An early start to go to the first aire to dump and
fill before heading for the ferry at Ancona. Instead of believing the
sat nav, we foolishly decided to follow the very clear signs to
Ancona via the Autostrada. We realised too late that, instead of
taking the obvious route directly south on the E55 to join the
motorway, we were directed north and then west, adding about 45
minutes to the journey! It was a good job that we had allowed plenty
of time.
When we boarded we were pleased to find that we
were put on the open part of the deck rather than under the
superstructure. It has been very warm in the last few days and we
were looking forward to enjoying the breeze as we were sailing.
However, before we sailed it was very hot in the full sun.
After lunch and a tour of the ship, which in
contrast to the poorest P&O ferry that we had ever been on,
turned out to be the best Greek ferry that we had ever travelled on.
Very well furnished, lovely lounges and restaurants and very smart
staff. Superfast Ferries and particularly the Superfast XI get our
vote.
I purchased some wifi credit and caught up with
emails whilst Jane returned to Henrietta. This turned out to be
fortuitous as just as she arrived it started to rain and both roof
windows were open. By the time I arrived, it was pouring and the deck
was awash. Then the thunder and lightening started!
It was still raining after we had finished dinner
but we picked a time of slightly lighter rain to run to the door to
the upper decks. It has become a tradition for us to have an ouzo on
the ferry over to Greece, so we went into the very smart stern bar
and were entertained by a spectacular, continuous lightening display
that often lit the sea to the horizon. When we attempted to return to
the motorhome, the deck door opened to display a torrential downpour
and a couple of inches of water on the deck. We went for another
brief tour and fortunately the rain had abated slightly so that we
only got wet and not drenched during the 15 metre dash to Henrietta.
We went to sleep with the rocking motion of the
ship, the throbbing of the engines, the patter of rain on the roof
and flashes from the lightening. We woke in the middle of the night
to the most tremendous clap of thunder above the ship and a waterfall
of rain on the roof. In all the storm must have gone on for more than
9 hours.
Photos: Leaving Ancona for Greece – Henrietta is
the Hobby motorhome on the open deck.
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