Lake Garda

We spent the money on a campsite because it was cheaper than the sosta. €20 with the ASCI card. We got a spot on the edge of the lake although part of the lake view was covered by a falling down fence. Campsite has a nice large and free swimming pool, so I got a daily swim and sometimes a second swim. Plunging into an outdoor pool after running 5K in 30 degrees is rather nice.

Lake Garda is the largest lake in the Italian lakes, the water is a lovely turquoise colour and the back drop is mountains so rather visually pleasing but this is a built up area. I don’t know if we had gone to the top of the lake if it would have been quieter. Having said that next to the site was a 2K walk along formal grass gardens, which gave us somewhere flat to run in a morning and stroll along in the evening. We went for some cycle rides but it was mainly on roads through built up areas with glimpses of the lake through the houses, both times we gave up on the ride, the latter time just wandering around Sirmione old town instead and had the inevitable ice cream break. Much nicer were the 2 paddles we did in the kayak, where you can enjoy the full view of the lake. Alas lots of dead fish on the lake 🙁

Wildlife seen while sat at the van; mink ( I think), rat, watersnake, terrapin, crested grebes, coots, moorhens, mallards, mute swans, cormorants, sparrow, magpie, great tit, reed bunting, wood pigeons, doves. Heard – scopse owl, cuckoo, frogs. If I knew my birds I’m sure I’d have seen more.