Kevnjan's Big Adventure

Thur.8th.Dec.
Woke up to pouring rain again.  Shame, still, we're English, we can take it.  Took the opportunity to change the beds.  By the time we'd finished coffee it had dried up a little.  Walked back up the steps to have a good look around Tropea in daylight.  Very pretty yet it occurred to me that if we left our houses and flats in such a poor state of exterior decoration people would be horrified.  Here it seems that it lends character to have paint flaking and render falling off the walls.  Wish I could get away with it!!  I just don't understand it and yet it works.  We wandered the streets for a while and visited the cathedral.  The plainest and most understated church of note we've seen in Italy.  We decided we'd seen enough and headed for the van and departure for Palmi.  Satnav woman was in good form, twice trying to take us under low bridges, fortunately we spotted them in time and turned around.  I'm going to have to re-enter the van's dimensions and hopefully pre-empt any repeat.  We had an interesting drive altogether.  Satnav woman directed us off SS18 towards SP10, a minor road, heading towards the autostrada.  After about a mile or so we encountered a sign saying road closed.  I was contemplating an about turn when a local man stopped and indicated that it was safe to proceed.  We did so and sure enough, although the road was broken up in places and cracked, presumably through subsidence it was passable with care.  The scenery was stunning, rolling hills and valleys full of orange groves and olive trees.  So glad we persevered.  We cleared the barrier at the other end, sighed with relief and took off along a good road, for about half a mile, then another road closed sign!!  Ignored that one too.  No problem, road to ourselves, same gorgeous scenery.  Another few miles and hit the autostrada.  Quite a relief really.  About 6 Ks before Palmi turn off, still on motorway satnav announced we had reached our destination, a camp site.  This was quite obviously not the case and satnav woman was switched off in disgrace having used up her last chance.  Followed directions in CC book and found site.  Too many trees, no satellite signal, still, got electricity and washing machine.  No tumble drier, put up line, hung washing out, it's just started raining.  Another load of washing in machine.  May be here some time.