Day 49 Wed 29/6 - Wild Camping by the side of a villa in Grottaglie

Today Disatnce : 77.2 km     Total : 2543.5 km
Today Temp : 20 - 34°c    Hot and Sunny
Today Spending : 6.9 euro    Total : 731.15 euro
Time on Bike : 3 hr 55 min
Today Ave Speed : 19.7 kmh      Max : 66 kmh
Trip Altitude : 309 m    Max : 331 m
Today Ave Climb : 2 %        Max : 6 %

Again the hope of staying in a proper campground did not materialize as Taranto is more of a fishing port than a touristic coastal town.I could see lots of fishing boats and the terrible fish smell when I rode passed the town centro. From the SS7 road which joined together with an expressway of E843,I bought some fruits at the Sidis supermarket and finish off a quarter of a big watermelon. The road out of Taranto got a little confusing as too many junctions and small roundabouts without proper signboards.Highlight for today's ride goes to a local young man, who so willingly took all the trouble, helped me to send an sms to my Malaysian friend Rita, who in turn help me to reload credit to my Digi prepaid mobile phone. My phone went dead for the past 3 days due to   no more credit. It cost Rm 2 per sms and Rm 4 for every minute regardless whether calling or receiving.Tomorrow should be in Brindisi ready for the ferry crossing to yet another country - Greece ! One month already in Italy, really looking forward to get out.I am bored. ( Ha...I realized that I didn't take any photos on this boring day, not even the campsite )

Day 48 Tue 28/6 - Abandoned House Camping in Mottola

Today Disatnce : 62 km     Total : 2466.3 km
Today Temp : 20 - 32°c    Hot and Sunny
Today Spending : 5 euro    Total : 724.25 euro
Time on Bike : 4 hr 0 min
Today Ave Speed : 15.5 kmh      Max : 56.5 kmh
Trip Altitude : 595m    Max : 400 m
Today Ave Climb : 3 %        Max : 10%

Another day of very hot,boring ride that ends early at 3.30pm in an abandoned house in Mottola,about 25 km more to a coastal town of Taranto.The hope of finding a proper camping ground came to nothing, as I continued to wild camped with my smelly body and dirty clothing. The ride was so boring so much so I had forgotten to take any pictures .The S100 road was not only busy with traffics but the scenery too was nothing to shout about. And for the 1st time I bought and bottom up a local beer by the brand Raffe Beer ( 3 euro) in the midst of my ride.This is not the usual me to consume beer during rest stops, but I surprised even myself when I saw this petrol station with a group of workmen drinking at the station cafe. I also bought a hamburger ( 2 euro) to keep me going. The group of drunken workmen waved goodbye to me as I continue my journey. But not before long, with the hot sun above and guess a little bit of the beer effect,I was feeling very sleepy and thirsty that eventually landed in this abandoned house for a good night sleep.

Abandoned house in Mottola

Abandoned house in Mottola

Sunset in Mottola

Day 47 Mon 27/6–3rd Olive Farm Camping 18km to Matera

Today Disatnce : 78.8 km     Total : 2325.3 km
Today Temp : 20 - 33°c    Hot and Sunny
Today Spending : 22.15 euro    Total : 719.25 euro
Time on Bike : 4 hr 55 min
Today Ave Speed : 16 kmh      Max : 62 kmh
Trip Altitude : 752 m    Max : 955 m
Today Ave Climb : 3 %        Max : 9%


I was ready to start the ride at 8 am,but the MD supermarket only open at 9 am.I need to stock up my food rations for 2-3 days before I can continue my journey. Wildcamping seems to be the only choice here as I will be crossing the most barren land in Italy.No tourists,and hence service camping grounds practically non existence.Hotels in small towns can be more expensive than the big cities, whatsmore for a poor solo cyclist like me.Today’s ride was not too tough like yesterday,but the heat from the hot sun did make me sweat a lot.I could feel the sweat flowing down slowly from my head and enter into my eyes, that was really irritating and painful.At the same time making sure that I drank lots of water and also have some reserve for camping needs.Enjoy some really nice downhills,but the unpredictable strong wind had my hands firmly on the handle bar.I could feel the unstablility of the bike when the strong wind hit especially from the side.I had to thank for the heavy load that I carried and the super wind resisted low gravity recumbent that I so trusted.My almost dead batteries got their new live in a petrol station for a good 2 hours of charging,thanks to the kind young attendent. We had a good conversation while I had my lunch of sandwiches and coffee in the station cafe.

SS 7 via Appia road

At altitude 1035 m

Olive Farm Camp

Day 46 Sun 26/06 - Bus Stop Camping in Disappointing Potenza

Today Disatnce : 48 km     Total : 2325.3 km
Today Temp : 22 - 33°c    Hot and Sunny
Today Spending : 1.6 euro    Total : 697.1 euro
Time on Bike : 5 hr 03 min
Today Ave Speed : 9.5 kmh      Max : 50.5 kmh
Trip Altitude : 1170 m    Max : 804 m                                                                                                        Today Ave Climb : 5 %        Max : 22 %                                   

Hell lots of a tough and steep climbs today on this SS94 road which runs along side with the A3 highway.While SS94 road is winding with many ups and downs,the A3 highway looks more straight which was built across mountains and valleys,looks stunning from far.Not only the view is great,the wind too is blowing very strong and changes directions every now then,this makes pedalling hard and slow,at the same time you need some skillful handlings to keep the bike from falling,at one particular steep section,I finally raised the white flag to get down and push for about 100m.At this stage,my foods ration is almost runs dry,due to been wildcamping for the past few days,and whatsmore today is Sunday.Potenza is like a ghost town,really feel sad and disappointed when i rode past at around 2.30pm,there are supermarkets and shops but were all closed.Anyway,still have enough water and foods for tonight.Tomorrow, being Monday, finding foods never a problem.

Highway A3

Built between the mountains and valleys

View from SS94 road along side with it

What a gigantic project

Taking a rest along the steep winding road

Junction with many directions

Another great view on the A3 highway

Deserted bus stop camping

One of switchbacks

Day 45 Sat 25/06 - 2nd Olive Farm Wilpcamping near Vietri di Potenza

Today Disatnce : 56.8 km     Total : 2277.3 km
Today Temp : 22 - 33°c    Hot and Sunny
Today Spending : 0.8 euro    Total : 695.5 euro
Time on Bike : 4 hr 43 min
Today Ave Speed : 12 kmh      Max : 69.5 kmh
Trip Altitude : 884m    Max : 449 m
Today Ave Climb : 3 %        Max : 14 %

From the coastal seaside,now i am riding inland across the width of Italy to the other side of Adriantic sea,but that will take a few days.The scenaries changes from the rock cliffs,blue sea to the country road of hills and mountains. This is where finding a place for wild camping never a problem.Less people,less traffic,less towns,make riding more relex and fun. But when you are enjoying your ride, it is very important to stay alert and keep your eyes wide open. I nearly missed ( in fact already overshot about 50m), a double taps mountain water source on a downhill, where i had a good wash on my smelly body,dirty clothes,changed to a new set of clothes and filled up my empty water bottles , so refreshing as i continue to ride on this SS19 country road, and when i saw the sign of 47, SS19 appeared, I felt like at home, as this is my house address in Subang Jaya,Malaysia. Happily i posted  a self timer shot for remembrance, but that also trigger some mixed feelings in me - am i homesick already?missing my friends?,my comfortable house? and all the good foods at home?Well time will tell when it is time to go home...

Which way to go man...?

Sometimes its hard to put up a smile like this when u r alone

Hopefully its a tailwind.....

Strong wind helps to keep the Malaysian flag flying

Elevated highway A3



Almost miss this water source for a thorough clean up on a downhill

Not being bathed for 3 consecutive days of wild camping



Highway A3 running across the mountain



Home...Sweet.....Home

Cheaper to build the road this way??

Home sick already?

Day 44 Fri 24/06 - Hard-to- Find Wild Camping near Highway A3 in Eboli

Today Distance : 85.7 km     Total : 2220.5 km
Today Temp : 22 - 33°c    Hot and Sunny
Today Spending : 9.1 euro    Total : 694.7 euro
Time on Bike : 5 hr 57 min
Today Ave Speed : 14.3 kmh      Max : 41 kmh
Trip Altitude : 738 m    Max : 222 m
Today Ave Climb : 3 %        Max : 13 %

Unexpected long ride until 7 pm today cos' finding a suitable camp site was near impossible in the popular coastal town of Positano and Amalfi, every little vacant lands being taken up by either hotels,restaurants or parking space on the this narrow winding SS163 road. The next big town of Salerno,looks more like a port and commercial hub, so very little chance to find any camping grounds.But on the bright side, I was greeted with the best coastal sceneries, this somehow or rather helps to cheer me up over the worry of where to stay tonight.The ride continues thru somemore towns of Pontecagnano and Battipaglia, very populated with no sign of any space for wild camping still. Feeling exhausted and desperate but never gave up attitude, the road turn into SS19 ( good omens as this is my home in Subang Jaya Malaysia). I noticed a wired fencing which has an opening gap that leads to an empty land about 10 meter above the road, overlooking is the Highway A3 and the railway line, further is the stand alone mountain,somewhat like a Malaysian mountain in Melawati - Gunung Tabor.

Stunning coastal view

No space for road shoulder but luckily less traffic

Met with a group of German cyclists on opposite direction

Welcome to Positano

Positano looking from the top

Positano looking from the side view

Short tunnel built on the cliff

Overcrowded on a mini beach

Lookout point in Amalfi

Port of Amalfi

Highway A3 in Eboli, lower front is the small road where i ride

Really hard-to find camp site