No ticket at the toll booth

Yesterday was Sunday, our day of rest. We used it to thoroughly clean the motorhome, do laundry, and refill our water supplies. Today, we actually planned to stay longer but spontaneously decided to move on. We arrived in Vada, a few kilometers south of Livorno on the Mediterranean, in the early afternoon. Here we want to meet up with Angelika and Martin. It was only 89 kilometers—a mere stone's throw—but we now know that even short distances can have their challenges.

From our parking spot in Sant Alessio, the route took us via Lucca onto the A11 motorway. I actually wanted to take the back roads, but Google Maps stubbornly insisted on the quicker highway route. So, I let myself be persuaded and dutifully followed the instructions—until the toll booth.

I queued up, eventually reached the ramp—and had to realize that I couldn’t get a ticket anywhere. Wrong lane!

Now, good advice was expensive. No staff in sight, a queue behind me growing longer, and the car horn concert was picking up speed. I pressed all the buttons while an Italian computer voice explained something to me. I tried my luck in English—without success. And then, as if by a miracle, the barrier suddenly opened. I accelerated—and thought at the same moment: How do I get back down? I didn’t have a ticket.

“If you have a reason to complain, you must ask ChatGPT.” Lumi—that's what I call my AI—immediately calmed us. Such occurrences happen more often, she said. We should simply choose an exit with a coin machine, press the emergency button there, and explain where we had entered. Done and done—and indeed, a friendly voice responded, asked for our entry point, and finally requested us to pay 11.30 euros. Problem solved.

Now we are at the Tripesce campsite in Vada, right next to Martin and Angelika. The afternoon passed peacefully—sunshine, sea, and sand between our toes. I have booked two bicycles for tomorrow morning, no e-bikes. It's market day in Cecina, and according to Angelika, it is supposed to be the most beautiful market in Europe. The round trip is 16 kilometers—I hope I can manage that …