Capo Malfatano

From Chia until Port Teulada we know the way as we cycled it last year. Despite the wind we see many cyclists. We are not as tough... From Port Teulada we drive around the military zone to Porto Pino. None of the camping options which are open seem attractive to us so we only park the Bulli and check out the beach. The beach is beautiful though: Long, wide, white and with some dunes in the distance. We walk all the way to the dunes, first with a tailwind and when we turn back with a headwind...

Windswept we come back to the Bulli and decide to drive back the same way which we came. Along the way we know a place which looks suitable for camping. We detected it last year already but haven’t checked it out closer. When we arrive there are already a number of caravans parked but we find a wind protected place with a sea view. Shortly after we arrive a small van pulls up... to sell salami and cheese :-) The samples he distributes are delicious so we buy another salami and two cheeses. Even though we have dinner a bit later today we turn in even earlier...

The night was rather cool so we stay in bed until the sun has risen enough to provide some warmth. There is a cloud now and then but in the mountains there hang quite some dark clouds... the wind has calmed though. We decide to go cycling. We start in the opposite direction than last year. Along the coast the weather is fine but when we turn left towards Domes di Maria we feel some raindrops. So we turn back. The coastal road is the most beautiful stretch of this giro anyway... We cycle to Port Teulada, take a short break and go back. In the end we made 53km and 670m ascent.

We go swimming in the lovely turquoise water and have a snack of salami, cheese, olives and pan carasau. Then we go swimming once more and relax a bit on the beach. One or two beers might have been drained... ;-) Later we walk a few steps to get to the western side of the small peninsula to watch the sunset. Cooking dinner is a quick affair today as we have a packet of Sardinian risotto with fungi porcini. We just have to add a bit oil and some water.

Incredible how time flies... today is our last day on Sardinia. In the evening we are taking the ferry to Livorno. We enjoy breakfast in the sun and for a last time pack our things. When we are done we take a last refreshing swim and leave. We make it to our favorite supermarket in Pula to buy delicacies for the party we are giving on Saturday.

The sky is grey here and when we emerge from the supermarket one hour later with a well filled shopping cart everything is wet. There has been a bit of rain... We continue to Cagliari where we want to buy a few more things on the food market in the harbour. From the internet we know it is still going on. When we arrive the parking is completely full and the market is crowded. It’s a holiday today... Michael drops me off and searches for a parking while I do the shopping. The sky is overcast here as well and it’s cooler than the previous days. Everybody is staring at me as I am still wearing shorts and flip flops... well, when I got dressed it was sunny and warm! ;-) I do the shopping and finally go to Locanda Caddeu once more to get us some Focaccia for the road. A bottle of the good Barley beer also makes its way into the shopping bag... And then we are off to Olbia.

We take the SS131. After a short while the sky clears and the sun reappears. There is hardly any traffic and the drive passes uneventful. We arrive in Olbia when the sun is setting. We go to the supermarket once more as we forgot to stock up on Pampero rum and make our way down to the port where we want to park the Bulli. Masses of people are on their way into the old town and the parking is completely full... we drive a few laps and finally are lucky. At least we know exactly where we want to go and so we make it straight for Anticas Licanzias, the small restaurant we discovered last year. The kitchen opens only at seven so we order a platter with salami, cheese, prosciutto and some focaccia. It’s delicious and after such a rich starter we could not have more food anyway... but there is enough space for a gelato on the way back to the Bulli. We arrive at the terminal at about 7:45pm and can roll onto the Moby Aki right away.

The cabin is larger than on the Moby Otta and has a double bed. We take the beers which we brought and go on deck to watch the vehicles board the ferries. It’s especially interesting to see how skillfully the truck drivers maneuver their monsters on board. They have to go backwards as for them there is not enough space to turn around inside. After a while I feel cold so we go back, have a shower and go to sleep.

The night was quiet and we are being woken at about 5:15am. We take our time and when we sit down in the cafeteria the ferry is already landing. Just enough time to drink our tea and eat the brioche. Perfectly on time we are rolling off board at around 6:45am on our way back to Vienna. Later on at 1:15pm we cross the border to Austria. The end of a great vacation is getting closer.