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Published: September 15th 2014
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13. Travel Blog Thursday 4th September to Tuesday 9th September 2014. Italy
Thursday 4th September 2014.
At the service station just outside Chiasso, Tom tries to install the LED lights that we had purchased at Hymer – no way. Only got one to work and decided he needed more cable joiners. Off to Lake Como. It is situated between the Alps and the Po Valley, close to the Swiss border. The lake is 46km long and varies from 4.3km and .43km in width. It covers an area of 146sq km and max dept of 410 metres. We go to campsite north of Lecco, Camping Abbadia Lariana. We go through a 6.6km tunnel – the longest one so far. They are booked out from Friday, because of the Formula One at Monzo, so we only stay one night. Pity, it was a nice campsite. We stroll around the small village and then have lunch. After lunch we go for another walk to a track on the map to the higher outskirts of town and head upwards. Up and up – after about 2hrs we turn and head back down. Tom wished he had taken the Garmin to see how far and how high we had gone.
On the way back we come across a man at his barn, so we say hello (as we do) and have a chat. He is retired and has a cow and chooks in the barn and 25 sheep further up the mountain. He is getting ready for the winter and snow. Back to the campsite and have pizza from the campsite restaurant for dinner – really good quality and quantity. On Friday we are up early and move on to the next campsite about 4kms down the road. Camping Mandello del Lario. We go for a walk to look for the Tourist Information office. It is closed, as it is now Autumn – arrghhh. At 2.30pm we walk to town to go to the Moto Guzzi museum. Interesting looking at the old bikes but glad it was ‘no charge’, as the guide was not interested in being a guide. On the way home, we came across a shop that sold auto electric bits and pieces to fix the LED lights. Tom draws a picture of what he wanted – the lady understands straight away – much better than a mechanic 2 years ago.
Back to camper and he starts on fitting the new lights. He fixed the fluro replacement – no worries. Had a bit of a problem fitting the LED down light. Happy chappy. The sun is up so we go for a motor scooter ride to Lierna. Have a walk down to the lake for a coffee and brioche. Back on the scooter to campsite and went for another walk, then down to the lake for a lazy afternoon. Sunday, we get the 9.30am ferry to the other side of the lake – ‘Onno’ for a walk around the village. We walk up the mountain side – very interesting as it is centuries old and quiet away from the lake edge. Back down and time for a coffee at the local bar. We were going to walk to the next village – we did start, but the footpath only goes 500 metres and then nothing – only the main road and it’s too bloody dangerous – what with cars, motorbikes and bicycle riders. So back onto the ferry and home and down to the lake.
Up and catch the 9am ferry to Bellagio. A very tourist town and very expensive. We were there for 50 minutes until the next ferry for Colico arrived. While waiting we walked around the town, and had a chat to a potter – an elderly lady whose pottery was quite interesting and nice, but very expensive – priced for the tourists. The ferry timetable shows that there was a restaurant on board the next ferry, and we had planned to have lunch while cruising for the next 1.5 hours. Well, that was the plan. It was only just a snack bar. So we got a coffee and a Panini. The Panini is not much chop and coffee only just warm. Can’t recommend you plan on having lunch on that ferry. But we did have a lovely slow trip up the lake to the northern tip. Just like Lake Maggiore, the mountains are right on the edge of the lake, so majestic. It would be nice to drive around the lake over a couple of weeks stopping at the various campsites along the way. Off the ferry at Colico. A very small town – bought a gelato each and wandered around. Up to the railway station and only had to wait ½ hr for the next train back to Mandello.
Long day, so no cooking tonight. Up to the campsite’s restaurant for dinner – quite good. After lunch on Tuesday, we go back to the Moto Guzzi factory to buy a T-shirt for a friend, as they are only open from 3-4pm M-F. Travel Blog doesn’t publish videos any more.
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