The Return Trip

The Ivy man waved us goodbye. Past that vineyard entrance again, they need some clippers on those branches.

Out through the vineyards, to the bottom of Lake Garda.

to a campsite right on the waters edge, not expensive either.

Lunch out the next day, seafood salad, which I could not finish, Dave had to help me BUT…………

that did mean I had room for the Tiramisu

then a very lazy afternoon on the beach

until the sun went down.

Next stop Umag, Croatia and the Istria peninsula, hoping to find some nice bays to visit in the boat.

 

the bay was nice but the campsite was all red dust so it didn’t go into the GPS for a return visit in the camper.

from there we went down the coast road

over the Limski Fjord, and back out to the coast and Rovinj

 

the town looked like some where we should explore but we really couldn’t be bothered to get the motorbike out for just one trip, however, the area and the bay are good so it is in the GPS for both a return trip in the camper and in the boat.

 

another good pitch right by the water

one last paddle before the off

back through the mountains to Biograd.

Italy part Two

Our campsite is off this piazza, translation “the square of the vine and the wine”. Well that’s a good start, and at dinner that evening we had a bottle of the local brew which was a very good finish to the day.

 

And when I say Local Brew I really mean LOCAL, just across the field actually.

And this is why the grapes grow so well here, rain and sunshine in equal measure.

A gentle stroll to the edge of the campsite and vines stretch as far as you can see.

They also grow hazel nuts here, for really good chocolate hazelnut torte, and did I mention grapes?

We went for a tour of the area on the motorbike and found some amazing buildings,

then lunch in Barolo at “Osteria La Cantinella”, pasta of course and Zabaglione ice cream.

Almost every hill top has a castle on it

this one is owned by one of Barolo vineyards, they seem to be spending a lot of their profits on it.

Another trip out on the bike and we found this hill top village, with a very desirable property

 

in need of some TLC any body want to come help with the decorating (Ken?)

we parked in the shade of the church and had a walk around.

Another stop and a beer, although the boy could look a little happier about it !!

another hill top, another castle, then back through Barolo to the camper and get that motorcycle kit off !!

We spotted a place for lunch while out on the bike one day so returned to try it out, the views were spectacular,

 

and inside was even better, while the wine list amounted to a book !!

the prices were spectacular as well so we opted for a bottle of the house wine. I had stuffed quail, sorry forgot to take a picture in my excitement.

We took a ride to La Mora but had to return because the weather turned nasty,

Hail stones like marbles, mostly survived the onslaught, but the awning has some worrying looking marks !!

The next trip out provided a beer stop, as usual, and a very quick glimpse of a vineyard entrance, sorry, from the pillion of the motorbike at 30 mph and going around a hairpin it is difficult to control the composition of the photo.

We spent a day in Barolo, the castle,

the restaurant,

the wine,

the wine tasting, and we made it back to camp in one piece as well, however, the panniers were bursting at their seems and the bank account was somewhat lighter.

another trip out and another hill top town who’s name escapes me at the moment,

this time an hotel and a church,

and a square with a restaurant with the most amazing view.

Leaving in the morning, off to who knows where, nothing booked so a last look at Barolo town from our vantage point up on the hill…….