Strada Bianca (White Road)

  When we look at our trusty road map before a day trip, we always look for a good "strada bianca". The "white road" is almost always an adventure, one way or another.
  This can mean anything from finding the BEST YOGURT EVER, to a close encounter with near death. We are always game for whatever is in store when we venture onto one of these delights of the Italian driving experience.
  I have to thank my dear father for introducing us to the white road. My father loves to take a drive. Here, or in Italy (he is famous for getting a speeding ticket in Italy). The man enjoys being behind the wheel. He always has. As a kid, I have fond memories of driving "the long way" home from just about anywhere. The long way home from the store, winding along roads I didn't know existed in our very small town. Or once, the long way home from our family cabin.. which took us several hours through small towns along the Delta, showing me a whole new world. Just for the fun of it. To see something new. We don't get that many chances in our day to day life.
  When Johnny and I had the great good fortune of spending time in Italy with my folks in 2004, we gave up our car and let Dad drive. That is when he taught us about the wonders of the Strada Bianca. They are all over and well defined on good road maps. We like the Michelin maps. If you can't find the one you want here in the states, look for them in book stores in Italy. We went on some good adventures with Mom and Dad on that trip, and learned not to be afraid to go a little off road.
  The roads themselves are usually dirt with a cover of loose white gravel. It's driver beware, for sure.... they can turn to mud quickly. As long as you take care and have watched for weather, it's ok, most of the time. We once found ourselves way, way up a white road that kept getting steeper and narrower by the minute. At last I admitted I was getting a bit freaked out. Johnny let out a shaky sigh of relief. He had been freaked out, too. We thought the car would start sliding backwards at any moment, but were able to do a 10 point turn-around to head back down. Which was even scarier! Yikes...
  In Umbria we found some really great white roads. Nothing too frightful, and some with amazing vistas. Maybe we have learnt to be careful where and when to choose our white road adventures. Here are just a few...

  

Shot through the windshield.. near Porto, I believe.

 

This was cool, because we were up really high, and the
views were incredible. The building was abandoned, and fun to poke around.

If you EVER see a sign like this, consider it a gift, and take advantage of the opportunity.

Awesome farm fresh cheese, fresh and aged. This little gem of a place was a joy to visit.
We were there off season, and did not think it would be open. We were happy to be wrong.

The yogurt was amazingly good. We love European style yogurt, and this was the best.
They had it with  home made fruit compote, and also one with cereal. Sounds odd, but no.
 Really rich and creamy..every bite was like heaven. I wish I had some right now.

A real beauty, this one. It was near the end of the day and the light was perfect.
What I love, is the lack of "No Trespassing" signs in Italy. Always be respectful.