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On a weekend in April 2025 I managed to fulfill 2 wishes I had had in my head for a long time; to take a trip in an RV and the Italian Trans-Siberian Railway in Abruzzo. More generally, I wanted to delve into a Region that I had somewhat neglected until then and where I will still return.
This in my mymaps was our itinerary done in 3 days.
I didn’t understand if I am suitable for an RV trip
For a while now I have had the idea that one day I might become a kind of slug with my little house on my shoulders, and with that travel halfway around the world (the near one) for 6 months of the year and in the other months do so by taking planes to faraway places.
Now that I have a job and my vacation days are numbered, I would consider having the RV as a constraint. It would always force me to take trips of a certain kind; when in reality I would have the goal of discovering more distant places. Thanks to a friend who has one, I have had the opportunity to experience RV travel with its merits and drawbacks.
Having said that the chemistry with her was perfect, perhaps because her RV is medium-sized while I am big and bulky, I suffered somewhat from a certain lack of space and, so to speak, freedom. In particular, I had some logistical difficulties on the first night.
After an excellent dinner, punctually I awoke with much thirst and simultaneous need to go to the bathroom. The camper is one of those with a pull-out bed from above and very little overhead space. The staircase to get down was actually better than many I have come across in hostels. In order to turn around and be able to descend with my feet forward instead of my head, after a long period of resistance, also so as not to wake my friend, I had to improvise as a contortionist, even risking getting stuck.
The Italian Trans-Siberian Railway? Better in winter
Given the lofty appellation I admit that before I left I suspected it was some kind of tourist trap. It is not, but at certain times of the year I think it is more interesting. Featured photo shows the inside of a carriage.
The Italian Trans-Siberian Railway is a rail route through the mountains of Abruzzo that starts in beautiful Sulmona, arrives at Castel di Sangro and returns on an early 20th century train. The name of this route, when it was simply local transportation, was given to it in 1980 by journalist Luciano Zeppegno. The motivation was for the isolation and landscape (in winter, snowy), similar to that of the Russian steppe.
Frankly, for isolation, I expected something more, since for the majority of the route, the railway line is flanked by a paved road, plus it passes through many towns, including the famous Roccaraso.
On the other hand, the Majella landscapes would certainly be less monotonous than those in Russia. The fact that we would make the trek in April made me hope to see snow-capped peaks and green pastures; instead we found a cloudy day. In retrospect, I think this experience, however worthwhile, may offer the best in the middle of winter, when there is almost always snow.
I ascertain that the e-bike is not for me
Now that the route is touristy, those organizing the day-long trip allow more to be added. To the inevitable, but very welcome, stop for a snack with local products; was added the entertainment of a nice trio of musicians from Abruzzo. I must say that my friend, a follower of bands playing heavy metal, was not quite of the same opinion; in this link the almost live video on tour.
That said, those carriages are not so different from some I frequented in the 1980s; as an extra, we opted for the, for me, very modern and unprecedented e-bike experience.
Passing through some beautiful woods, on the plan was to take a short ride that would take us to a hut with a nice view. But unfortunately due to an oncoming storm, we had to give it up.
We consoled ourselves with a culinary stop that was also very welcome. Aside from the fact that I punctured, as I had done a couple of days earlier with the car as well, I could see that regular bike or pedal-assisted bike, I don’t like them for riding in the mountains.
I love to walk up and down; to have time and a way, even while struggling, to be able to enjoy what’s around me. Especially downhill, where you always have to be careful, in my opinion the bike is equivalent to a little computer game. You could also be in the living room at home, so much the adrenaline would be the same, and you can’t see what you have around you except the plane and the potholes to avoid.
At the end of the RV trip, I make peace with the canoe
The weekend was the second of what I christened spring bridges with Z.
As a first stop we visited pretty Scanno. Of the many villages we have in Italy (and there are others in Abruzzo that I will visit sooner or later), it is certainly among those with the most views. After Sulmona and the Italian Trans-Siberian, the RV trip was characterized by the use of another vehicle, for which I had several problems in the past.
Thanks to my friend, an experienced and patient navigator, I can say that I have made peace with the canoe medium. However, I must admit that in the placid waters of the Tirino River, it is quite a feat to capsize. Here, too, I had a slight disappointment because from accounts of those who had already been there, and from photos circulating on the net, I expected more blue. Unfortunately, even on the last day of that little trip the sky was gray with little light.
Given the time of year, however, we could appreciate the many coots; moorhens and cute little divers. Many of these were setting up their nests or had chicks; all quite serene and not frightened of seeing us pass by.
Home set of travel On the road into central Italy, marriage proposal (Italy and Vatican)
Previous stop Hunted from restaurant in Abruzzo
Next stop Weekend in Umbria, fog in the house and naked in the street
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Countries visited in my travel stories
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
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