Day 20 - Lake Braies & Lake Garda, Italy

27/06/2016

I woke at 5am to loud cracks of thunder followed by flashes of lightning followed by rain pounding the van roof. I was absolutely gutted, my plan was to drive 135 miles up mountain roads to see Lake Braies. I had found it on the Internet and it just wouldn't have been the same in rain. I fell back asleep and woke up pretty grumpy debating whether to make the journey, I really wanted to see it but I was doing a 250 mile round trip just for that. After breakfast I packed up the van and decided to go for it, the rain had calmed down a little and I hit the road.

Truckin' up the Dolomites slow and steady but we were still going strong!

As I was getting closer I could see signs for Lago di Braies, the excitement was incredible. I pulled into the car parking area and a parking attendant approached me asking for €5. I thought that was a lot but there wasn't a lot I could do. I handed over the money and tried to ask if it was for 24 hours, he spoke no English and I had no idea what he said but I decided I'd just stop there the night as other motor homes were parked up and looked like they had been there more than 24 hours.  

Potential camp for the night!

I walked over to the lake and it was amazing, I dug out my slr straight away and realised I left the bloody memory card in the van again! I tried taking pictures on the go pro and on my phone but it wasn't the same so I quickly popped back to the van to grab it. I cooked some lunch while I was there as I realised you can walk around the lake, but I found out the pasta was mouldy so that went straight in the bin. A few breakfast biscuits later and I was back at the lake wandering around taking plenty of pictures.

Lago di Braies, Italy

After doing a full circuit I decided not to bother staying over and hit the road to Lake Garda which was my original plan. I had seen all there was at Lake Braies so there was no reason for me to hang around. I found a camperstop a few miles away from the Lake and parked up there, it cost €17 and didn't have many facilities so I headed off on my bike to find the campsites I had found online. They looked very busy so I was doubtful I would get a spot the next day.