The car park fills quickly from about 06:30. We are ready to leave at 10:00. No motorway today, just a 45 mile cross country ride from Alba to Cuneo, passing Bra and following roadwork diversions through Fossano. Ir's lovely lowland alpine scenery, tractors working fields, herds of cattle and alpine style buildings with overhanging roofs. We drive through Cuneo's huge central square and down to the aire. 11:30 we arrive at our rendezvous and once again Mary*...

Dozza's little car park was really peaceful and it really doesn't feel like Italy here. The fortress town is amazing; two cobbled streets run its length from the 12th century castle, connected with little alleys. Many of the facades are decorated with bright, artistic murals and a high proportion of businesses are restaurants. It was once the stronghold for the area's wine, said to be some of Italy's finest, and the castle cellar still stores a valuable collec...

The relaxation didn't last all of last evening, around 21:30 thunder, lightning and torrential rain came and carried on through the night. This morning is fresh and cool but at least the skylights are cleaner. This site has been a lovely spot, worth a longer stay but we must move on. The staff are really friendly too, as Ali gets out to dump rubbish a man takes it from her, then they wave us off up the lane. The A14 is not busy and driving is easy as we trave...

The olive blossom is falling so fast it looks like snow and the van is covered in fine green dust. Ali chats to an English couple while we wait for them to finish using the service point. They are heading to Greece in an old Hymer. We do our service then check out and head up the winding hill out of town. At the top we pull into a layby for photos. A chap has a stall set up on a Piaggio with parasol, selling hand made wood craft, local liquorice, herbs and c...

We take our time getting up and have a lazy morning before heading into town around 11:00 We pass a few other campsites and sostas, but very few campers actually here yet, then we turn down the road to the harbour and beach. They seem to be more ready for summer here, the hotels have rows of plastic loungers and coloured umbrellas arranged on the golden sand but no residents. All of the verandahs have boxes of geraniums and cactii and everywhere is clean and t...