Vesuvius to Corfe castle

With the wedding over we opted for a slight detour on the way back to the ‘van. Vesuvius is just to the North of the Amalfi coast and after all that fare a bit of a workout seemed appropriate. The climb from the car park to the top was about 3.5 kms – and pretty steep as well! (The top is 1281m and the car park about 840m). However, once there the views both into the crater and looking out were very rewarding.

The build up of ash layers were surprisingly thin and numerous and the sheer faces quite intimidating. Fall in here and it would be quite a job to get out.

Around the perimeter are quite a few monitoring stations as the last eruption was only in 1944 so not a long time ago. Certainly if she erupted now the potential damage with sprawling Naples below would be massive.

Part of the great view with Sorrento in the background (just to the left of Ngaira’s head) and the island of Capri the other side.

On the way down the sun gave an added dimension to the view.

and with that we packed up the van in preparation for trip home. As cruising was not a feature this year we opted for a couple of 24 hour ferry rides! We drove to Civitavechi (Rome’s port) and caught the ferry to Barcelona. The loading and unloading at Rome and the halfway stop in the morning at Torres (Sardinia) was somewhat chaotic and inefficient – definitely need a traffic management plan. Result we arrived in Barcelona 1½ hours late and at 22:00 too late for our site – so a service station ovwenight stop!

We had a midway overnight stop in Spain at Haro. (Spaniards are great drivers – they understand the meaning of lane lines and the purpose of indicators whereas the Italians seem to think lines are for straddling and cars it appears are not fitted with indicators – cost cutting austerity measure?)

Haro was picked as the site had a good caravan report. What we did not know was how attractive the town is

and even more importantly the heartland of Rioja.

The sculpture and overlooking wall painting underpins the heritage.

The small high street is lined with Tapas bars. This one specialised in mushrooms on fresh bread – scrumptious. We spent a very pleasant couple of hours slowly progressing through several vintages of Rioja and Tapas dishes. Fortunately we were early and got a seat – by the time we left patrons were falling into the street. An absolutely brilliant and unexpected find. A re-visit a must.

Our next cruise was from Santander to Portsmouth. Much more pleasant ship and facilities; just as well as there was a force 8 gale across the Bay of Biscay. Helen enjoyed an evening meal and then slept through the whole night while I skipped dinner and wore a path in the carpet between my bunk and the bathroom….We had an offer to spend a couple of nights with Ngaira in Poole as she also had a friend who had space to park the ‘van. This proved really helpful as it allowed cleaning and washing prior to storing the van.

It also gave us time for a tour of highlights in the area. We started with a ferry ride to Sandbanks and visited the defences. This bunker (the view is through the slot) is where Churchill, Eisenhower, Montgomery, Mountbatten and King George VI met up in April 1944 and watched the biggest single real ammunition exercise of the war with carpet bombings and assault landings. Visible up the bank (middle left) are the Devils Teeth tank trap designed to delay any invading forces. 

We proceeded to the end of the peninsula where Harry’s rocks bathed in sun were a great contrast to the blue-grey sea. (Some say named after the pirate Harry Paye,)

Looking west is Poole’s version of the seven sisters. The cliffs are slowly being undermined so more sisters can be expected over the next hundred years or so.

The walk up to the Western end of the peninsula was an uncrowded affair.

We then descended to a local pub, had lunch, a quick trip through Swanage and onto Durlston Castle  - a true folly,

but with some great views

and some interesting displays. This globe was more a sculpture than a true replication of the world. These bollards are from London and surrounds and were used as ballast on return trips having delivered Purbeck stone to the capital.

What was a low key but really well put together display was a large stone where various fossils were lit and picked out with a coordinated video. From crocodile teeth to small shellfish it was an illuminating 8 minute display.

As the sun was setting we travelled through Corfe and saw the castle which because of the late hour was closed. Another return trip required.

So ended an amazing 3 month trip – we have seen so much and been lucky to have had many, many wonderful shared experiences. Highlights – so difficult but if pressed, The Vatican, Harry Potter and the Amalfi coast were all just mind-blowing locations and significantly exceeded already high expectations. Catching up with and meeting new people at the weddings was also fabulous as was travelling with friends and family.