Day 203: Getting Wet By Choice

Ospedaletto d'alpinolo to Camping Salerno

Distance: 50km

I wasn't able to find the apparently best chocolate in Italy while strolling around the town yesterday. A shame but life goes on.

After a light sleep I pack and leave my room just before 05:00. As I stumble through the lobby, half asleep, the night portier (yes, I am as surprised as you that there's one) offers me an espresso. What a nice surprise and lovely start into the day.

A hiking day, which begins with walking some quiet back roads through hazelnut plantations. As I learnt yesterday, Nutella is made out of hazelnuts from this region. As I get closer to Salerno, the area gets more densely populated, the roads busier. Initially, it's interesting walking through all these busy villages, observing the locals. Eventually, as the I approach the suburbs, it's not too much fun anymore.

Therefore, I am relieved once I arrive in Salerno and full of joy once I see the sea. It's been a long time on E1 since I have walked the beach. In the region of Kiel in Germany if I remind correctly.

It's drizzling. What else would you expect. Nevertheless, I head straight for the beach, go for a swim. Feels so good. All the struggle of this morning forgotten. I continue walking. Not on the beach. Soft terrain and private beaches make it impossible. So I walk on the road towards Salerno Lido Campground. While doing so, the weather improves dramatically. I go for another swim.

I wouldn't consider the beach, nor the shore as particularly pretty. Dirty, run down, lots of deserted buildings. But I don't care. As long as there's beach access every now and then, I am happy.

I arrive at the campground at 18:30, get placed next to a girl cycling Italy. It's a decent campground with direct access to the beach, where I enjoy another swim and a spectacular sunset. My second night on a campground on E1. The first one was day 1 on E1. It's been a while!