Another scooter event
you will not forget easily.
After last year success,
this year the organizers of Vespa Club Bari and Vespa Club Lecce, have
given the race a more resounding aspect, giving the event the official
rules of FMI (Fererazione Motociclistica Italiana). The way had to be done
in the opposite way to last year's, starting from Reggio Calabria stunning
sea front just facing Sicily and ending in Bari after nearly 900 kms. of
navigation in three days.
The first day we arrive
in Scalea, situated in the North part of Calabria region (very close to
the famous Maratea) after 350 kms. of the fantastic Calabrian coast, all
ridden along the old twisty road. Impressive seeing a fisherman working
the sword fish just captured on a table aside of the road in the right
moment we pass through; I would have taken a picture if I wasn't in the
risk of loosing my riding companions. The scene seemed to come from another
era.
For day 1 navigation
is fairly easy as you have to follow the route all the way. Being the motorway
not far, we don't see many cars on our way either, so we can enjoy the
scenery in full.
We arrive in Scalea a
lot early, so willing to respect the time table we stop in a bar just a
few yards before the finish lane for an aperitif, well two, three, four....we
end up passing though it late, but having enjoyed the company of the Kiwi
team coming from England who have stopped to have a drink or two as well.
Some local friend from the Lambretta Club Pollino, come to visit us as
well.
The evening sees copious
amount of rain and storms coming down, making us worry a lot for the next
day, the longest ride from Scalea to Lecce, across the Appennines and then
down to Policoro, arriving in the region of Puglia crossing the fantastic
Mediterranean style of Taranto and Porto Cesareo, for a total 400 kms.
Today navigation is a
bit harder and the miss the main road, but after a bit of mountain ride
and some help from the locals, we end up reaching the rest of the group
at the end of the mountains, when we are a few miles from Policoro. The
morning we started from Scalea on the Tirreno Sea, now we see the Ionio
Sea.
As said Taranto is a
fantastic Town, like all the Ionic coast in Puglia. We cross then from
Porto Cesareo in direction of Lecce, we reach when it's time for the tipical
Italian walk in the late afternoon. All the main square in Lecce is full
of people wondering what is going on.
Then we take a group
picture with the Sea in the background and it's time to go to the Hotel,
where we are given a unbelievable crap dinner. I am one of the first together
with my mate Luca who is our back van driver going away looking for some
decent food. Not far from where we are staying we find one of those small
restaurant which has made the Italian food so nice Worldwide. Excellent,
but I know that good man Maurizio one of the organizers has spent all the
evening argueing with the owner of the Hotel. It's a shame I don't remember
the name, I would like to name one to avoid.
Last day, Lecce - Bari.
All the rest of the crew takes it easy, but in the end I manage to let
them undestand that even if it's not as long as the other we still have
to ride about 150 kms. so we end up thrashing our scoots on the motorway
to make it in time. Mickey Mouse organisation as ever.
Anyway another three
days of laughs, friendship and fun as you can get from the pictures, a
big thank you again to Gianni Marasco and Maurizio de Pasquale for the
efforts; before heading home I have seen Maurizio satisfied and drying
a tear, saying us see you next year. |
