Italy Day 2 – Abbasia Collemedio Resort
Our home for 3 nights is the Abbasia Collemedio Resort. A former Abbey in the Umbria region. Fantastic place with great views and excellent food.
We started the day today on a round trip to Castelluccio di Norcia on Mont Vettore. We were gone all day travelling up to 2000 meters and almost up to the snow line.
Fantastic, great roads!
We met sheep and lots of sheep dogs at work. Not the most friendly apparently.
Some of the UMN group did an unscheduled run to a tiny village after half the tour went on 1 exit and half on the other in a round about.
The weather cooperated until lunch then we had about 15-20 minutes of rain until tops could be lowered.
A fantastic lunch at 2000 meters in a town with heavy earthquake damage. Blue Strada Tours paying all the meals as part of the total fees.
We are the first tour here of the touring season and the cars have a bit of storage glitches. They very responsive and are getting service done to not affect touring.
The roads are unbelievable! The Miata’s are built for this! Our club is doing well and the enthusiastic chatter is amazing.
Today I drove an automatic RF, another first, and now I know what Holly is talking about! I drove the 124 Abarth which was a fun car; 170 hp, 1.4 L turbo and a snarling exhaust. It is my favorite so far.
An avid Miata enthusiast and Underground Miata Network member.
Today we started in the Tuscany region and traveled cross-country on our way back to Rome. About an hour into the journey, we stopped for our first bio-break when a message came over the radio: “I think I left my phone at the hotel.” The voice, of course, belonged to the recently underwear-less Tom Montor. […]
Today was another beautiful day. It was 7 degrees when we get up but 29 degrees by Lunch time . We started early today to get ahead of the Labour Day weekend crowds – May 1st is a National Holiday in Italy. As per the norm – we switch cars each day. Today was our […]
Today was an early start so we could get ahead of the crowds and we headed to San Gimignano, a world heritage site that once was the “Manhattan of Italy”. It was a Center where taxes on goods were paid. Towers were the name of the game here! 72 Towers once stood on the site and […]
April 30, 2026
Driving Tours
We left the Collomedia resort and drove roads better than tail of the dragon! It is better because there is minimal to non-existent traffic. Early start! Today’s roads were unbelievable! Switchbacks and hairpin turns were the order of the day. Nausea was real as cars shifted back and forth with so many turns where the steering wheel […]
April 29, 2026
Driving Tours
Day 3 was a circle route visiting. Leaving the Collomedia resort travelling through Umbria region and the day was filled with amazing routes through spectacular scenery! The Afternoon was spent a local Karting track where the group held Kart racing competition. Ladie’s Cup was won by Bob Gauthier-later disqualified in gender testing 😉 . Suzie made a daring pass […]
April 27, 2026
Driving Tours
As excited children are unwrapping a gift, the UMN members were taken by limo from our spectacular Rome Hotel to the Miata Garage and found out what today’s car would be. The cars that we are driving range NA, NB , NC and ND along with a Fiata and a Mercedes convertible. Cars are changed […]
September 13, 2025
Driving Tours
By UMN
Our small group of 6 cars started in Manotick at The Clock Tower. Everyone was early and anxious to get going. So, after some banter we were off to the Boat House Cafe for a great breakfast. We arrived early so it was a perfect opportunity to chatter and take some pics. Then at 10am, […]
September 5, 2025
Driving Tours
Nine cars gathered in Manotick to voyage down and participate in the Watkins Glen Heritage Grand Prix festival. Travelling down secondary roads via Clayton NY to a waterside patio lunch, we dodged rain for a while, before tops up were required. The rain finally ended and one car put their top down before deluge rain […]
July 5, 2025
Driving Tours
By UMN
Seven cars left at 8:40 on the Brockville Reverse route. The weather was excellent for top-down driving. The route went down Ramsayville Road to Mitch Owens and then to intersection where the Swan is located. From there we drove to Spencerville for a stop at the mill, on to Brockville, and a return through North […]
