London - Verona - the trip so far...cont

Wild camping seems like a dangerous game in Europe where land ownership is valued and fiercely protected, but our experiences have been fun and harmless.  We camped on the fields of a shooting range, in woods with wild boars, by the side of the Loire, the Rhone and canals.  We were seen by a farmer whilst camping in an orchard/vineyard and next to a field which was being ploughed when we arrived.  No one has thrown us off or shot at us and the vineyard farmer just nodded and waved as he drove past our evening picnic.  Sometimes we have to leave early but if well hidden we can sleep for a little longer. 

...And then we were in Italy.  The weather turned and we had our first drop of rain, the roads deteriorated, drivers passed closer and the towns, squeezed between hills and coast, were difficult for wild camping.  We slept on dunes by the sea, then in a tight spot behind a church on a mountain valley.  Easter monday led us to consume our emergency rations in a field by an abandoned office block, which, it gradually transpired, was used as a spot to court local prostitutes.  

Northern Italy became industrial and we realised we had arranged to meet the girls too late in May.  So we altered our route, taking in the beautiful town of Brescia, and spending days by Lake Iseo, Idro, Ledro and Garda.  We cycled amongst mountains and washed in rivers, we slept atop tunnels and a foot from Lake Garda, with waves splashing the tent.  Rooms with equivalent views to our campspots would command extraordinary rents so we feel lucky when we eat our dinner with the sun setting in some epic locations, romantic.  

We have visited Ca' dei Frati and Pieropan wineries and tasted some beautiful wines.  The contrast is amusing, a quick clothes change down the road, into my cream shorts with safety pin secured flies, and then we are wandering around spectacular cellars and tasting wines in grand locations.  The ice cream in Italy has been a treat and a weekend in Verona with Mia and Annabel will enable us to try some local specialities in the Trattoria's.

The adventures of the next month are just a collection of possibilities at the moment but, fingers' crossed, they will be many, we will make it around Europe and cycle back to London with Kev and Gary. 

Now we are sitting on a castle wall in Soave, later we will wild camp.  Then we will emerge back into civilisation for three days with Mia and Annabel.  After that we will go explore again.  We have had sore achilles, sore knees, elbows and necks.  A slashed tyre, a couple of punctures and crushed chainstays.  A broken tent pole and a few sneezes and sore stomachs, but these have done little to dampen our spirits and excitement for the next half of Western Europe. 

Peace. 
Adam