Warsaw to Rome

[romeks44]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

I’m still there but no time for updates.
Yesterday at the Adriatic Sea. Today going to the other side.

[romeks44]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Thank you Alan for the suggestion. Turin yes, but not this time.
Maybe next year on another trip more to the west - there is a nice looking museum in Sinsheim near Stuttgart, Strasbourg - my father in law lives there, Provence - is just very nice. So Turin will suit it better.

Thursday
Started the morning with the Giau Pass 2236, Selva di Cadore, Caprile 559,
Falzarego Pass 2105, Arabba, Pordoi Pass 2239, Canazei, Lago di Fedaia with view to Marmolada, Canazei (again), Alleghe, Rolle Pass 1989, with some "short cuts" to Cima Grappa with a great view to the flat surroundings of Padova and the Adriatic.
Overnight stop between Padova and Chioggia.
228 miles 7:00 to 22:00
Pictures - can't decide so a few more. Let me know if there is a space limit.

[romeks44]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Friday
Sunrise over the Adriatic in Chiogga. Then going south along the coast, short swim in the sea. I wished to cool down a little as the weather was mediteranean style - no way, the water was too warm for me. The day before a short plunge in Lago di Fedaia was much more refreshing...
Passed near Rimini and drove the Strada Panoramica Adriatica between Cattolica and Pesaro.
As the arrival plans of my familly had changed to Fiumicino airport on Sunday 3:00 PM I got some time to use a better (longer) way to the east coast.
So passed the "Parco Naturale Regionale Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi" and found a nice sleeping location near Fabriano. Some sections were really narrow and some on gravel roads. Was tricky to pass by a huge harvester coming back from the fields.
238 miles 5:00 to 22:00
I stopped to describe the great views, sights etc. but you can believe me that I'm not a masochist and it was really worth driving all the roads. I couldn't stop wondering and enjoying the drive.
1. Sunrise at the Adriatic
2. Somewhere on the way
3. Sunset on the way
4. Another side view

[romeks44]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Saturday
Out from the sleeping spot and stopped nearby for breakfast. As I found the name on the map I couldn't resist to pass - Bastardo. For some reasons there were name signs for surrounding villages but I couldn't spot the sign with THIS name. Then a bath in Transimeno Lake followed with the Montepulciano and Montalcino wine regions in Toskana. As a driver I haven't stopped for wine tasting but just for lunch.
Going on small roads the direction of Porto Santo Stefano got another opportunity to cool down in the Albegna River near Saturnia.
Just then I spotted the Cascate del Mulino where I spent the night.
203 miles 6:00 to 20:00
1. Spot for the night
2. Breakfast time
3. Gravel road
4. Small town in Umbria
5. Road the mediterranean style
6. Cascate del Mulino - water temperature is 37 deg.

[romeks44]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Sunday
In about an hour drive I have reached the Poto Santo Stefano - great morning bath. Water just right for easy entering and still refreshing. Perfectly transparent. It took about two hours to pass the panoramic road around the peninsula (almost island). Its wonderful road. Partially very narrow and unpaved but beautiful and scenic. Campers and trailers are not allowed there. If someone is going there i would suggest to do it the counter-clock direction in order to drive on the outside for best views.
Then along the seashore direction Fiumicino/Rome. Sun was strong so stopped shortly for another bath.
I was just right to pick up mu wife and daughter from the airport.
In order to fit three passengers (including me the driver) and two additional pieces of luggage I had to change my seat position. This was enough to get a serious case of Marlin Bottom in less than 2 hours.
Anyway we are there. Had to pick up a cousin from a local (20 miles) train station and buy a pizza (7 miles)
280 miles 7:00 to 19:00
Up to now 2118 miles done from Warsaw.

Monday - today
Small shopping for food, updating the story, swimming in the pool.
Almost no driving - strange.

[Alan c]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

What a fantastic road trip - photos worthy of a high end travel show or magazine

[romeks44]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Tuesday 2
Quite relaxed day. We had a nice trip through Umbria. Visited Todi, Prodo - nice old little towns and Orvieto bigger one - well known for it's wine.
Less than 100 miles.

Wednesday 2
The last lazy day for me. In the afternoon I took my wife and my older daughter to San Gemini - another lovely little town just 10 miles away from our location.

1. Todi
2. Prodo
3. Fiat 125 - these were produced in Poland.

[romeks44]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Thursday 2
The way back has started. The weather was a little bit foggy as I started in the morning. Nice change from the cloudless sky and temperatures above 30 degree.
Just by the way I had another try and believe it or not, I got it. Just entered the city from another side and there it was - see the picture. First point of interest for that day was San Marino. Have seen cars from UK there (and in Orvieto before) Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Ford GT. Does only the rich are travelling from UK to Italy by car? My plan was to get somewhere near the Slovenian border but... As I turned to the side to get something to drin in a local shop my clutch line has broken. I had enough velocity to get to the parking spot. Found two police officers (Carabinieri) and asked them about a garage/workshop where I could fix the line. You can imagine the standard set of questions - what car, what model, call assistance, order from the car maker... and all this using hands, phone and two boys as translators.
Finally they have entered the workshop address on my phone. I've dismounted the line from the car and started the 1 hour walk. They were closing in 1.5 hours. In the workshop they were very friendly and even managed to get the longest line from a local stock but it was for a hand brake. But... there was another workshop - Miro's Customizer - Harley Davidson specialist just around the corner. I explained the problem to a big bearded man and he pointed to a bike crankshaft hanging on the ceiling as an exposition. It was fixed with apiece of steel rope fitted with "my solution". After another hour walk and 20 minutes of installation I washed my hands and resumed my travel.
It was about 9:00 PM when I passed around Venice and the sky before me started darkening, more than only for the sun set. I stopped at the first possible gas station when the first raindrops of a heavy thunderstorm came down. It was not only my idea, after 10 minutes the whole station was completely full with cars but only I stayed there for the night...
290 miles between 6:00 and 21:20
1. The morning
2. San Marino
3. The solution
4. Driver on the storm
5. ...
(Now I'm back at home. More to follow but I have no more time today...)

[romeks44]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Friday 2
Morning was foggy after the storm. Soon I got to the Skocjanske Jame caves in Slovenia. Its great - a roaring river 50 meters under a small bridge in an huge underground cavern... really impressive.
Passed Slovenia and entered Austria through Jezersko. Wonderful views of the Alps but still different to the other parts.
272 miles 5:15 to 22:00

[romeks44]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Saturday 2
In the morning I've visited another cavern - Lurgrotte Semriach and a waterfall nearby. Even took a shower in the waterfall. For a few miles joined a group of bikers followed by an American cruiser.
Watched a group model makers flying their RC gliders on top of a hill.
134 miles 6:00 to 17:00

[romeks44]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Sunday 2
Great day. Finally managed to meet another marlineer. At 11:00 I met Christoph near Wiener Neustadt and had a drive together around the western side of Vienna.
At the end we had a coffee and started our way home - in the opposite directions. I've passed the Czech Republic and decided not to stop for a sleep any more.
Monday morning at 2:00 I was in my bed at home....
497 miles 9:30 to 1:50 next day

Overall: 3471 miles in 18 days and probably less than 30 in the rain. Its less tan 1 % !!!
Will I do something like that again? Sure, any time.
Who is going to join next year? Maybe south of France?

1. Two Marlins
2. Back in Poland

[dcunn]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

An amazing trip and wonderful photos, well done, and thanks for sharing them
DC

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Well, that's the 2019 calendar sorted
Excellent...thanks for sharing.

[milliemarlin]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Epic! Thanks for sharing it with us. I’m very pleased you managed to meet up with Christoph.
Paul

[lizbillings]

Re: Warsaw to Rome

Super pictures. Thanks for sharing them with us.