Compared with Morocco, disembarking in Italy was refreshingly uncomplicated. Our passports were stamped but there were no other formalities (Customs or Covid) and we were soon on our way, heading for Cesena, five hours drive to the west where we were visiting the company who were to carry out the generator repairs.
On our arrival the technicians quickly diagnosed the fault on the generator and confirmed the replacement parts were in stock. We were able to park overnight on their forecourt and the following morning the repaired generator was refitted, tested and by 10 am we were back on the road. We were delighted with the prompt and efficient repair service and very relieved to have our generator working again, in spite of the cost of repair – €2000!
Not many hours later we arrived in Alba Adriatica where our friends, Jacqui and Sergio, had cleverly found a local camp site that was open all the year round. The site was well patronised as most places in those parts didn’t open until the start of the holiday season at the end of May. Guglielmo, the pony-tailed site owner with a strong Abruzzo accent, proved invaluable when the weld on our hydraulic lift dramatically failed with an almighty bang. He helped Tony remove the broken arms and took them to the local metal fabricator for re-welding.
It was a holiday weekend so nothing could be done for the next few days so we settled in and enjoyed visiting our friends. The weather was warm (21°) and one sunny morning we took a short drive up into the green foothills of the Apennine Mountains to buy wine – a lovely fruity red, a Pecorino and, of course, some rosè – we paid £1.57 a litre.
