Counting down the days

We are going over to the Aeonic Islands islands in two days time, where we will attempt to climb The Cratere and Stromboli volcanoes, the last two volcanoes out of four. This is a trip we have wanted to do for years.

The ferry to Vulcano island departs from Milazzo, a little peninsula north of Sicily. Unfortunately, Dora can’t come with us. We will leave her under custody for four days, in a car park near the port. Although this will be expensive (€17 per night), it is a wise decision. We have heard that free parking could be risky in Sicily.

What should we do until we take the ferry? Tomorrow we will drive north from Taormina, and give another go to kayaking.

The day after tomorrow we will spend in Milazzo, chilling out and arranging the parking for Dora, as the ferry departs early the next morning.

For the kayaks, we have found a tolerated car parking place in Campo d’Orlando, north of Sicily and only two hours from Milazzo.

We have arrived at Campo d’Orlando this evening. The car park is nice and large and it has plenty of water to fill Dora’s tank. But it has also a sign which says motorhomes are not allowed.

Campo d’Orlando looks like a summer holiday place. This car park is surrounded by apartments and hotels which are shut down for the season. The few people around here seem to have come to visit a mini zoo next to the car park which has rabbits, geese and ducks. When these people are gone, the place will be deserted.

Besides, this place has a nice and convenient place to launch the kayaks so we decide to risk it and stay the night. If someone is upset about it we will move on.

The next day awakes bright and sunny. After a strong coffee we roll up our sleeves and prepare the kayaks. Gary is taking his fishing rod. He has only used it once in San Sebastian but he had no luck.

He has a plan today. He has done his research and come up with the conclusion that he should focus on catching mackerel: it is one of the most abundant fish close to shore and easy to deceive with his plastic bait from Decathlon. It sounds encouraging. Will we have fresh fish for dinner tonight?

It has been quite a long time since we have put the kayaks up. Gary has to remind me the steps. First inflate the outside, then the inside…

Mine is nearly there.

This is a bit upsetting. We cleaned the kayaks so thoroughly in Guisando last winter and there is still a bit of sand left!

The sea is very calm. I feel relived. I am not very good at launching the kayaks when the sea is choppy. It can get quite messy and Gary gets frustrated because I don’t listen to his instructions. As if I liked ending up being wet from the start!

It is still a bit early. A cafe on the beach is open. I need more caffeine, paddling can get tiring after a while. We sit outside to enjoy the sun and build up energy.

A group of ten staff members are preparing the place for the season. Their task today seems to put the parasols up. It is quite entertaining seeing them discussing, planning and delegating. Putting one up has taken them 20 minutes. They have now gone, probably, to have a rest. At this rate, they won’t meet the high season deadline for this year.

They have a mobile scaffold which is lodged precariously in the sand. Two balance on the steel bars, no planks for them, as the other two manage to hoist up the parasol. They balance it on their heads as they try to manoeuvre it into position. No one breaks theirs necks….this time. GDR

We finish our coffee and launch the kayaks. It has been a very smooth launching.

Looking ahead, the sea presents us a deep blue colour.

Looking back, the sea leaves us with a green emerald colour.

The cliffs here are not particularly dramatic but we can get to see undulated landscapes with, of course, some hilltop towns.

Gary is craving for an Italian ice cream. The nearest beach seems quite a long way away and we always have to think about coming back. I promise to get him one when we are back on land. He is happy with the suggestion, he continues with his fishing.

I keep paddling, stopping, paddling, stopping, enjoying the peace, quietness and tranquillity of the sea. I keep an eye on the underwater. It would be nice if the sea surprises me with a new species of seashore life which I’ve never seen so far.

I left Gary behind me, fishing. He is very determined to fish something for dinner by the end of our travels. He is concerned he continues to fail in providing. “I am not a very good hunter-gathered, baby!”

Here he comes. Is he bringing any surprise?

After two hours paddling up and down the coast, we are done. Gary has not caught anything, I am tired. It is nearly lunchtime, we don’t have any food and we have to find somewhere to lay down all our kayaking staff to dry before we pack them off.

So we drive away from this place towards Milazzo although we won’t get there today, we will stop half way at Patti to sleep tonight. We find a large supermarket with a large car park to dry the stuff. Perfect.

Whilst the stuff is getting dry, we work a bit on updating the blog map. We have to use all our data remaining on our Italian SIM card, which expires tomorrow.

The stuff has already dried, we pack up and go.

The north coastline of the island is also magnificent. Even though it is already 18.00, it is still quite warm, the brightness of the colours, the smell of summer… I don’t know how I am going to cope with the grey and rainy weather when I am back in the UK .

We arrive at Patti at 19.00. Gary found a nice restaurant on trip advisor around here. He is going to take me out for dinner tonight, as we are well under the dinning out budget for Italy.

We find the restaurant easily but it is closed for refurbishment. Shame.

On the way back we find a trendy wine bar. It has lots of wines on the shelves. We feel a bit down as we thought we were going out tonight. Having a drink here may cheer us up.

It does. The barman welcomes us up warmly. Maybe because we are the only customers. He gets even more excited when he finds out I am Spanish. He likes Spain, he has been there many times. I am flattered.

The wine menu is extensive. We ask him to serve us local. He also suggests a few Italian snacks to go with it. We let him choose for us. Grilled aubergines, doughy focaccia with tomato and olive paste topping, charcoal courgettes drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, toast bread with mint sauce spread…He doesn’t stop bringing stuff. “How much is this going to cost!” Who cares. It is all delicious.

He continues to talk about Spain. I wish he leaves us in peace for a bit. In the end, all has cost us only €15, including discount. I am not sure why. “Because you are Spanish” Gary jokes.

 

The next day we arrive at Milazzo just before lunchtime. Nice, we have plenty of time to chill out, arrange Dora’s parking, check on the ferry’s timetable and print out the ferry tickets.

It is 18.00, and it is all done. Now it is time for ourselves. We drive up to Capo di Milazzo, to enjoy the sunset.

Here, we find a footpath which will get us closer to the beach.

Gary finds another opportunity to fish. He brings his fishing road.

And I find an opportunity to do a bit of seashore life. We get off the path and walk on the rocks.

Interestingly, the shore seems to be infested with pink jellyfish. There are hundreds of them. Some look alive.

Some look dead.

Another photo of them. I really like the reflection of the water.

The popular, well-paved path finishes here but another narrow and fainted path continues. We take it until it doesn’t go any further.

The remaining of an arch makes a perfect frame for a nice photo.

The sun is about to set. We sit on a bench, to admire the view. The sun is still quite high in the sky so the wait can be long. We are not in a hurry.

Can we see Etna from here?

It is getting a bit cold. Let’s go back. We have an early start tomorrow. We find another stunning beach just in time for the sunset.

Dora loves a good sunset.

SM