Lago Orta

Wednesday 16th April

Peter was up and gone well before we surfaced this morning.  5.17 it was apparently, so the first report of his progress we knew was when he was already through Switzerland and into France.  Hannah received updates of his progress through the day until 9.30 this evening, when he drove out of Eurotunnel into England - 7 countries in one day! 

We just took it easy this morning and then took the van out for a run, first to the hypermarket for supplies and then to Lake Orta, to the west of Maggiore.  It is quite a small lake in comparison, just as beautiful, but the lakeside isn't at all accessible.  We were hoping to find somewhere to park so we could find a picnic spot.  It took us till we reached the southern end of the lake before we found a place to stop and although there was a patch of grass and a beach, it was fenced off.  It was very quiet and peaceful, so undeterred, we found that a track led to a small jetty with stone steps beside it - perfect for enjoying the view and eating our lunch.  If you have managed to 'spot the difference' in our previous post, then you will see that during our time there, a girl arrived, totally ignorning us, carrying a fold-up lounger and small rucksack, who proceeded to set up her lounger, strip off to her itsy-bitsy yellow (no polka dot) bikini and plug into her Iplayer!  Emilie and Adam just carried on playing their imagination game of a shipwreck leaping 
between 3 large boulders in the water.


So far this week, Adam has managed to fall off his bike, hurt a finger, bash his hand and today - graze his knees (lots of blood involved in this one), drop his new pen (bought in Stresa yesterday) over a wall down about a meter into long grass (safely retrieved by Daddad using his extendable geocaching tool with magnet on the end) and discovered that boomerangs don't always come back - they land on top of the awning of a nearby caravan and needed Daddad again - this time using the awning wind-up pole!  Boys will be boys!

Our campsite has had a steady stream of new arrivals today.  They have filled all the front pitches by the lake - it's true they have the constant view, but we are happier in our quiet corner with just a friendly Swiss family

near us.