Last day by the Lake!

 El here ... he has gone off to watch footie again !

Today was our last day by the Lake Maggiore ... and the sun came out for us again - yay!

This is such a lovely, peaceful place - we just love it!  This is the view from our site, with the restaurant in the corner - and then that lake ...

We had a slow start to the day and then trotted down to the 'beach' with the dogs in tow ...

For a change, I was the one going in the water and Paul was the one staying out of it!  He reckoned it was too cold, which is not like him at all !  The water was absolutely glorious ... I just couldn't stay out of it.  Even the dogs were having a paddle and a swim - plus Sammie discovered that he likes to chew sticks today! 

Here I am swimming with my crocs on (as you do!) - it is too rocky without shoes on ...

There was a cute looking little village out on the point ... 

Paul got moved down the beach a bit by some kids who wanted to take their boat out but he still wouldn't come in the water ...

Eventually I gave in and came out of the water and we went for a coffee and a sandwich at the Campsite Kiosk, served by our mate, Fabbio - who has worked at the Campsite for 12 years.  He works every day of the week, all year around - and seems to do everything - he is gardener, builder, barman, receptionist and great coffee maker...!

Back at camp Paul had spotted a hydrofoil whizzing across the lake earlier and swore it was an old one from Sydney Harbour in the 80's ... 

After much research on the net (and driving me mad) he found it wasn't but still wanted me to put this picture in of the one from Sydney Harbour ... OK, so it is similar !

This is much more interesting ... a lizard !  I was expecting to see loads of them in Portugal and Spain but this is the place that I have seen most ... they are everywhere!  I am actually scared of them but find them strangely fascinating, as long as they keep their distance ... 

We met another couple of Poms tonight, who are in the motorhome next door - they are great adventurers indeed!  We have added their blog to our list but if you click here you can check it out.  We had a good chat and swapped stories ... good luck with your adventure, Dan and Esther!

Tomorrow we will move on ...

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Where we stayed:

Camping La Sierra, Ghiffa, Lake Maggiore 

In ACSI book - was 12 Euros a night but we are right on the edge of the 'discount' camping season.  Free wifi by the kiosk.  Showers all free and no extra charge for hot water.  All facilities really good.  Lovely beach by the lake with watersports if you wish.  Brilliant restaurant with the best pasta I have ever tasted! Cheap too!

The Manly Ferry Travels on a Ferry

We were only going about 30 ks up the lake today, but the quickest way was to take the ferry across.

We sat at the terminal like Nigel No Friends, then couldn't get on the first ferry because we were too high....not on drugs but because of the height of the motorhome! 

30 mins later we were off ...

It was a bit of a tight squeeze ...

Nice views up the lake but it was getting very cloudy ...

Bombo reminds me to drive on the right ...

We had a chat with a couple of Poms onboard the ferry, who are travelling around Europe on their motorbike, but are travelling light and staying in nice hotels ... now that's the way to do it!

Off they go to Switzerland ...

We went up the lake a few ks and pulled into our camp-site.  It is described in the book as 'basic' but we love it - free wifi, showers etc - no add-ons at all and all for 12 euros a night.

Once again it is right on the lake but we are up a hill ...

The dogs love the water, it is crystal clear ...

This is our view ...

The clouds have now rolled in and it is raining very hard ...

We will stay here for a couple of days 'til the weather clears, then head into Switzerland and go over the St Gotthard Pass ...

The Laziest of Days

Today was one of those days when we thought we could look at the view all day long.......so we did.

Elaine this morning checking her emails ...

We are moored right on the edge of the lake ...

My afternoon view whilst reading a book ...

As the sun started to go down it got quite hot ...

I love sunsets, can't stand sunrise!

I was now shorn ... Elaine did a nice job with the dog clippers!

Best view I have ever had whilst having my haircut, apart from the bird with the big bazookas that used to cut it back in Oz!

Bombo also had a restful day ...

And that was that, the sun went down, did bugger all and loved every minute of it ...

Tomorrow we will move over to the other side of the lake.

Where we stayed:

International Camping Ispra

Ispra, Italy

Nice campsite - got a spot right on the lakeside .. brilliant views.  Good facilities all round.  Strange bit was that you had to buy hot water ... you charged up your security card to take to the shower.  It was 20 c for 1 minute!  Wifi was 5 Euros a day.

In the ACSI book but ran out on 4 July ... Italian holidaymakers are coming!

Lake Maggiore, Italy

We left Imperia today and headed inland.  We thought Imperia was a small place but, in fact, it was huge ... we did it a disservice in the last blog post - it did have lots of nice bits!  If we ever do a trip like this again we will definitely buy a scooter so we can get out and about more.

It was great to get away from the coastal crowds and traffic and head up the hills.  There were loads of little hill villages along the way...

As per usual we stayed off the toll roads, it makes it so much more interesting ...

And once again we had virtually deserted roads ...

I love driving through these small towns.  It's amazing that huge 44 ton trucks also drive through these streets ...

It was about a five and half hour drive so we stopped for lunch in the middle of nowhere.  

Next to the lay-by was this old bathing pool, called the Fonte Pirenta ...

There was a pic of kids having a bathe in 1939 ...

It was some sort of spring water, which stunk of sulphur!

Eventually we arrived at a site that we picked at random from the ACSI book.  We got a spot right next to the water's edge on Lake Maggiore.  This is the view from the door / side hatch ...

It is a lovely spot ...

And so much cooler than the coast.

The doggies enjoyed the last rays of the day in the loungers ...

It is a really peaceful spot and what a view to wake up to!  We will stay here for a couple of days ...