Summary
4,500 miles 13 countries 7.5 weeks
Day 52 - Dartford to Swindon
Woke to a very showery day and drove to Dartford (which has no parking for Motorhomes in any of the car parks) and parked on a side street. Met Henry for lunch in Pizza Hut - good to catch up with him again. Sat in the foyer of the theatre with coffee and then watched him in the matinee of the Osmon...
Day 51 - Calais and Canterbury
Woke quite late after an uneventful night in our free parking lot. Drove the 2 hours from Ghent to Cite Europe in Calais to do some last stop shopping in France. Not great value. Then booked our rip-off ferry - don't leave it to the day to book! Quite a choppy crossing on Irish Ferries but good seat...
Day 50 - Ghent
A long drive! Left Stuttgart at 8 and drove over 350 miles, arriving at Ghent at 3:45. Parked up in a leisure centre car park and rode the bikes the few miles into Ghent along well laid out cycle routes. A beautiful centre to the town with canals, old buildings and trams. Cycled around for a while a...
Day 49 - Stuttgart
Left our site around 9:30 and drove 4.5 hours to Stuttgart – quite a good drive because it was a Sunday. Parked up at the campsite and then cycled into the Bad Cannstatt old town for a look around before cycling into Stuttgart’s historic centre. A nice ride through parks and then stopped for a mulle...
Day 48 - Koenigssee
Woke to a very foggy morning so waited until the sun burnt through the clouds and then caught the boat on Koenigssee to St Bartholomew. Has a shortish walk around part of the lake. Then back to the starting point on the boat. Stopped for lunch in the Motorhome and then cycled in to Berchtesgarten...
Day 47 - Slovenia to Germany
Left our lovely campsite after feeding the camp cat and headed out through the valley and then up over the Julian Alps to the Italian border. Stopped for breakfast near a lake and then down to Travisio to pick up the motorway into Austria. Shopping in Villach and then onwards to Berchtesgarten in Ge...
Day 46 - Kobarid
A lazy day. It rained all night and most of the morning, so didn’t leave the Motorhome until early afternoon when we walked up to the town and had a look around, did some shopping and sent a postcard to Zoe. Town is very seasonal and was almost deserted in the autumn break between summer and winter...
Day 45 - Soce
Had a good night's sleep and the promised rain didn't arrive (until the evening), so we headed out to Soce Gorge. A very narrow but very deep 1.5km gorge with water thundering through it and a very narrow path running next to it. Had a cup of coffee next to the river after the walk and then drove to...
Day 44 - Tolmin Gorge and Kobarid
Left the site and drove an hour or so to Tolmin Gorge. A river has dug out a deep gorge with clear water. The sun came out and we had the place almost to ourselves. Stopped in a Hoffer supermarket afterwards and spent too much on junk. Then drove to our campsite in Kobarid (scene of a lot of heavy f...
Day 43 - Plitvice
Left Zadar and drove an hour and three quarters to Plitvice. Spent about 5 hours wandering the different lakes and waterfalls. Started at the top lakes (via shuttle bus) and then took the boat to the lower lakes and the “big” waterfall. Very spectacular and sooo much quieter than when we came 12 yea...
Day 42 - Zadar
Woke to sunny weather after the last 2 days of rain. Cycled into Zadar and had a wander around the old town and gardens. Stopped at the Sea Organ which generates harmonic notes based on the movement of the waves in the harbour - very nice. Then back to the campsite and a couple of hours lying by the...
Day 41 - Bosnia to Zadar
Left our campsite around 8:30 and drove out of Bosnia, stopping for petrol and some breakfast Burek. Then a long motorway drive all the way to Zadar with some very strong winds which blew the Motorhome about quite a bit. Our large campsite in Zadar upgraded us to a pitch near the sea and also gave u...
Day 40 - Mostar
Had a good night's sleep on our secluded campsite and then caught a lift with the site owner into Mostar. Strange place - a mix of religions (Catholic and Muslim) so many memories of the civil war (ruined buildings and shell holes in many structures) and still the feeling that a lot of the people ar...
Day 39 - Dubrovnik and Kravica
Left our lakeside camping before 7am (after skimming a few stones) and drove over the border back into Croatia. Parked up in Dubrovnik so we could walk the city walls. Great views over the old town and harbour and out to the sea where we kayaked a couple of weeks ago. Left the car park (where the ba...
Day 38 - Perast
Left our campsite after a chilled 4 nights (could have spent longer) and headed off homewards. Stopped in a supermarket near Kotor to stock up on supplies (Beer) and then drove to Perast which is a lovely town on Kotor Lake (€12 per hour parking in summer). Had a nice coffee by the lake and then dro...
Day 37 - Buljarica
Another day chilling on the beach after catching up on some marking and emails for HH. Finding it hard to build stone towers more than 10 pebbles high. More practice needed. Then had another meal in our local restaurant (with cats) and tried the chef's special - a ton of meat basically! Very nice.
Day 36 - Petrovac
Woke early thanks to still being an hour ahead on time with the clocks going back. Decided to walk to Petrovac beach this morning. Over a couple of headlands and two other beaches. The water was incredibly clear and saw lots of fish and other sea creatures. Also lots of fruit trees - pomegranates, s...
Day 35 - Buljarica
Spent the day on the beach and doing some more laundry. Cats around again and another cloudless sky.
Day 34 - Podgorica to Buljarica
Had a leisurely morning sitting by the river watching birds and having breakfast outside. Then drove to Podgorica airport to let the girls catch their flight back to Gatwick - sad to say bye but will see them again soon. Stopped at a supermarket for supplies and then the short drive back to the coas...
Day 33 - Lake Skadar
Left Budva and the cats for a short drive to the Lake Skadar region. A brief stop in Sventi Stefan to look at the view and then through a tunnel to Vranjina and our campsite next to a river. Took a two hour boat trip on the lake to look at the wildlife and plants -saw cormorants, egrets, coots and a...
Day 32 - Budva
A reasonable night’s sleep and woke to another sunny day. Decided to walk along the sea front, through the old town of Budva and to the beaches to the west of the town. Nice beach with few people and calm waters. The ladies all swam and as everywhere else, there were loads of cats roaming around. Sp...
Day 31 - Kotor and Budva
The wind picked up during the night, so had to get up at 7 to wind in the awning. Left the campsite and drove to the Montenegro border – stamps in all passports and vehicle documentation checked. A windy very speed-limited drive around the lakes to Kotor. Had a walk around the beautiful old town whi...
Day 30 - Dubrovnik
A leisurely breakfast and then the 11am boat into Dubrovnik in order to go Kayaking. Picked up a Borek (pastry tube around a filling) and then got kitted out for the kayaking. The journey took us around Lombak island, into some caves and then finally onto a beach so the girls could have a swim/dip a...
Day 29 - Dubrovnik
Left the campsite a bit late and picked up Steph from a bus stop at the airport. Then the 5-hour drive to Dubrovnik. Lots of windy roads next to the sea with loads of small towns where the speed limit dictated our progress. Caught a bit of the motorway and then passed through orange groves just befo...
Day 28 - Trogir
Sammie and Zoe landed in Split airport and caught a taxi to the campsite in the morning - good to see them both. Spent the day chilling by the Motorhome and then lying on the beach with Boz and Zoe floating in the Adriatic Sea. Boz and I then cycled into Trogir to have a look around the old town whi...
Day 27 - Skradin to Split
Rode the bikes back to the waterfalls (it is open this time) and wandered the 2km of trails around the falls. Crystal clear waters with lots of fish. Rode back to the campsite to pack up and then headed to Sibernik to do some shopping (beer and bread). We then drove the coast road to Trogir (lovely...
Day 26 - Trieste to Skradin
A lot of driving! Left Trieste after a surprisingly good night's sleep. Crossed into Slovenia and then into Croatia and made good progress down the mostly empty Motorways. Planned to stop near Zadar but were feeling OK, so drove further to Skradin. Nice campsite but the falls were closed by the time...
Day 25 - Dolomites to Trieste
A day of driving mostly. Left Miseria and drove more windy roads, stopping briefly for breakfast in a layby. Then carried on until Udine where we stopped at a Carrefour to get supplies and wandered the aisles for an hour. Then drove on to Trieste for a whistle stop bike ride around the centre, picki...
Day 24 - Tre Cime
Woke after a slightly disrupted night when the Gas bottle ran out at 1:30 in the morning. Changing a gas bottle by torch light is not easy. Drove up to Tre Cime nice and early and had a full English breakfast overlooking the valley in glorious sunshine. Then did the walk around the three columns – B...
Day 23 - Dolomite passes
Left the Western Dolomites and headed over three passes and through Vaal Gardena – Sella Pass (2218m), Pordoi Pass (2239m) and Falzarego Pass (2105m). Loads of hairpin bends and glorious mountain scenery. Stopped at Falzarego to catch the cable car up to Cinque Torri (Five peaks). It was bleak at th...
Day 22 - Dolomites
Drove an hour to Zans Alm to do the Adolph Munkel walk. A beautiful circular walk of about 4 hours with the backdrop of Dolomite peaks for most of the route. Glorious sunshine accompanied the smell of pine trees. Stopped 2/3 of the way round for a beer at an alpine restaurant. Speaking to a German f...
Day 21 - Dolomites
Left Verona early to ensure we could get a spot at the next campsite. The road up seemed to be flanked by never ending orchards and vineyards. Arrived at 10am in Sieser Alm and got a good pitch with a balcony above and a close view of the Dolomites. Took the bus to Sieser Alm Cable car and rode the...
Day 20 - Verona
Caught the bus into Verona (free as driver couldn't be bothered) and started our tour at Castelvecchio. Loads of old sites to see, mainly from Roman, 14th Century and 16th Century. Saw the Roman bridge, Arena, Duomo, numerous Piazzas and other churches. Also joined the tourists at Juliet's balcony (...
Day 19 - Chapella to Verona
Left the beautiful campsite in Chapelle and drove to Verona – a 5-hour slog. Passed over the Bernina pass at 2300 metres which is the same pass that we went over in a train on our InterRail trip in 1986. Dropped down into Tirano (Italy) where the train drives in the middle of the street. Then climbe...
Day 18 - Swiss National Park
Woke to find it had been a very frosty night and fingers crossed, the Motorhome plumbing had not frozen. Set off on a long walk into the Swiss National Park. A lovely walk alongside or above the river through pine forests. Ended up walking 14 miles and ascending over 400 metres to just over 2000m in...
Day 17 - Lorcano to Chapelle
Packed up and left the site near Locarno. Drove the 3.5 hours over two passes to the Swiss National Park. San Bernadino Pass was a mix of single lane and dual carriageway, so not too bad. Then the Julien Pass with many hairpin bends which topped out just shy of 2300 metres. Good weather again allowe...
Day 16 - Locarno
Had a good night's sleep and didn't set off on the bikes until around 11am. Cycled about 7 miles into Locarno along bike lanes, past tiny highland cows and the lake shore. We parked the bikes and walked up the long flight of stairs to Madonna del Sasso, passing the stations of the cross and a funicu...
Day 15 - Lenk to Locarno via Susten Pass
Left Lenk (could have spent another day) and headed off via Interlaken (again). Took the windy road up to the Susten Pass (road completed in 1948) which tops out at 2200 metres. Quite a drive with amazing views of peaks, glaciers and rivers. We were blessed with great weather and stopped for a coffe...
Day 14 - Lenk
Rode our bikes for 5km to Simmenfalle to see a waterfall. Then walked up an average 18% incline for 2 miles to Siebenbrunnen which is where 7 springs emerge from the cliff face and form the river that flows down the valley past Lenk. Lots of mushrooms and berries an waterfalls on the way up and down...
Day 13 - Lenk
Left Tasch at 7am so we could get to Lenk in time for first cattle parade. Got slowed down by having to wait for transporter train for 35 minutes but got to our campsite, connected the electric and got into town just in time to see first parade at the Alpine Festival. Great decoration on the cows an...
Day 12 - Zermatt
A long day of walking. Caught the train to Zermatt and then switched to the cog railway up to Gornergrat at 10,000 feet. Brilliant blue skies and no wind meant it was almost t-shirt weather under the strong sun. Walked down to stations via the little lakes which show a reflection of the Matterhorn....
Day 11 - Grindlewald to Zermatt
Left Grindlewald on another clear morning with the aim of getting to Zermatt for a half-day walk. Sat Nav directed us into the mountains south of Spiez until we reached a railyard where we had to put the Motorhome on a train for a tunnel ride from Kandersteg to Goppenstein - weird. Then south again...
Day 10 - Grindlewald
Woke to another clear and sunny day. Legs definitely aching from yesterday’s walking. After breakfast we walked half an hour to the Eiger Express cable car and took this up to Kleine Scheidegg, crossing in front of the North face of the Eiger. From here, the 110-year-old tunnel is the route for the...
Day 9 - Luzern to Grindlewald
After stopping at ALDI for Beer and Bread, we drove through numerous tunnels via Interlaken to our campsite in Grindlewald. Luckily, they had spaces and we have a pitch with view of glaciers and snowy peaks. Took the gondola to the top of the First cable car – we were here 20 years ago with the four...
Day 8 - Luzern
Had a lie in until 10am and only woken then by the leaf blowers clearing leaves off the campsite. Caught up on chores and then rode the bikes into Luzern and out the other side to Hergiswil. Then carried on to Stansstad and took pictures outside the hotel we stayed at when I was 10. Rode on along a...
Day 7 - Liechtenstein to Luzern
Woke early after a good night's sleep and managed to get the Motorhome off the very wet pitch without too much bother. Drove an hour to Zug which is the richest Canton in Switzerland. Looked at the market, the shore line walk, some owls and kookaburras in an aviary and then walked the old town. Very...
Day 6 - Liechtenstein
A good night's sleep and we woke to non-rainy skies! A nice view over Switzerland from the Motorhome. Visited reception to sort out Wi-Fi, etc. (very helpful) and then cycled along the Rhine into Vaduz. There was a monthly market open but everything very expensive so limited ourselves to a postcard...
Day 5 - Munich to Liechtenstein
Got woken in the night by late arrivals and at 7am by noisy, inconsiderate Italians who I ended up shouting at – why are Italians so loud? Drove to an ALDI to stock up on stuff before the expenses of Switzerland. Drove to Neuschwanstien and had a kip before we walked up hill to castle and took pictu...
Day 4 - Munich
Caught the train into Munich and did a tour of the Old Town. Lots of interesting building and then went into the Residenz which was the palace complex of the old Kings of Bavaria. Lots of the rooms/contents were marked as not original because they were destroyed in bombing in WW2. Then got postcards...
Day 3 - Ulm and Oktoberfest
Got woken a few times in the night by the sound of rain on the roof of the Motorhome. Breakfast and topping up with water before heading off to Ulm. Walked up the 400 steps to the mid-point of the minster’s steeple – the minster is the tallest church in the world (according to them). Ulm old-town is...
Day 2 - France to Germany
Had a good night’s sleep in France and were woken by a Cockerel. Lots of chickens outside the Motorhome waiting for brunch. A long day’s drive ahead. Stopped in an “aire” for a snack and quick kip, then on to Luxembourg where we took up 4 parking space in a car park. Cycled into the Centre and had a...
Day 1 - Swindon to France
Started the day by repacking the Hjälpande Händer trailer and returning it to it's storage at the farm. Then put the bikes on the back of the Motorhome, checked we'd packed everything (probably forgotten something), said goodbye to Colin and Scruffy and set off into the unknown. Boz drove the 3 hour...