The rain has gone this morning but the air is heavy and there's a blustery wind. The town is livelier when we drive through. The hill back to the motorway is a long, steep pull but the views of the mountains are stunning. Half way up is a garage, closed yesterday, that sells LPG. We refill gas and diesel and continue up the hill. Whilst stopped we get a great view of Mount Pollino.
The scenery is so different in todays sunshine without the clouds and haze. Bright green moorland and volcanic cones, brown rocky outcrops and wide valleys.
It gets a bit urban and industral around Consenza then we climb for miles to over 2500 feet. The road meanders along the rock faces sometimes with the two carriageways 60 or 80 feet difference in height. Tunnels and long, curved concrete viaducts turn left and right amidst the gorges.
For a while we are near the coast before turning inland again. The hills are now rounded, overlapping ranges instead of the volcanic cones and there are wide areas of grass in shallow valleys and poppies and wild flowers along the verges. It's pleasant, easy driving with little taffic and the cruise set to 50mph. Temperature varies with altitude between 9 and 22.
With 50 miles to go we stop in a service station where we buy paninni for lunch and consider whether to go the extra 25-30 miles to the ferry, but decide to stick to the plan.
Just as well, because some of the remaining motorway is bumpier and twistier reducing speed before we have the final 5 miles to the seaside near Palmi. We pass orange and lemon trees and poppies and roses as we leave the spectacular A3
It looks attractive driving down and turning along the seafront. We pass the marina and turn into the camperstop gateway and it's chock full. As we are about to reverse out the owner rushes over and tells us lots of vans will be leaving later if we want to wait.
In an area between some vans around 25 people are having a picnic, these are the ones not staying.
We wait in sunshine, looking at the big rockface smothered in cactus and prickly pear, listening to the sea and watching the promenaders outside the gate.
When they finish their picnic the Italians all wander off in groups to do their own promenading.
A couple hours later they begin packing up to leave. But 25 to the power of 24 kisses and hugs and handshakes, plus the forgotten conversations, all takes time. We manoeuvre out of the way of one leaver into the way of another. It takes nearly an hour, with tooting and calling before 11-12 vans all get away.
All thats left is us and two stored caravans. The owner comes across grinning, waving his arms at the now empty parking area. "Praego, where you want to be?"
We park, plug in and relax as the sun sets over the sea beyond the gate.
Italy top to toe in 7 days. Tomorrow - Sicily.

CDs of the day - 2 albums called Gold - Abba and Spandau Ballet.
Dinner - pasta with roasted vegetables