Preview
N E W P L A C E SA round trip of southern Italy. One switchback; where we could no longer go south. An adventure that tested us in many ways.
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M O R E K N O W L E D G EWe can only accomplish as long as we know. We learned a lot, fast... whether it'd be off-roading techniques, repairs, or simply cooking. Knowledge stands at the basis of our expeditions.
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M O R E O F U SSmiles, fights, snoring and laughing. Magna Grecia hardened our bond, thickened our skins and aggravated our thirst for exploring and pushing our expeditions further.
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INCIPIT
Yes. You read that right. But don't be fooled we're not going back to Greece.... yet. 2016 has rolled in like buffalo and really effed up a few walls. Still, no biggie. This year is extremely important. Its our opportunity to prove we're in it for the long run. It gives us the time to invest time and cash into learning. Into preparing the Galloper for future abusing adventures and for us to quench our thirst for adventure.
so what the heck is Magna Grecia?
........... aaaaan opportunity! Kidding. Basically...it's southern Italy. Back in the day when selfies and starbucks were simply out of the question Southern Italy was referred to as the land of fat cigarette smoking degenerate criminals who invented the mafia and the most beautiful and fierce women on earth.... ehm was referred to as MAGNA GRECIA.
so what the heck is Magna Grecia?
........... aaaaan opportunity! Kidding. Basically...it's southern Italy. Back in the day when selfies and starbucks were simply out of the question Southern Italy was referred to as the land of fat cigarette smoking degenerate criminals who invented the mafia and the most beautiful and fierce women on earth.... ehm was referred to as MAGNA GRECIA.
For us members of a society based on the interwebs (don't believe me? turn off the WiFi and reload this page.... go on) and zelfies that means GREATER GREECE.
Yes GreAtER Greeeece. It is ab-sol-ute-ly s-t-unn-ing. And we happen to live on the same peninsula.... we just never hopped over to say Hi for more than three days. So this time we're gonna go and pitch our tents and roll through the beaches and countryside for as long as we can in the hottest, damn hottest month of the gregorian damn calendar.
Yes GreAtER Greeeece. It is ab-sol-ute-ly s-t-unn-ing. And we happen to live on the same peninsula.... we just never hopped over to say Hi for more than three days. So this time we're gonna go and pitch our tents and roll through the beaches and countryside for as long as we can in the hottest, damn hottest month of the gregorian damn calendar.
The first question took us in Italy, our mothercountry, in the south.
The idea is to follow the coast, from Rome to Rome, a circle through every south italian region (except for Molise, just because it doesn't exist).
The idea is to follow the coast, from Rome to Rome, a circle through every south italian region (except for Molise, just because it doesn't exist).
1 country, 7 regions, approximately 3050 Km.
On Andriatic circle's same line, we will circumnavigate the south Italy. The intent is to drive on the coast this is why we have to be prepared to a specfic kind of terrain: sand, rock,
When
The period we've chosen is between July and September, so it'll probably end up being August. Usually is the only period in the year in which we gather for more than 1 week, the plan is to meet for a 2 week no stop preparation session before our departure. The climate conditions are gonna be on our side, we hope to find good wether, sunny days and warm seas. The same climate which cuddles us with sweat, dehydration and exhaustion will also affect Moka. We will do what we can best prepare her for the trip.
OBJECTIVE
This is where the list becomes somewhat long. We're looking at investing into Moka in order to get her ready for the Big One. This year we're going for reliability and performance. By that we mean a check up on the mechanicals and upgrading load capacities, storage and communications.
d e b r i e f
A trip full of excitement, obstacles and beauty. An immense, layered and varied cultural wealth spread throughout Southern Italy. We crossed the beautiful hill country of Puglia, through the rocky peaks of Calabria and onto the sandy and volcanic time locked beaches Sicily all the way back through the winding, fire lit, coastal roads of Campania.
We only wish we had more time to slow down and explore further. Finding beaches and wild camping spots is always a bit of a challenge. It proved to be particularly hard to find in Southern Italy. Our luck lied in locals. Their knowledge and consent. The regions are peppered with conservation areas which, luckily are inaccessible and heavily guarded by park rangers and patrolled by the coastguard. However we did get lucky and were ably to enjoy great spots and beaches, usually finding them in complete darkness. Good on us for adding lights!
We only wish we had more time to slow down and explore further. Finding beaches and wild camping spots is always a bit of a challenge. It proved to be particularly hard to find in Southern Italy. Our luck lied in locals. Their knowledge and consent. The regions are peppered with conservation areas which, luckily are inaccessible and heavily guarded by park rangers and patrolled by the coastguard. However we did get lucky and were ably to enjoy great spots and beaches, usually finding them in complete darkness. Good on us for adding lights!
The drive westwards to the coast proved to be a true shakedown for Moka, really dialling in the importance of not overloading our rig, considering it *was* a 98bhp motor the day it came out of the factory 314,000 kilometres ago. We'll keep that in mind and strike everything we do not use and did not use on previous expeditions.
Our first camp proved to be in Molise. A calm night and early morning rise to head down into Puglia, stopping by villages and towns, grabbing a quick bite in an uninteresting local restaurant with dreadful service.
Our first camp proved to be in Molise. A calm night and early morning rise to head down into Puglia, stopping by villages and towns, grabbing a quick bite in an uninteresting local restaurant with dreadful service.
We struck gold and were offered accommodation in one of the most exclusive hotels with access to an absolutely outstanding bay. We moved on to hopping around the countryside and coast visiting towns and burghs all the way to Sicily where we witnessed towns of incredible beauty and culinary enlightenment. Also... a volcano... what beats that you ask? Actually being allowed on the damn thing. We ran late and missed our chance... off we went unsatisfied with just seeing the smaller pits yet thrilled to have been on an active volcano (Etna).
At this point we had ben farther south, on a latitude, than Tunisia. Slept on dunes and feasted on local foods. Time running dry we headed back north in what turned into a Marathon. Our plans foiled by the continuos pestering of illegal 'parking man' in every singly public parking spots we wanted to stop and rest in or simply use to get to a trail. North we pushed on and stopped over in naples in a last attempt to add a couple pounds to our trouser sizes. We were victorious in that at least.
The final push to Rome in one leg must be one of the longest drives we remember since the drive to Plitvice lakes during on Adriatic Circle 2015. We pulled in to a deserted city early in the morning and hit the bunks. Our Expedition formally over, we just had 200 km more to tuscany where our staging area allowed us to unload and clean up Moka. Just over 14 days on the road. Happy as we could be, tired as ever.
A day spent couching, eating sleeping and unloading helped set the concrete to our next Expedition.
A day spent couching, eating sleeping and unloading helped set the concrete to our next Expedition.
