Journey to Greece via Merano

We set off from Wiesbaden on time despite my advertised schedule. The first night stop would be at Goppingen followed by Merano  On the third day we were to catch the ferry to Patras from Ancona.

The journey shape resembles the constellation Cassiopeia, who was the wife of king Cepheus of Æthiopia, was beautiful but also arrogant and vain; these latter two characteristics led to her downfall. 

There is always stau at Sinsheim - I blame supersonic Tupolev spotters, football enthusiasts and people carrying bicycles on their cars.

We were however soothed by "music".

Flaming June barbeque scene 1: make shift Fallschirm gegen Regen

Flaming June barbeque scene 2: this weekend most of central Germany was washed away.

At least we tasted Britexit beer

The next morning under clearing skies (there had been a mega storm overnight) we set off to Merano with aplanned lunch stop at a gluten free cafe at Augsburg.

We found the cafe but it's closed on Mondays!

The first sight of mountains

Romantische Strasse complete with tractors

Inevitably before Garmisch the rain started again - we head towards Austria and the Brenner pass.

A well engineered escape lane - there were 4 of these within 1km.

Even more lunatic than motorcycling in these conditions is the pastime of cycling.

I take a navigational chance and head for the Jaufen pass - this avoids a long motorway dog leg via Bolzano but the map is not clear whether the pass would be open in June

The SS44 is the Jaufenstrasse which was indeed open

Scudding through the clouds just prior to the descent into Meran International

The Hotel Maya in Merano was actually the Guest House Maya in Sinigo, some 2 km out of town on the SP117. However it was above a good Italian restaurant and perfectly adequate for a one night stand (and we could park).

The next morning, in characteristic fashion, the rain began to clear and we decided to spend the morning exploring Merano. This town appears to have been untouched by conflict but had changed hands between Bavaria and Italy after World war 1.

We parked underground adjacent to the thermal baths

On a sunnier day....

We cross the Passer River on the 1617 built

Steinerner Steg bridge

A stroll by the river and the colonades

A little too early for beer, darling

Flowers

A wonderful expanding mechanism

Some time later near Bologna we spot gluten free junk food.

Essential mastibon

Mother in law sleeps as we cross the River Po

Too may slots and not enough exlpanation on the Autostarda pay booth

Some hours later we arrive at the Ancona ferry terminal

Despite the screen, the ANEK Lines Asterion is running late - it's coming in from Venice

The Asterion appears throgh a hole in the cloud that has just soaked us during our coffee excursion into Ancona city

By the time we are loaded onto the cramped, slippery ramped and awkward superior car deck the sun makes an appearance and I scan the dockside windows feverishly for the Brewster angle.

A shambles on the Asterion

Arrivederci e buona liberazione Ancona!

We sail off into the Adriatic some hours behind schedule!

We are scheduled to call at Igoumenitsa late tomorrow with an arrival at Patras in 26 hours or so...This is not the fast ferry we paid for!