Under the Tuscan sun... and rain

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Geo: 42.8911, 11.5395

Monday, our last day at Lake Bracciano, Lazio, we took a morning bike ride to the opposite side of the lake to Travignano Romano. First visit for me, third for David since he had previously undertaken two trips around the lake. We were out for approximately two hours, and after a fruit juice at a bar returned for a late lunch, but come the afternoon on the drive back to Travignano to visit the supermarket the heavens opened and we had a torrential downpour.

Once it had passed, we had our evening meal and set to to take down the awning and pack up. Meanwhile the Dutch campers in the nearby tented village were warming up for their farewell party. The revelling went on until midnight, and the repertoire included 'Tulips from Amsterdam' and 'Blue Moon'. They have been a polite, friendly bunch but excitable and noisy at times - perhaps this is why we are drawn to adults-only sites in the UK.

Next morning after a visit to reception to settle the bill with the stony faced Elide, site owner, we set off in a northerly direction bound for Tuscany. Shortly after joining the motorway we passed Civitavecchia where a number of cruise liners were moored up whilst passengers were no doubt tramping around Rome. Close to Grosseto the route then took us inland and we pulled in at Camping Residence Amiata, Castel del Piano just after midday. Here we were greeted by a genteel, white-haired elderly lady who quickly summoned her husband, also getting on in years, who shook my hand then showed me the available pitches. Considering the length of our caravan, he first of all pointed out two in shade - a great deal of shade as it turned out, near darkness, plus a ground covering of years of fallen pine needles. Moving on to the sunny pitches, this area was more to our liking and we settled on a pitch with a woodland view and a the typical Tuscan hilltop village of Montegiovi in the background.

Like I have said, the site owners are getting on in years (got to be in their 70s) but so pleasant and keen to be of assistance. On checking out the facilities, the amenities block looks as if it dates back to the 1970s, but clean and tidy nonetheless. The handbook description mentions restaurant, pizzeria and shop, but none look to be open, but there again it would appear to be ourselves, an Italian couple in a motor home, a few tent campers and possibly a few residents in the apartments, so probably not worth opening this time of year. Nearby Mount Amiata is a winter ski resort, so perhaps they are busier then, otherwise I am at a loss to see how they make a living.

By late afternoon a storm set in and for three hours we had heavy rain, thunder and lightning. No sooner did it appear to be going away, back it rumbled. When it did eventually pass at around 8.00, we put on some music, opened a bottle of Chianti and had a plate of pasta. Meanwhile outside, there was a wonderful bright red sunset over the hilltop village.

As darkness fell, I witnessed a first - fireflies flitting about in the air beside the caravan - magical!

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