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