It’s hard to keep your eye on the ball all the time. Staying focused takes practice. Demands attention. Distractions are many.
We’re on our way to the port of Messina. Sicily is now history. Confined to the memory banks, hopefully. At least short term. Our open ticket allows re-entry to mainland Italy at any time. Caronte & Touriste crossings every twenty minutes. No pressure.
We’re ahead of schedule. Eleven kilometres west of the port the required exit from our elevated highway is barred. Major roadworks are underway. There is more than one elevated section. Different levels converge and confuse. Like an upmarket spaghetti junction, but with the air of a majestic Scalextric track.
Our only option is straight on. So that’s where we go. There are no diversion signs. We expect none. The road bears left and we anticipate a reroute back into Messina. Our onboard Missy is saying nothing. That implies we are still on track. Or, she doesn’t want to take any blame!
Time passes and that gut feeling gets reflected in my wrinkled forehead and questioning eyebrows. “How far to our destination now?” – “23K” replies Mrs S. By the time the distance to Messina increases to 43K and our altitude approaches 300 metres my forehead resembles a prune. I feel a bit like one too. Today’s short journey has just doubled. A 360 and a double back solves the problem we weren’t aware of.
On arrival at our planned stop, Camping La Quiete is more quiet than we’d hoped. Opposite its closed gates is a silky white sandy beach. Website declares it’s open for business. We declare it’s not. Does us a favour. 12K further up the coast we find a gem of a site.
Our two-nighter at Camping Mimosa combines chores and rest. Each morning starts early for me. Fifty paces to the beach from our pitch. A no brainer. Sea as calm as a limp piece of lettuce. Sand, sky and sea all to myself. What could be more perfect?
We end the day here too. Once the washing and ironing have been seen to by Mrs S.
Tough work swimming in a place like that, but someone’s got to do it!
What a place! Xx
Without a doubt my favourite beach and sea swimming, plus straight out of the camp