Day 9 - Pompeii to Maratea

It was manic getting out of Pompeii and very bumpy over their black cobbled streets.Once out we headed for the Amalfi Coast Road.  Just before we got there, we witnessed our first accident. Lorry and minibus into corner at the same time doesn't go. Lorry came off worst, hitting the outside wall, smashing a window and mirror. Poisitano was slow going, following a couple of buses. Scooters were whizzing by on the wrong side of the road and narrowly avoiding oncoming vehicles.We sat in line our bikes too big to go nipping round cars and buses on these twisty roads. We stopped for a photo and had a fresh fruit slushpuppy. Boy those lemons had a kick.

If Positano was slow, Amalfi became gridlocked. Locals were help squeeze vehicles through impossibly small spaces,  to allow progression. We had a bus in the front of the queue. Ginny was getting very hot and so were we, so we had no option but to follow the lead of the scooters and follow them down the outside cutting in when necessary. Not that it really was, because nothing was coming the other way. With all this sitting around and the temperature 32 degrees, Ginny used up her water supply and flashed a red warning. I had no option but to stop and let her cool down, 4 times! If I got some clear air I could manage to keep her out of the red but soon as I got behind any traffic, I was screwed.  We made it to our 2nd POI stop, Paestum and I walked to get some photos  whilst Grizzly stayed at the bikes.

Ginny's feeder tank was empty, so it was clear I needed some coolant. Garages here tend to be just 24 hour pumps, so nothing doing there. Miracle! On leaving Paestum I spotted a row of bikes, a bike mechanic. Coolant is one thing, removing the panels to gain acces to the header tank another. My tool, does 5 of 6 bolts. The 6th needs something shorter. Long story short, with no Italian/English but google translate, I purchased coolant and the chap undid the 6th bolt. I asked him if I could buy the tool, then bugger me, he gave it to me. I tried to pay him but he wouldn't have it, just a selfie with me! Sorted!

In the morning I shall remove the panels and add some coolant. Hopefully that will keep Ginny happy.

After a fuel stop, our next POI was that of Christ the Redeemer in Maratea. Slight cockup again here, Grizzly put in the wrong route number, so whilst I went of to see a massive statue, a separation meant Grizzly went on to the hotel. 

People show the scale. I could see him from 25km away. I eventually arrived at the hotel about 40 minutes after Grizzly. 

The hotel is quite posh but we definitely have the booking.com room, furthest away from everything. There's nothing close hy  so dinner was taken in the hotel restaurant. One can tell it's posh because as you walk in there's a tank with fish and lobster in. And there's only wime on the menu. We had a litre of house rose!

Tomorrow we head for the toe of Italy. We have no stops on the way but I have the coolant to sort before the off, so we shall leave a bit later. 

Here's hoping day 10 isn't quite so exciting as 9.

Ciao