Tuesday 13th to Friday 16^th  May 2014

Leaving Lake Sirino in the morning we continued our drive south heading for Sicily not knowing how far we would get, or where we would stay overnight. Our lunch stop was at a place called Nocera Terinese along the coast, a place that Julie and Jason had stayed overnight [Our Tour UK]. It would have made a suitable overnight spot but it was only early and we had an afternoon nap, then refreshed we resumed our journey.

We arrived at the ferry port late in the afternoon after getting a bit lost due to some road works, paid for our ticket and were lucky to get on the next ferry with no waiting. The ferry takes about 25 minutes and cost us, 2 people and our motorhome 95 euros return, a bit steep for the short distance but there is no alternative and our motorhome does not float!.  We arrived in Messina and proceeded to drive to a camperstop which should have been about 4 kilometres from the port. But 4 kilometres in the crazy traffic and narrow streets, people double parked and roundabouts where the rules are ignored and you have to force your way through, took us about half an hour. We arrived drive through a narrow laneway and find that the camperstop was not open, however a friendly man at the site gave us details of a car park next to a sports field in the town of Roccalumeria. It was dark now and though we don’t like to travel at night we had no alternative but to take the motorway to our destination. Without too much trouble we found our way to the site and thought it would do for a night stop. Parked almost under the motorway we closed up for the night and settled in to make the best of it. We were pretty tired and although the motorway noise was constant we managed to get a decent night’s sleep.

We decided to have an early start as we had to make out way out through some small streets, so we dressed, packed up and moved on planning to have our breakfast in a layby along the way. This was a good decision and a wise one as we found out , motorhomes could not go the proper way up the one way street and we were directed by signs to go the opposite direction and out the way we came. Lucky it was quiet but we still were wary of the cars coming in the other direction. After a drive of 145 km’s we arrived at the campsite in Avola which again involved driving through a narrow winding road until we reached the entrance. Here we met up again with Clyde and Anna our previous traveling companions who we had last seen near Florence.

The campsite was full of Dutch, German, English people with a smattering of French, Austrian and of course two Australians. We spent 3 nights there having a few days rest after 6 weeks being continually on the road. We did go to the town and have a look and also to the supermarkets to stock up but mostly we rested. (well sort of, did washing, some minor jobs,etc.) Our next stop will be Noto where there is a flower festival happening on the weekend.