Joys of European Caravanning

To day is Sunny and Warm so off on a day's trip taking a picnic with us.

We left Jodl Camping at 10.10 am and drove towards Villach and then onto the 83 which goes through Villach to Arnoldstein to Italy 23 miles.  Took us 50 minutes due to traffic in Villach there is a quicker route via the Autobahn but we were not in a hurry today.

Went over the Border into Italy at 11 am just 23 miles from Jodl Camping, Alt Ossiach.  Drove directly to Tavisio  arriving in the town at 11.10 am.  Just on the Right as you enter the shopping area, opposite the Market Place there is a new carpark 60 cents an hour.  On crossing the road is the Church and Market Place is a nice outside or inside cafe for a coffee before touring around the town.  

The Information Office further down the Main Street on the right is excellent for any info you require and they will give you a map of the area and another with directions to the Fusine Lakes of which there are two the first one you can walk around and there are two restaurant/cafe's on it.  The second has a large carpark with a cafe on it and very nice Toilets.

We left Tavisio on and travelled the 6.3 miles to the second lake arriving at 1.05 pm  Height above sea level of 950 mts.had our picnic and a walk to the rocks near the Lake to take photo's.  The Lake was very much larger than last year with springs bubbling up from underneath. Due I expect from more snow falling in the winter this year.

We left the lake at 1.55 pm and took the road 54 to Slovenia going over the border at 2. 11 pm. Just 4 miles from the Lakes. Drove through Slovenia and arrived at the Austrian border at 2.21 pm just 5 miles on.  So three countries visited in 26 minutes, not bad.

We then took the Wurzenpass back to Arnoldstein, Villach, Hofer at Treffen to do some food shopping at the Western end of Ossiacher See, drove home to Jodl down the north side of the See and arrived home at 4.15 pm time for a coffee in the Cafe.  Mileage in total was 69 miles and a very nice day out.

While entering Tavisio we noticed everywhere was decorated with pink ribbon and flowers.  Decorated Bicycles were situated all over the town too.  We ask the Cafe owner what they were for and he said that tomorrow the 96th Giro D'Italia Cycle Tour was visiting the town for the 14th and 15th May.  Every time they hold this they have a different colour, this year being Rosen (Pink.)

This Trip is just a short one 27 miles there and 27 miles back.  A very nice short round trip to the top of a mountain.

Just before we left for this trip 2 British Caravans arrived so chatted and welcomed them John giving them a little help setting up and then we left them to settle in. 

You have to make for Klagenfurt on the main road from Feldkirchen and turn off to Maria Saal.  A very nice little village with a lovely church which use to be part of a Convent.  Further down the road t  Magdelanesberg is the Museum of a collection of old Farmhouses brought there from all over this area of Karnten.  It is well worth a visit.  More can be seen ofthis on last years trip and on the Austria Info. Page.

Driving on if you follow a Tom Tom Sat Nav it will take you a nice country route of which at the end you start to climb up the mountain of 1,058 metres above sea level.  At the top are wonderful views and wonderful old church and a Gasthaus name of the Gipfelhaus.  They serve excellent food at a very reasonable price.  We fancied a Coupe Denmark as you will see below.  Price €4.50. as it was warm at 20 deg C. at this height today. 

When we left Jodl Camping it was 11am and it was 20 deg.Centigrade   Set off along the Southside ofthe Ossiacher See to St.Andra through Landskron and through Villach.  Arrived at the Toll Gate at 11.35am.  Paid the Toll of €15, whic covers a car with all passengers inside.

We arrived at the Aichingerhutte  for a Hot Chocolate 11.55 am and then drove to the top carpark arriving at 12.45 pm just 24 miles from Jodl.   We had our picnic lunch with a wonderful view over the Mountains of Austria, Slovenia and Italy it is a spectacular sight.  13.5 deg at the top.  When we arrived back at Jodl on our returntrip it was a nice 24 deg. centigrade.  Very comfortable heat for us.     

We drove from Jodl at 11.45 am 18.5 deg centigrade to Feldkirchen via the back road andthen joined the main on the 94 to Liebenfels and into St Veit.  Tuning left just inside the town we drove around the noth side of the nice littlewalled town and  up through the villages of Kraig, Mellach, Pisweg on a minor road through the hills, where we had a picnic lunch 900 metres above sea level.  After lunch we motored on to Gurk where the lovely Convent and Church dominates the little town.  We stopped to watch a wedding procession make its way through the town to a local restaurant.

Leaving Gurk on the 93 we came upon a unique new Bus stop at the entrance road to the village of Zweinitz wherewe drove a few miles up through the village and up through the valley with some beautiful houses and gardens along the road.

Back on the main road we drove a few kilometers to the large village of Weitensfeld  on a trip across the hills we have done many times and always enjoy.