3493 miles
Slow drive along the NW coast of Sicily, from what l have seen probably the most scenic, to the busy port of Palermo to catch the slightly dilapidated overnight ferry to Cagliari at the southern too of Sardinia. Pleasant four berth cabin to myself for the crossing which took twelve hours for the 420km trip. Both Sicily and Sardinia are about 25% larger in area than Wales.
 |
| Departing Palermo |
21st to 23rd May - Pula
A short drive took me to a campsite at Pula on the SE coast. Biked to visit the ancient remains of Nora, Greek, Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman in origin but abandoned after a devastating fire in the first century AD. Another day a few kilometres down the coast to the scenic cove at Chia.
 |
Arrival at Cagliari |
 |
| Nora |
 |
| Nora |
 |
| Chia |
24th to 27th May 2017 - Costa Rei
3544 miles
Drove around the urban spall of Cagliari and then through gorgeous wooded mountains to land at Costa Rei in the SW. Flamingo filled filled coastal lagoons and low hills will miles of beach. Unfortunately, as l was to discover over the next few weeks inundated with German campers! A hike up the local peak, Monte Ferry, gave some panoramic views from the Watch Tower at the top as well as a surprising encounter with a tortoise, which blended in with the stony path and nearly got stepped on. I had forgotten that they were native to the Mediterranean area, always think of them as being more exotic, oriental of tropical.
 |
| Flamingos on the lagoon between the campsite and beach |
 |
| Nearly was 'One Foot in the Grave' for him as l nearly kicked him aside as a boulder on the rocky path! |
 |
| Looking north from Monte Ferru |
 |
| Looking south - camped by the lagoon right centre |
28th May to 4th June 2017 - Tortoli
3620 miles
A hope along the east coast to stay near the coastal town of Tortoli, became very lazy and seemed to have passed the time on the beach. But a bike trip into town each morning for some shopping and to check out a different variety of homemade gellato. Visited Neolithic to Bronze age site with the remains of a stone tower, a Nuraghe. Sardinia is littered with archaeological sites, some seven or eight thousand. I saw dozens when travelling around without tryingbto find them. One evening, walking up to some rocks over looking wide coastal valley l came across a group of about a dozen falcons hunting for prey. I think they were probably Eleanor falcons, similar to large kestrels, but hunt in a group.
 |
| Bronze Age Long Barrow entrance |
 |
| Nuraghe near Tortoli - saw dozens on the island |
5th to 7th June 2017 - Bosa
3753 miles
On the only grey and wet day for weeks, apart from an afternoon thunderstorm or two, made a long S-shaped route through the southern hills, across the central valley to the west coast to eventually ending at a parking area in picturesque coastal town of Boss with polychrome houses below the hill top castle. A few days pottering around locally looking for a Roman bridge that l never managed to find!
 |
| Fiume Temi and Bosa from the castle |
 |
| Bosa |
8th June to 10th June 2017 - Codaruina
3848 miles
Across hills and expansive wheat fields to end up on the north coast near the thermal spa town of Valledoria. Biked out over a few hills to visit the picture postcard town of Castelsardo built onto the side of a rocky promontory above the sea. Italian campsites become unbearably noisy at the weekend with local townies hitting the coast!
 |
| Castelsardo |
9th to 10th June 2017 - Porto San Paolo
3908 miles
Another mixture of rocky and wooded mountains to the NW coast near the ports of Olbia and Golfo Aranci, ferry booked from the latter over night to Nice on the 11th. Impressive indented coastline with some huge rocky off shore islands. Some what reminiscent of Calpe in Spain. Need to stop writing and get out on the bike before it gets too hot, it has been in the low 30's the last couple of days in the afternoon with clear blue skies.
 |
| Porto San Paolo |
No comments:
Post a Comment