Day 33 March 4th 'Plain sailing' (Feltre to Cervignanno Del Friull) 130 km

On my way by 0730, always a frosty start, saying cheerio to the bemused owner before I left. Out of the mountains now and it feels good to be back on a very flat fertile plain (more vines!) heading east to Slovenia. It turns into a sunny Spring- like day but a headwind holds me back and I make a respectable but insufficient 130 km despite being on the move for nearly 8 hours. There's still another 120km to go to Ljubjlana and I know I have to climb from practically sea level here to 887m. That will take a while in the lower gears.

I take over  the town square park benchs as I air off my sleeping bag in the sun

Around lunch-time I buy perhaps my one and only pizza in Italy........overated, maybe because it was cold.

And you think I'm barking mad

Ah, that explains it.....a Juventus supporter!

I'm writing this at 3am and I can hear an industrial sized tractor night ploughing a field nearby, making the most of the fine spell. My bike charging system is not working and I'm slowly running out of power.I can't find a spot to camp, it's all open, flat and well-populated. As it gets dark the front light is not working either , barely a glimmer......what is wrong? Fumbling around in the dark trying to keep the GPS alive I lose one of my gloves on the road.....my favourite most-used pair. Damn! Got to be more careful. My morale takes a nosedive. I find a spot, wedged between a mainline railway and the road, semi hidden behind a concrete tank, but there is a spring....... plenty of water! There is a big farm right opposite which seems to be operating a night shift. I duck down as a huge tractor pulls out, headlights blazing. I pop up, only to be caught in the four spotlights on the rear of the tractor which light up his plough and furrows. I think he must have been looking where he was going.

Late afternoon sun - I've had enough - where's that campsite?

Here it is! Another railway track - mainline this time. The ground would vibrate as they passed.

......and running water!

I wash my hair before 'retiring' to bed as it was starting to look scary....will need to get it cut soon. In the freezing temperature it is a speedy affair, but effective.......morale goes up a bit. The GPS is the priority. I have to get out of this snug sleeping bag and go and get a charger cable off the bike, to suck dry the last of the laptop battery ........might as well put the kettle on for a cuppa........and refill the hot water bottle, it feels extra cold tonight, clear and starry. As I get out of the tent I stumble and fall back into it, ripping a tent peg out of the ground. I could have broken the tent poles........got to be more careful! The water container is turning to a block of ice outside so I bring it under cover.
I dig out the thermometer....-5C outside......feels colder, there's a really thick frost. Kettle's boiling, sending a plume of steam up into the night sky. These digestives aren't the real McCoy but they are dunk-able. If you are wondering why I am writing this rubbish, it is to stop the laptop going to sleep, as I'm trying to charge GPS from the USB port. I'll tell you what, I'll put you out of your misery and change the power options instead. Goodnight!

PS If you want to see my exotic camping spots on Google Earth you can zoom in here