17 February 2025 – Eastward, Ever Eastward

Miles driven today = 157

Total Miles to date = 1,022

We wiggled and rattled our way back to the A21 Toll Road this morning and pointed our nose to the East.  I generally enjoy driving (just as well really!) but today was a bit of a chore in all honesty.  The road was javelin straight for mile after boring mile and the landscape was pancake flat with nothing but industrial estates and pylons to break the monotony.  A stream of police vehicles and a lorry which was literally a house on wheels, complete with quaint shuttered windows, provided snippets of entertainment and a large banner proclaimed our crossing of the 45^th parallel, the point at which we were equidistant from the Equator and the North Pole.  

At heavily industrialised Placenza we switched to the A1, the arterial route which links Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples, and the number of commercial vehicles swelled to the extent that we found ourselves almost permanently encamped in the middle lane.

Our pick of stopover for tonight actually ended up being a 3-way decision with Reggio Emilia thrown into the mix with Parma and Modena.  In gastronomical terms a choice between ham, cheese and balsamic vinegar.  We studied the Rough Guide and both decided that Modena best aligned with our interests so we blatted on past Parma.  We did stop in Reggio but only because we spotted there was a large Lidl very close to the Autostrade so we paused there for supplies and had a spot of lunch whilst sat in the car park.

We decided that we had had enough of the motorway for the last 20 miles.  Google Maps reckoned the non-toll option would only result in a 7 minute time deficit, although it turned out to be rather slow going and roundabouty through Rubiera.

So we have parked up at Camper Club Mutina which is in the suburban village of Vaciglio, about 5km South East of the centre of Modena.  It’s not the most attractive of sostas but we are looking out over a vineyard and we are well away from any road noise.  There was only one other van here when I popped out to put on the thermal screens earlier.  I suspect at least one more has arrived since but I’m not about to go snooping about outside when we are so snug and warm in the van

The orange building is a shower block so we are looking forward to luxuriating under hot water for more than the 45 seconds we normally allow ourselves in the van in order to conserve our onboard water supplies.  The €20 a night charge also includes hook up which is of sufficient amperage to run both our heating and hot water supply, so our LPG has been temporarily relieved from the battering it has taken to fend off the sub-zero conditions we have experienced most nights thus far.

Having clocked up more than 1,000 miles in the first 6 days of this trip I am absolutely 100% ready for a non-driving day.  So we will give the van a day off tomorrow while we go and explore the City, but for this afternoon we were content busying ourselves with some admin and attending to a few annoying squeaks and rattles.

18 February 2025 - Modena