day17 - offroading a tough gravel track
So what to say about this night … I slept not more than 2 hours and was happy when dawn came up. I did not have to get up early as I was awake since hours staring in the night sky (which was not so bad at all … quite a good perspective into the universe and the whole existence). It was 05:30 8n the morning and I have packed everything together and started the engine …. and drove further southwards …. and short behind Flumini I saw a beautiful coast spot where another T3 parked. I had to find the exit to get also there … and found it and drove a quite steep sandy track towards the othe T3.
It turned out to be a girl from Kiel who was also travelling alone with her 50PS westfalia. Her dogs were quite interested in my arrival and we had a short chat. And in parallel the sun was rising and it was time for another coffee….
The view and the whole morning scenery was just astonishing !!! And I even looked up the exact name of it - it is called Caletta di Punta Campu Sali. The bialetti coffee tasted great and after 2 hours I decided to head back to the main Street and drive further southwards … my target today was the campeggio ortus del mare close to Portixxedo
Despite Google's route I decided to take the SP4 “road” as a shortcut to the Costa Verde areas around Maggazzini.
At Portu Maga it was still a normal small tarmacked road but then signs showed up that it will get rough and narrow and dangerous … it was a clear warning that normal street ends here …. but I was motivated to risk that section … and it became a steep gravel track where my van had tough times to climb the bumps and holes. But it worked somehow. And then down again and around a corner … I already felt like being on a trial trip … there was a river crossing the street or better the other way round the street was crossing a river 😰
I stopped the van and went into the water to see how deep it is … the left part was definitely too deep and the right side was … hmmm … it seemed doable 😜 But I must admit I was never before in such a situation … no previous experiences with crossing water like this. What are my options ? 1) turn around and take a different route (at least 2 hours) or 2) risk it …. clear cut case for option 2 !!! I started the engine and passed the water with according tempo … and nothing bad happend … engine still running car washed on the bottom 😂😂
BUT that was just the beginning of this “shortcut” … there was another steep and rough climb with deep holes where my old van really started to get to its limits …. but I did not want to turn around and go back the whole track. And fortunately in the middle and before another water crossing I met another vwbus T6 driver who came from across. He said it's just 1 more kilometer and absolutely doable with the van. Yeeeeah … so I made it through and really was a bit sweaty but also proud !!!
The coming 10km was a “normal” gravel road which went through a valley where old abandoned industry / mining facilities have been … very impressive … would be nice for a list places exploration tour 😊😊 But I ha a clear target to reach my next campsite … which I finally did after another hour of driving curvy mountain roads
Absolutely gorgeous campsite (Ortus del mare), small, very clean and with good sanitair facilities… and nice places under olive trees … good place to sleep now a bit after the last adventurous day … Good night !!
