you just love absorption fridges !!!
After a few years of trial and error mods with adding fans, new thermal paste, and chimney mods, our Dometic fridge/freezer had been nice and cold and freezing well for the past 18 months or so including our last outing at the Swaffham Shindig.
Parked up last night and the fridge and freezer temperatures were starting to rise.
Checked we had a flame in the morning which there was, but it looked a bit sorry for itself.
Giving the burner a thump and blowing away any detritus did not improve things.
Fortunately, we carry many spares for the "just in case" which include a new fridge burner assembly and jet.
Swapped out the old for new and bingo, we have a working fridge/freezer again.
Now onto finding out why the solar heated water is only on half power. The tank is heated by 2 x 150 watt heating elements and it looks like either one of the elements has packed up or it's not getting power to it, so it's out with the multi meter next.

Now arrived at Rocroi, so we are about to toddle off for a look around the fortified village and no doubt visiting the boulangerie.

View attachment 763464

View attachment 763465

At least you had the parts required, did you check the jet for blockages when you removed it.
Are you using your RWG global sim in your router.

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[Guffy60]

We crossed via the chunnel this afternoon and are heading to Italy for seven weeks having no real plans other than to be in Brescia on the 12th and 13th of this month for the build-up and start of this year's Mille Miglia 1000-mile road race, after that it is pretty much take it as it comes.
We have parked for the night in the small village of Steenwerck before heading off down through France in the morning with the plan of crossing into Italy via the Col du Mont-Cenis in a couple of days, but the weather is not looking very good at present so the views going over the Alps may not be as spectacular as we had hope.

We will try and keep you updated with where we are and what we do on our travels as the days go by.

Enjoy the Mille Miglia, a few Healey’s and other British cars out.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Camping Village Verona is a good site. Would recommend as modern and spacious unlike Italian sites! And bus outside straight in/out no fuss. Tickets from reception. Monday we’re heading near Levanto on west coast then likely to France based on Ventusky.

Thanks we thought we’d give that one a go as it’s an ACSI site.

 

[Two on Tour]

At least you had the parts required, did you check the jet for blockages when you removed it.

A job for when we are back home Nick, just wanted the easy option so we could on the road this morning.

Are you using your RWG global sim in your router.

Yes, currently getting 13Mbps download and 5.27Mbps upload.

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[Fraggle 22]

If you get to Napoli, next door is Pompei, well worth it. We did it this spring, ferry from Patra to Bari and up.
View attachment 763129View attachment 763130View attachment 763131View attachment 763132
Every first Sunday of the month it’s free tickets, hence the busy site.

Not far from Pompei is Herculaneum. We visited both and in our option Herculaneum is far superior with a lot less crowds

 

[Two on Tour]

Enjoy the Mille Miglia, a few Healey’s and other British cars out.

Yes, had a look through the entry list a few weeks back and note the regular 100s entries as well as the Jag's, TR's and Aston's.

 

[Two on Tour]

Not far from Pompei is Herculaneum. We visited both and in our option Herculaneum is far superior with a lot less crowds

Yes, on the list.
I have been searching Google Maps for a sensible place to park for visiting the solfatara at Pozzuoli with no real luck.

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[Holly's mum]

A dream of ours was always to go through The Valley of Lentils, in June/July when they are in flower up to the village of Castelluccio where there was a car park with spaces for MH's. The colours look stunning, the different lentils are amazing for long slow cook dishes.
Its just inland from Ascoli Piceno (best pizza in Italy) in the main square, several restaurants. We stayed at friends house just outside Force, in a volcanic mountaintop place called Quinzano, but no way would get the van up there, round & round spiralling up to then top, with stunning views.
Please go visit for us, take loads of photos, a memory I am sure that will stay with you, as far as I know, I think too many funsters miss this opportunity, such as shame.
Here's a link below, hope it works.
Love & Best wishes.
Les & TinaL

Castelluccio · 06046 Norcia, Province of Perugia, Italy

06046 Norcia, Province of Perugia, Italy

www.google.com

We will check that out for you Les and post photos if we make it there

I'm liking the sound of the pizza too

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Not far from Pompei is Herculaneum. We visited both and in our option Herculaneum is far superior with a lot less crowds

Agreed

 

[seasideBill]

Camping Village Verona is a good site. Would recommend as modern and spacious unlike Italian sites! And bus outside straight in/out no fuss. Tickets from reception. Monday we’re heading near Levanto on west coast then likely to France based on Ventusky.

Watch out if using the bus from Camping Verona. When I was there recently some major roadworks and a deviation means you don’t get dropped of where you think you’re going ( Castel Vecchio Bridge). Nobody tells you and if the info display inside the bus isn’t working (very possible) you could be anywhere! My advice is use Porta Nuova as your arrival and departure point - it’s a 10min walk into the centre.

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[seasideBill]

Thanks we thought we’d give that one a go as it’s an ACSI site.

It’s a great site but get a pitch at the back otherwise it’s very noisy.

 

[Dutch 68]

Sounds good we like the look of Mantova and Lucca. The weather in Iseo isn’t great so time to try somewhere else on Monday. Not sure whether to head to Tuscany, the Italian coast just south of here or cut our losses and go to another country. One place we definitely want to go to is Verona, but that could be on the way back from Tuscany. We have three weeks left too.

Verona is very pretty, from there up to Merano which is fab, then over the Reshenpass into Austria , with a visit to Fiss, Serfaus and Ladis, paradise

 

[Antique]

And we were talking about spares and burner assemblies only a few days back Paul !!
(Think I'll get onto that one tomorrow )

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[Holly's mum]

It's only small (but incredibly noisy!), I'll just pop it in here

 

[Two on Tour]

We had a wander around Rocroi this afternoon and spent some time in the local museum which has displays and also an informational film in English about the battle of Rocroy (Rocroi) in 1643 when the French defeated the Spanish, and interestingly part of the French side was made up with Scotsmen as well as other nationalities.

The aire at Rocroi

.............. and a nice sunset to finish off the day here.

 

[philann]

The other year we went through Belgium, Germany and Austria to Italy,down the east coast, Caldenozzo, San Marino, Termoli, gargano peninsula (stunning scenery), then across to the amazing Ancient Greek city of Paestum. Then back up the West coast Baia Domizia, Lake Trasimeno, Lake Iseo and back through France. Fantastic trip over 8 weeks.

Fishing machine at Gargano

one of the temples in paestum

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[Wanders from Glos]

The other year we went through Belgium, Germany and Austria to Italy,down the east coast, Caldenozzo, San Marino, Termoli, gargano peninsula (stunning scenery), then across to the amazing Ancient Greek city of Paestum. Then back up the West coast Baia Domizia, Lake Trasimeno, Lake Iseo and back through France. Fantastic trip over 8 weeks.
View attachment 763683Fishing machine at GarganoView attachment 763684one of the temples in paestum

I agree, thoroughly recommend Paestum. We thought about visiting Caldenazzo on the way home. Do you have any recommendations?

 

[Two on Tour]

The other year we went through Belgium, Germany and Austria to Italy,down the east coast, Caldenozzo, San Marino, Termoli, gargano peninsula (stunning scenery), then across to the amazing Ancient Greek city of Paestum. Then back up the West coast Baia Domizia, Lake Trasimeno, Lake Iseo and back through France. Fantastic trip over 8 weeks.
View attachment 763683Fishing machine at GarganoView attachment 763684one of the temples in paestum

I was surprised when I came across Paestum on Google Maps as to area it covered and then to find it was in fact Greek and not Roman.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

I was surprised when I came across Paestum on Google Maps as to area it covered and then to find it was in fact Greek and not Roman.

I think some of it is Etruscan too. Well worth a visit.

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[Holly's mum]

I think some of it is Etruscan too. Well worth a visit.

It's on our very long list of places to visit

 

[Blaydon]

Yes Sienna is well worth a visit. The other nearby great place is Lucca, amazing walls around the city. We stayed in a large garage close to the city walls. Lovely owner let's you park at the back, very secure with your own key, electric hook up, toilets etc. About 25e a night but worth it for the easy walk into the city.

We went to Luca last year. We parked in the town car park just outside the walls. We stayed three nights. On one morning they had set up a market around us. No body minded and we walked round the stalls buying things for lunch. By the time we had eaten and all the goodies were gone, so had the stalls.
Great city to walk around, and cycle the walls in the evening

 

[Two on Tour]

Moving further down France, we are now parked up on the bank of the river Seine on a nice little aire on the outskirts of the small village of Buxeuil between Troyes and Dijon.
While travelling today we passed several large fields full of red poppies and couple of tall man made stork nests occupied with a parent and young located along the side of the road.

This wagtail was darting about catching bugs mid-river.

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[lonnie]

Did it last year highlights were Lake Isseo, Peschiera, Matara, Lecce, Otranto and Tropea. My travel blog is quite detailed and might be worth a read , some great pics and ideas of where to stay. See below, click on pics to enlarge .

Phil & Barbs "Lightning Tours."

lightningtours.blogspot.com

Phil & Barbs "Lightning Tours."

lightningtours.blogspot.com

Phil & Barbs "Lightning Tours."

lightningtours.blogspot.com

Phil & Barbs "Lightning Tours."

lightningtours.blogspot.com

Phil & Barbs "Lightning Tours."

lightningtours.blogspot.com

Thanks for this. We'll have a good look at your blog as we planning to spend Sep/Oct in Italy and have no master plan at the moment.

 

[lonnie]

We crossed via the chunnel this afternoon and are heading to Italy for seven weeks having no real plans other than to be in Brescia on the 12th and 13th of this month for the build-up and start of this year's Mille Miglia 1000-mile road race, after that it is pretty much take it as it comes.
We have parked for the night in the small village of Steenwerck before heading off down through France in the morning with the plan of crossing into Italy via the Col du Mont-Cenis in a couple of days, but the weather is not looking very good at present so the views going over the Alps may not be as spectacular as we had hope.

We will try and keep you updated with where we are and what we do on our travels as the days go by.

Thanks Paul, I'll be following this closely as we also have seven weeks planned in Sep/Oct! Buon viaggio!

 

[berni109]

If u are thinking of staying on the ACSI(think they are) site in lavento ring to check they have space. They were full last month when we tried.

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[TheMachMan]

If u are thinking of staying on the ACSI(think they are) site in lavento ring to check they have space. They were full last month when we tried.

We did try a few that were full, managed to get on one near Deiva Marina. Trouble is that means it’s gonna be busy!

 

[philann]

I agree, thoroughly recommend Paestum. We thought about visiting Caldenazzo on the way home. Do you have any recommendations?

I think we stayed at camping Mario on the lake shore (ACSI site). Only stayed 3 or 4 nights, warmest swimming pool I have ever been in! I remember spending a few hours in the bar with a couple of other brits watching Harry and Megan’s wedding on TV with multiple drinks. It was v quiet on the site then we peered out of the van one morning to find we were surrounded by Germans at the start of their holidays!

 

[Lenny HB]

Not far from Pompei is Herculaneum. We visited both and in our option Herculaneum is far superior with a lot less crowds

We thought the same.

Yes, on the list.
I have been searching Google Maps for a sensible place to park for visiting the solfatara at Pozzuoli with no real luck.

Has the crater been reopened?
It was closed to the public two or three years ago after a child and their mother died. There was only a safety rope to keep you away from the bubbling sulpher, the child ran under the rope & mother went after them.

When we went (not in the van) there was a campsite in the crater.

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