So I want to drive to Greece this winter....

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Never mind how you're doing, I want to know how Dave is doing? :wave:

Dave El Perro is dandy, he loves to travel, he wasn't too keen on the snow this morning, but we finally escaped France and are currently parked up in Italy, Lombardy, near Brescia.

I plan to travel the length of Italy along the Adriatic coast.

I'll be looking at the ferry arrangements once I get to Italy's heel.
 
Status : 27 Novenber, Brescia Italy

Love your bouncing between Plans. We often change part way through the day.

Getting through France has been like swimming in a tarpit, I departed Flanders last wednesday (21st Nov) and only today managed to get into Italy.

This morning, atop Mont Blanc, my passage to Turin was blocked, the D1006 was snowed in at Termignon.

I had to turn around and head back down the mountain to pick up the Frejus tunnel. That goes on forever, cost 58 Euro one way.

What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours, The italian weather is warm and sunny, the solar panels kicked in for the first time in ages.

I've now got through the traffic around Milan and Turin I thought Madrid and Valencia were bad but oooh man today was challenging.

I've gone from the sleety s-bends of Mont Blanc to the never ending Frjus tunnel, through 4 chokka lanes of maniac drivers between Turin and here at Brescia.

I'm not stopping for any sight seeing, just for fuel, food and comfort breaks, I plan to drive until I hit T-shirt weather and look for a campsite for a scrub up.

I've managed to find MH service points 3x along the way for the black & grey tanks, but so far I haven't found a fresh water supply. The one tap I did find was at a dump station so I avoided that, not even sure if it was potable. and didn't want to contaminate the fw tank.

Although my Gaslow tanks are both almost full, I wanted to see what the score is in Italy.
First forecourt was manned and the bloke declined to sell me any. "In Italy gas is for traction only, no campers"
Second forecourt was also manned and he happily topped me up and used the same adaptor as in France - the wide circular jobby only need 6 euros worth which was a bit embarrassing but I made up the purchase with half a tank of diesel, a pint of milk and a giant italiam sausage for the dog.

I'm confused at the actual status of MHs and re-fillable gas systems in Italy, I'll be learning over the next few weeks.

I've dialled the TomTom in for Venice and will then head down the coast, tomorrow.

I'll be peeling off the motorways sometime soon, in search of a supermarket and drinking water.

I feel so blessed and fortunate that I am having so much fun.

james
 
A few (low quality) pictures from this morning

IMG_20181127_090132.jpgIMG_20181127_091653.jpgIMG_20181127_091720.jpgIMG_20181127_132232.jpg


First one in Dave the dog in his PJs - youhave to look carefully, he's got his Hi-Vis jacket on.
2 & 3 were from the window at the area around last night's park up.
4th one is the services at the Italian end of the Frejus tunnel. First sunshine since I departed UK.

james
 
LPG in Italy is restricted to use for motive power.

I too have had refusals but some attendants are more flexible than others ...
 
29th November: castelguglielmo, Veneto, Italy

Found a splendid municipal MH parking area in Castelguglielmo, Veneto, Italy, I've sent the details to POI Admin.

Free electric, 6A (afaik) , free grey/black disposal, free drinking water, nice, clean and quiet area in a small town with friendly locals.
Whole area is paved & flat, 10 marked parking bays, I'm the only one here.


The free electric is heating up the hot water and topping up the batteries.
After a scrub-up and tidy up, I'll be seeking out the local supermarket/shops.

I may relax here for a day or so, makes a very welcome change from the lorry parks on the motorways.

james
 
i am so enjoying your adventures and envy you..... i dont like going to very popular places in high season and inevitably that means poorer weather to get to where i want to go... but you are an inspiration.....

keep up the blog please... :have fun:
 
Hi - just discovered this thread. Greece is a fantastic destination but it can be very cold in winter (snow is not uncommon in Athens). Since you are heading down through Italy, have you considered Sicily? We spent two winter months (December and January) there a few years back and the weather is certainly kinder than mainland Greece at that time of year. It can be damp but considerably warmer on average. I would describe the winter weather on Sicily as similar to Portugal but damper than southern Spain. Just a thought - but whatever you decide, good luck and have a good winter.
 
Italy not inWC POI so here are the details

Found a splendid municipal MH parking area in Castelguglielmo, Veneto, Italy, I've sent the details to POI Admin.

Free electric, 6A (afaik) , free grey/black disposal, free drinking water, nice, clean and quiet area in a small town with friendly locals.
Whole area is paved & flat, 10 marked parking bays, I'm the only one here.


The free electric is heating up the hot water and topping up the batteries.
After a scrub-up and tidy up, I'll be seeking out the local supermarket/shops.

I may relax here for a day or so, makes a very welcome change from the lorry parks on the motorways.

james


Italy not in WC POI so here are the details

45.02235 11.53498
Via Alessandro Volta (far end)
Signposted campervan parking
castelguglielmo, Veneto, Italy
45020


castelguglielmo Municiple MH parking.
Free electric (afaik) 6A
free drinking water
free grey & black waste disposal
Rubbish bins
10 marked flat pitches
Paved surfaces
Clean, tidy & quiet.
Friendly locals.

300m from shops
 
Italy not in WC POI so here are the details

45.02235 11.53498
Via Alessandro Volta (far end)
Signposted campervan parking
castelguglielmo, Veneto, Italy
45020


castelguglielmo Municiple MH parking.
Free electric (afaik) 6A
free drinking water
free grey & black waste disposal
Rubbish bins
10 marked flat pitches
Paved surfaces
Clean, tidy & quiet.
Friendly locals.

300m from shops

Sounds very good.

What are the rates?

Geoff
 
We used sostas in Italy

Summer 2008
A range but many free good sites some with meters for EHU (1 or 2 Euros)
Others 5 Euros for a paved surface
Some with Free EHU Rapino and Cuneo for example

A lovely farm site at Falze di Piave 45.85766, 12.16617 North of Venice...Highly recommended

Our stopovers in Italyitaly.PNG
 
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30 November

This park up is a luxury, so I've decided to stay a while and relax, catching up with a few chores.

Today's objective is to find a supermarket, the TomTom pointed me at the local Piazza, so off I went, (it was just around the corner) had I been able bodied, I would have taken a stroll, but as it is, I took the Hymer.

Straight around the corner and into the Friday market, nowhere to park and just enough room to get through the market without squashing any of the friendly locals.

So, I just had a wander around the country lanes for a couple of hours, many small hamlets and lovely countryside.

Found a local village shop - it would be a posh Italian Deli in the UK, got a bag of groceries and back to the country lanes.

A local garage/filling station was happy to top up the LPG along with half a tank of diesel, that makes it 3x yes to LPG with only 1x refusal.

I've noticed that almost all filling stations in Italy sell GPL (LPG) so it's easy to find and they also do the filling for you.

Another thing I've noticed is that they frequently have a bar! I rarely drink anyway, but they all sell superb coffee and toasted Italian sarnies, sheer heaven.

I popped in for a double espresso, I really am beginning to double down on my coffee addiction this last week or so, I've been pulling into service area just for the coffee and toasties.

I'll be staying here for a day or so, I've dug the foot spa out of the garage and will be treating my feet to a relaxing buzzy, bubbly massage.
The NutriBullet will be pressed into service, I almost packed the electric espresso machine but foolishly left it behind.
I must have had a senior moment when I packed the Iron and left the espresso machine behind, such bad judgement.
When I find a supermarket, I'm hoping that they sell those stove-top ally jobbies.

The laundry is building up so I'll have to track down laundry facilities that doesn't involve icy mountain streams.

I popped the Oyster up to catch some news, I see that the yellow jackets have now spilled over into Belgium and Zerohedge are talking about a diesel shortage coming to Europe. European Gas Stations Out Of Diesel: French Refinery Strike Deepens Crisis | Zero Hedge

But, I'm feeling lucky.

I will be resuming my southbound journey (whenever) till I get to the ferry ports and see what the craic is with the crossings/dogs/stealth (as in stay in the MH with the pooch) My back injury doesn't do boats too well, but loafing in the van for 6 hours is probably do-able.

james
 
Looks like a very enjoyable vacation

Summer 2008
A range but many free good sites some with meters for EHU (1 or 2 Euros)
Others 5 Euros for a paved surface
Some with Free EHU Rapino and Cuneo for example

A lovely farm site at Falze di Piave 45.85766, 12.16617 North of Venice...Highly recommended

Our stopovers in ItalyView attachment 68767

That is impressive and inspirational. Thank you.

You want to share the co-ordinates ?

james
 
Don't forget that Google Maps makes a good search tool for things such as supermarkets.
 
Coffee addiction

Look out for Pocket Coffee. Chocolate with a serious hit of espresso inside. Vanmandan got me onto these. I ate about 10 one evening, no wonder I couldn’t sleep.
 
My 2018 stopovers

Also places of interest
Stopovers are normally preceded by a number

2018 -

2018 - Google My Maps

This is an UPDATED link
Pm me if it not working..or post a reply
 
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Found a hardware store in southern Sicily !

If the ferries to Greece prove to be a hassle, I'll probably go into Sicily for the winter.

All destinations so far have been on the chilly side, especially during the night.
 

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