Washed out of a sodden Italy.

Well last night was horrendous.  We were battered by torrential rain and gale force winds all night wondering when the tent was going to blow away!!!  We lay awake thinking if we could weather the night it couldn't possible be as bad in the morning.  How wrong we were!!!  The awful weather continued and we were now camped in our own small lake.  No wonder the static caravans/lodges are jacked up on stilts!!!!  We decided to wait it out for a while hoping things would improve.  No such luck.  By 12.00 the lake around us was increasing in size and the tent was beginning to let water in.  To make matters worse the best forecast we could get gave the same for the next three days at least.  Once the decision had been made we packed up, loaded the car and dropped the tent all within an hour.  Amazingly we didn't wreck the tent and, although sodden, it is not muddy.  Once loaded up, we drove off, heading for the Vercours in France.  We must have travelled 20 miles with the heater full on before we drove off all the steam and condensation from the car.  Our journey took us across Lombardy in north west Italy and around Turin.  Every river we crossed was in full spate, but what we took for  flooded fields were actually rice paddies, presumably the home of arborito rice. From Turin we headed steeply up into the Alps once more, over the Susa Pass and down into Briancon in France, scene of cycling adventures with my brother and our sons, pretending to be Tour de France riders several years ago.  From Briancon we headed down the valley of the Durance River, again in full spate and very impressive.  This is a classic white water river and there were several parties both kayaking and rafting.  Eventually we reached Gap, still in torrential rain and we are now warmly ensconced in the Ibis Hotel having partaken of the requisite beer and steak hache.  The weather looks little better tomorrow so we may slowly begin our journey north sightseeing as we go and look for a hotel again.  Hopefully the weather will improve after the weekend and we shall be able to get the tent out again.  In the meantime we must remember that travel is an adventure but not necessarily a holiday.  This trip has certainly been an adventure but we are gathering a wealth of experiences and memories.

Heather took this shot of our site just as we were leaving!!!

The lake our tent had been pitched in until shortly before this was taken.

Fritillary, Umbria.