Sardinia 2011, day 2

Thursday, April 21st
"*********** what a view!" is the first thing K says when she sees the place in daylight. I wonder off to find the campsite, hoping to find some people or the actual site. Nobody. OK, we hide our stuff amonght trees, the brightly green tent is visible, but what can we do. breakfast, nad off we go, hoping that maybe during the day somebody will come to the site.I also send a text, asking if it is possible to camp there this day.

Walk witht he help of GPS, to Monte Ortobene, to Redentore. Journey was nice, with good view, good weather (no rain, no sun too hot). On the way there are several pizzerias, all closed and the whole place seems deserted.
From far away we see some building works on top of the hill and on arrival, with several signs indicating for Redentore, we see that the building works are around the statue. There is a sigh, saying that the work will be finished in October 2010. Lunch at 913 metres with good view.

Two men also came to see the view, but left soon. When going back, we saw several other people going towards the top.

When going back, K saw a path, thinking it might be a shortcut. As we had no hurry, we did not take it. Later, when I saw another path going up, I was determined to go and see what is there.
K thought is is just an erosion path, but I saw some footsteps. Got up and had to disappoing K who was half way down. It was the same shortcut!

Back at the tent, we saw a car. We followed it and it was the campsite owner!!!!!!!!!! We said we wanted to stay for the night and he asked what time we need to leave. Because our initial plan had been to Take bus from Nuoro at 7, and it had taken us 3.5 hours to get near the campsite, K had plans of leaving at 3. He was surprised, confused or whatever somebody might think when told something strange. he said he would not be there that early. He said it is possible to go to Nuoro in 1h.

We said we had been to Redentore statue and he said it is closed because the season had not started yet. Also, he warned us that there is only cold water.

After piching our tent, we decided to go and pay, and maybe ask about the correct way to the town or maybe where he would recommend us to go. He said he would give us a map, invited us to a stone hut and gave us espresso. He thought is is not worth going to Sassari and North coast because we would spend too much time on the bus. Maybe a good idea, what I had been thinking after I checked the bus times. We were advised to go east from Nuoro, to Dorgali and Cala Gonone and then on Saturday from Nuoro to Cagliari (because Sunday is Easter Sunday and no transport and we had already booked a hostel in Cagliari).
The village, Cala Gonone is by the sea and when we said it is too cold for swimming anyway, he said that some years ago some other Nordic people went swimming with cold weather.

He was very helpful and tried to phone to the bus company, for the bus times. but no luck. Every time I travel, I meet some friendly and helpful people, amazing!

In the evening we went for walk in a nearby park where people walk their dogs. Nice sunset from high altitude! We climbed up some rocks to see even better view. Super! So beautiful colours and two villages or towns far away in lights, with mountains blending into the warm sunset sky.
We could also see Monte Ortobene!

Back at "home", we ate our last 2 breads and 2 tins of tuna nad half a muesly baton each.

Sleeping in the tent was cold again, but this evening more scary too. He had left lights on, to advertise to everybody who happens to wonder there: here are some people! We heard steps, the dogs were barking. It was definitely humans, not my imagination. At some poiint I was thinking we should move our tent back to some hidden place out of light. Fortunately, nothing happened, maybe they were just wanderers, curious to see whet is there. I slept until 6.30.