A bit of signage wouldn't go amiss.

I feel I must speak to the Italian nation on behalf of the rest of the world when I say please concentrate on the signs that tourists might find useful particularly in the touristy places like railway stations. We do appreciate the clear English signs that say don't cross the lines in every station but that seems to be it. The central railway station in Naples has a helpful picture of a bus that in fact does lead you to the bus station but there are no pavements and you mingle with the cars, scooters, trams and buses to get to the office. Grateful to be alive you make enquiries only to be told that this is the bus station but the airport bus goes from just outside the train station. Being English you want to explode into a rage of why the hell don't you bloody well say that before I have risked my life and more importantly that of Mrs K to get here only to find this out you complete and utter nincompoop! 

But you don't. You smile sweetly and say 'oh okay thanks.' No wonder I'm on bloody blood pressure tablets. 

That was on the way back to Blighty. Our return journey was filled with hope when leaving the Airport there were numerous signs showing the way to the Alibus that takes you to the train station and the port. Sat comfortably on the bus we noted all signage had disappeared and despite asking we sat on the bus expecting it to call at the station entrance but it didn't. It stopped on the other side of the square. So failing to recognise it and failing to get off we had an impromptu bus tour of Naples we did finally return to the station and felt our way to the Salerno train platform via the 'What the hell was that all about?' Ticket machine.

Strangely it felt good to be back in Salerno and boosted by an 'Easyrider' beer, burger and chips we returned to find Hermy just as we left her. Apart from one stuck bloody seacock.

The reason for the trip home was to see Son graduate with first class honours. Living proof that hard work works. Bit late for me to discover that! Also Mrs K had an hair appointment.

Proud mum and dad.

So back on the boat and I go through my repertoire of how to deal with stuck things. Leverage, Wd40 swearing, hitting with hammer, heating up, more hitting, remember where lump hammer is, seacock freed without sinking, fantastic. I love my lump hammer. Main toilet back in use. Seacocks, you have to exercise them you know! I hate boats!

Right an expensive month so I am informed that cutting back is necessary no more extravagant 2 Euro bottles of wine its now litre boxes for less than 1.80. Also we need to do more anchoring so we slip out of Solerno marina, fuel up and anchor off the beach for the first night. Not too bad a night although had to listen to some dodgy music. Next day a lovely sail to Agropoli saving fuel.

Then we popped in to Agropoli harbour to check out the transit berths we had read somewhere that it was okay to anchor under the cliffs so we chanced our arm and did just that half expecting to be moved on but we are not. Great.

Even the ferries didn't complain.

Our view of the cliff. Nice swim too. Scraped off hermy's prop which was a bit crusty. I don't mind doing this but I do get covered in blue antifoul and come out looking like a cross between Benny Hill and an Avatar.

We had a good night and rowed ashore to explore in the morning. Although the hill was steep the Aragonese castle was lovely and entry only 1 Euro each. Quite a busy town with a nice little beach and a few water sporty things. I am surprised that Salerno and Agropoli aren't at least as touristy as Amalfi and Sorrento. I know which I prefer.

Note Hermy guarding the entrance. 

After our explore and our failure to find any gas bottles we decided to slip over to the transit quay which again was free for the first 24 hours. I think I am pleasing Mrs K but there are no outward indications of it as yet. I think it might be too hot for any pleasing at the moment. 

I continued my search for gas bottles and after some direction from the nice lady at the chandlers I was directed to an info point in town where I asked again and the young girls smiled and pointed across the road to the dirk great sign that said gas bottles in English!

Great. It was a fruit and veg shop but he took my bottle and filled it for only 10 Euros. We like Agropoli. We had a quick visit from our friends Nat and Sal who were holidaying in Naples.

Then it rained.

Mrs K has two umbrellas. She likes umbrellas!

We left Agropoli having spent four free nights there very pleased with ourselves and headed for Acciaroli. We anchored for lunch and decided to stay the night at Oligastro as the weather was settled. Acciaroli gave us fuel but said they were full so we anchored of the beach as instructed by the gasoline man who was also the harbourmaster. Not a bad spot we could dinghy in to the town for supplies and ice cream and were pretty well sheltered. Made friends with Pete and Heather and their friends on their Cat, Absolutely Magic who were travelling our way and grumbled about costs just like us but multiplied by two as Cats are huge. 

Another night anchored beneath the cliffs at Palinuro having not bothered with Camerota took us to eight nights at anchor in a row. But now short of water and food we decided to bite the bullet and go in to Scario for the night. Called Scario because of the costs of 100 Euros for the night but a nice little spot and despite the lack of signs got the shopping and laundry done.

Fully stocked and having listened to an open air concert drinking carton wine we felt that we hadn't been too badly done to by Scario. Back to anchoring!