28 July 2025 (overcast, very light drizzle at times) 80km

Awake at 5.30am, after a good sleep, but not away until 7.10am after blogging and quietly packing up a sodden tent.

Rode 7 kms back to the main road we'd deviated from to go to the camp and then followed it through to Vittorio Veneto. 

Upon entering, it looked like another village that time had forgotten, but no. It was quite scenic and we spent some time snapping before finding a supermarket, buying breakfast and eating it at a covered bench on the outskirts, next to the canal. 

From there it was a combination of quieter main roads, or small country lanes heading to Pordenone, on the way to Slovenia. 

Another donkey on the edge.

The country here is agricultural and everything grows really well, including the grapes.

Caught some spits of rain about half way, but as I write we are sitting in a little bistro having a coffee and the showers we had, have stopped.

We really need some sunshine at some point today to dry Nessie out.

Poor thing, it's like getting in the shower to have a long relaxing wash and someone shutting you in and you can't turn the water off. 

Picked up some supplies for lunch at the supermarket, next door (oh ..we don't believe in expending any more energy than we have to) and carried on our merry way.

Today's riding was a combination of main road and some great country back roads and included villages which had some very nice homes but the next two might be derelict.

Towns which were busy with industrial and commercial businesses.

The riding was flat and pleasant.

No WOW moments today.

We were in rural Italy. 

In the town of Porcia, we arrived at 12pm and spotted the local high school.

Rode on in and in a big car park in front of their gymnasium, we laid out our entire tent on the concrete.

Sweeping up the dried up dirt from the groundsheet.

The sun, when it came from behind the clouds, was hot and the concrete itself was giving off a nice heat, so it wasn't long before everything was dry for tonight.

Sat and ate our lunch while Nessie was sunbathing. Not sure what the neighbours in the very nice apartments next door thought. 

The afternoon's riding was in sunshine and not too far along we literally rode past a Decathlon store.

Julia said I had to get a new sleeping mat as I'm spending the night sleeping on the ground. Went in and found one for Euro 55. Don't know how good that will be, but it's all I'm spending.

Also asked the guy in the bike department if he'd put some air in our tyres, which he very kindly did and we set off again.

About 4.45pm it began to spit again, so we sheltered under the eaves of a closed up house to see if it would desist.

Have already done 70kms and if the rain goes off, we'll try for more, but we'll be freecamping tonight as there are no campgrounds within another 80kms.

Rain lightened, we rode on. We'd seen some great freecamping spots today, but at the time it was too early to go into camp.

Julia suggested we ask at a farm and see if they'd let us stay.

Found a lady, home on her own. Didn't speak English, so we carried on. Data right now would have been very handy so we realize we really need to get that sorted, as painful as we anticipate that will be.

Had to get on the main road into Codroipo, which was chocka busy. The rain was now steady but the cars all had their lights on, so concentration was maxed out.

On the outskirts of town, I spy a copse of trees on the other side of the road.

Firstly we had to time crossing in busy traffic and then time a discreet disappearance into the woods. 

Set up as the rain began to get heavier. It is a busy, noisy road. Julia suggested I may not sleep. "Not sleeping" is my middle name. 

Pumped up my new mat. Only just goes in the tent, but at first trial, it's better than my other mat. 

Ju here: When people ask us about free camping, Pete will always remember two camps that we had. One in either the German or Austrian Alps up an emergency vehicle ramp with an insane view of the valley below. 

The other in Austria, down a forest track where we startled some deer from a clearing, which is where we ended up camping.

He remembers the view and the deer. He doesn't remember the thick loose gravel of the emergency truck stop that we had to push our fully loaded bikes up to get to the spot with the great view. Or pushing our bikes further through wet grass to find a spot flat enough to put the tent up and getting our shoes soaked in the process.

The deer camp was pretty idyllic, but those spots are few and far between, which is why we remember them. Both of those freecamps were way back in 1989. Good freecamps are hard to find.

Anyway, back to today and I convinced Pete to buy a new sleeping mat. After riding right next to a Decathlon, who are well known for their reasonable prices, I convinced him he'll never be Jack Reacher…..he likes his milky coffee way too much. Although I did let him buy an extra large mat, which may have been a mistake as we can only just fit it in the tent.

The old Klymit mat was left unceremoniously in the bin outside as it is of no further use.

Unfortunately, now that he had his new mat, he really wanted to use it. So he was on the lookout for freecamps, I was on the lookout for an alberge or a hotel. He spied a freecamp first and with the rain setting in, I succumbed.

We quickly set up the tent and enjoyed a nice dinner of cold roast potatoes, cold sausage and a courgette and carrot salad in olive oil, followed by a lovely cup of coffee and chocolate.

The road though was very noisy and not quietening down at all. But we settled down to sleep at 8.30pm and initially were successful.

But then I heard that awful, whining. Yep, that's right, a bloody mosquito, (I know you were all thinking Pete). Having already suffered a number of bites, which keep itching for at least a week, I have been taking extreme measures to not get any more bites. This includes wearing long pants in 25C heat.

After trying to spot the little varmint to kill it, (and failing) I thought I may as well nip out for a wee while I'm awake. Went to put my foot in my sandal and squelch! That sandal flew off my foot at the speed of light, but the big squelchy slug inside clung firmly to the inner sole as though his life depended on it.

I then removed six big slugs off the various things in the vestibule and brought them inside the tent.

Found it very difficult to sleep after all that excitement and the mosquito still whining around my head, but at least, around 2am, I did manage to fall asleep. New bite count this morning? An extra four, three on my face. What is their use on this planet? I hate the blasted things.