2012 'Top to Toe' Expedition

[Cliphead]

Another amber alert here for tonight so off for a couple of hours kip then a vigil.

[MarillionFan]

Another amber alert here for tonight so off for a couple of hours kip then a vigil.

On it.

[MarillionFan]

He ran like the wind

[EternalOptimist]

Nearly there now. only another 400 miles or so to Naples.
We just arrived in Padua,Italy, 590 miles from Dessau in Germany.
Down through Austria and some breathtaking views, through the Brenner pass and Into Italy.

Mrs EO fell instantly in love with Ausria. We may abandon our leisure time in Naples and head for Innsbruk instead.
she can drive

I had to laugh on the motorway in Italy, I got blocked when a caravan pulled out in front on an upward climb. So What do you do? sit back relax and wait.
What did the Italian behind me do ?
Waved his arms around, flashed his lights, beeped his horn and tried to stay one millimetre from my bumper.

eejit

Living on burgers and hot dogs from service stations is wearing thin now. I need some more substantial food , like ten pints of fozzies and a kebab. Mrs EO wants me to take her into town tonight for a pasta. She will have to give me an hour though,me heads spinning.

[MarillionFan]

I had to laugh on the motorway in Italy, I got blocked when a caravan pulled out in front on an upward climb. So What do you do? sit back relax and wait.
What did the Italian behind me do ?
Waved his arms around, flashed his lights, beeped his horn and tried to stay one millimetre from my bumper.

In Italy you're supposed to drive like a loon. Sit on the bumper and then overtake.

Last time(and only time I drove in Italy) I was struggling to come out from a side road to join the left lane(which means crossing the right lane). Eventually I pulled out at speed, blinded by lorries turning I pulled into the empty road at speed. The guy in the back of the car screamed. 'Whoa whoa, what the!' as I joined the road and sped off. A good ten seconds later I heard a muted beep.

"What's wrong" I asked the passenger in the back who was still ranting.
'You saw that MF didn't you, tell me you saw that'
'Nope. No idea what you're talking about?'
'Fooks sake, you pulled right out in front of a car. I could see the whites of the guys eyes, they were wider than mine.'
'No didn't see him'
'I'm not surprised. He took evasive action, you sent him hurtling down a hill into a field'.

[Paddy]

Nearly there now. only another 400 miles or so to Naples.
We just arrived in Padua,Italy, 590 miles from Dessau in Germany.
Down through Austria and some breathtaking views, through the Brenner pass and Into Italy.

Mrs EO fell instantly in love with Ausria. We may abandon our leisure time in Naples and head for Innsbruk instead.
she can drive

I had to laugh on the motorway in Italy, I got blocked when a caravan pulled out in front on an upward climb. So What do you do? sit back relax and wait.
What did the Italian behind me do ?
Waved his arms around, flashed his lights, beeped his horn and tried to stay one millimetre from my bumper.

eejit

Living on burgers and hot dogs from service stations is wearing thin now. I need some more substantial food , like ten pints of fozzies and a kebab. Mrs EO wants me to take her into town tonight for a pasta. She will have to give me an hour though,me heads spinning.

In my teens I did a similar trip. We used a mini Gaz stove in the car. The “navigator” had to hold the burner with both feet and heat up some canned food while the car was on the move. Sometimes the driver would eat while driving and steering with his knees. We even did the washing up while on the move.

A more update method would be to buy a 300 watt inverter and run a 60watt slow cooker. Fill it up in the morning and by the afternoon you will have stew or whatever.

Bacon wrapped in foil can be wired to the exhaust manifold, it takes about 40-60 minutes.

[EternalOptimist]

We finally arrived near Naples. Journey and adventure are over, till the next time. We did 430 ish miles today from Padua to the back side of Vesuvius. thats about 5333 miles in 9 legs, with 7 rest days.

Padua was an interesting place. After the horrendous expense of the Scanda countries, it was almost unbelieveable to get beer for £3 a pint with free food thrown in. Salami rolls and pizza, as much as you wanted , plus nuts and crisps.
On our rest day, yesterday (wed,18th) we walked into town, past the old city walls and moat. It was 28c and very humid. We took the tour bus then walked back to the hotel, 2-3 miles.

Stopped at a little bar next to the hotel and had the most magical few hours, soaking up the sun, listening to the cicadas , mellowing and chatting.
Then I got talking to the owner. She had no English and I have no Italian. She seemed to be offereing me red wine at e1.40 litre.
So I sent Mrs EO in to check it out. She came out with a litre and a big free sample


And so to the last day, today. we have ten days now to rest before we wend our way back to Manchester. This may be the last one we do, as we are knocking on now. who knows
ciao




preta della valle , Padua



Somewhere to rest at last. Back of Vesuvius





and there she is. The volcano, Vesuvius