2023 Bicycle trip in Italy, from Napoli to Catania – part 3 of 3

In September 2023 I did a bicycle trip in Italy, from Napoli to Catania (Sicily)
The videos from the trip are divided into 3 parts – this is part 3 from Melito di Porto Salvo to Catania via Scilla.

I meant to go with a friend, but he hurt himself badly before we got going, so I went alone and so he will have to only watch the videos as well 🙂

Please find a more detailed description of the trip on my blog here:
https://gladehjul.blogspot.com/2023/09/italia-revisited-again.html

Enjoy!

Quality: 3840 x 2160, 25FPS
Camera equipment: GoPro 9, iPhone 13
Video editing: PowerDirector 365

@Geriatracks
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The 3rd and final leg of the trips starts in Melito di Porto Salvo Then north trough Reggio Calabria along the Messina strait and up to Scilla Before I turn south, cross the strait to Sicily and go down to Catania Ah… river beds! That is good roads for sure! Especially by bike

I need to pay more attention to the map and not let Mr. Bikemap convince me do to all sorts of crazy stuff First glimpse of the Messina strait and Sicily over on the other side I can see mount Etna with a bit of fog on the top

It was such a relief to get out of the traffic in Reggio Calabria THAT was a traffical hell! People driving like mad in narrow streets… Absolutely no respect for traffic rules, cannot expect anything. After that experience it was heavenly with a quiet lunch under a tree by the beach

My hotel host in Melito di Porto Salvo claimed that Reggio Calabria has some of the most beautiful areas of Italy But after that experience through the city I felt a strong urge to move on to a more quiet place – Scilla.

Scilla is a beautiful and pittoresque small village by the sea All kinds of people come here; tourists on day trip, couples who have their wedding photos taken… …and the odd, tired cyclist from Norway

My wife and I celebrated my birthday in Scilla in 2012 when we did the long cycle trip from Brenner to Trapani With far too much food and far too much wine on a roof top terrace – very nice indeed The cyclists badge of honor: Painted with chain oil on skin

Scilla was maybe the nicest place I visited on the whole journey So I decided to reward myself with an extra night One could get used to that kind of life Even the most modest SPAR shop can make you a wonderful PANINO on request

It is a short ferry trip from Villa San Giovanni to Messina on Sicily And here she comes – good old “MF Vestfold” She used to traffic the stretch between Moss and Horten in Norway She has resurrected as “Telepass” in clear blue and yellow

One could think it is a tribute to Ukraina, but it seems she has been looking like this since 2015 And if I had any doubt about which boat I was on Not after this: “Trykk til siden for åpning” (Norwegian) “Push to side for opening”

There are a little bit too many of these roads, lots of traffic. But fortunately it is a good shoulder most places Layer on layer with roads; The old road, the new road, the Autostrada… Creative loading, it is not full before it tilts!

And here – the end of the road – ah, well…. Tricked by Mr. Bikemap AGAIN This long sand pit made me quite desperate; It was deep and heavy sand Fortunately a group of other cyclists came in the opposite direction and we could reassure each other it would soon get better Taormina looks amazing

I regret a little that I did not stop over an extra night But to be honest, now I was fed up and eager to get to the final goal: Catania New round of cobblestone hellway Those romans should have had a severe beating!

Catania is a very large city And with only one night to spend The only thing I could do was look around a bit, have dinner And, most important, buy critical necessities like duct tape and bubble wrap for packaking the bike at the aiport the day after

No wonder where all the GOOD Norwegian klippfisk/cuttlefish “Stoccafisso” ends up… Market day in Catania. You can buy almost everything from the market stalls It s not easy to get an overview and definitely not easy to manouver with a heavy loaded bike

But I managed to get a HUGE load of parmeggiano (parmesan) with my back home Bought a cycle wash – that was really needed! While myself I relaxed with a couple of “Settanta”s: Limone verde juice, soda water and a pinch of salt – refreshing!!

Then I only had to find the airport – and not the least; the correct terminal building This trip did not pass the most interesting parts of Italy, in my opinion But anyway, it was stacked with great experiences! I know myself, it will not take long before I am out there again

Bicycle trips in Italy – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!