Cagliari (Sardinia: The Eastern Coast)

Pyxis
Karen & Richard
Fri 27 Feb 2009 00:00

Friday 27th February – Cagliari (Sardinia: The Eastern Coast)

39:12.064N 9:07.510E

 

This morning we were up early and off into town to pick up a hire car for the weekend; we have decided to explore the north of Sardinia by car.  Today the weather was bright and sunny with blue skies, though the wind was quite brisk.

 

We joined the main road that runs up the eastern side of Sardinia, the ‘Orientale Sarda’ (SS125).  Recently a new dual carriageway has been built over parts of the route but the old road remains slow and winding and incredibly scenic.

 

En-route; the tanker blocking the way

 

Our first stop was at Porto Corallo, a marina we might have been to visit if we were travelling by boat.  The place was miles from town and deserted at this time of year; there were plenty of spaces in the marina.

 

Porto Corallo; the marina

 

On the way to the marina, as we passed through Villaputza the nearest town, we noted an unusually heavy police presence along the way; something was going on.  As we drove back from the marina and came to the junction with the main road, we were stopped by the police waiting on the corner.  The friendly officer said that the road was now closed and we thought he said we might have to stay there for two hours.  I was a little panicked by this but luckily we had misunderstood, he had meant we could be there until 2 pm – fortunately, after a only a few minutes, what we think must the ‘Tour de Sardinia’ cycled past followed by their support cars – very impressive.  We were soon on our way after the short distraction.

 

‘Tour de Sardinia’

 

We then travelled north and stopped for a late lunch at Arbatax near Tortoli – we stopped by the marina there (spot the theme) and had a picnic on the harbour wall looking out over the marina to the mountains beyond.  There was a bit more life in the marina than at Porto Corallo and it had some serious travel lifts for Richard to gaze at.

 

On the road; views from Arbatax

 

Arbatax:  Travel-lifts at Arbatax; Lunch with a view

 

After lunch we drove on up the coast towards Dorgali.  The road took us over and through the mountains - the scenery was stunning.  The winding 39 mile stretch between Baunei and Dorgali is probably the most spectacular and was hewn out of the rock by Piedmontese coal merchants during the mid-1800s.  The traffic was very light and we didn’t meet much else on the road so we felt free to stop where and when we liked for photographs.

 

There are always roadworks; ‘High on a hill was a lonely Goatherd…’ ; Yes, we parked anywhere

 

Baunei in the distance on the hill; View from the road – it’s a long way down

 

Passing through Baunei, perched high on the hillside

 

Through the mountains

 

Goats by the roadside; Colourful cliffs

 

At Dorgali, as it was getting late, we cut inland a short way to find the motorway and drove the rest of the way to Olbia, almost at the top of the island, with the last of the light. 

 

On the way to the motorway we approached a junction where a shepherd was herding his sheep.  We were amazed at how well trained the sheep were; they lined up precisely along the edge of the main road as if they knew the meaning of the white line.  They waited until the shepherd called them and then all trotted across to him.

 

On the white line; Crossing the road

 

It was dark as we drove round the ring road and to the hotel.  After checking in, we had a drink and collapsed exhausted.

 

© Pyxis 2009