Day 4 and 5 chilling in the sunshine

The weather was so good here at GAU_BICKERHEIM we decided to stay 2 nights.  Then we found out our friends from the UK and usual touring group were arriving on Thursday. We decided to stay a 3rd night and recalculated our onwards journey to start on Friday.

How cool is this little hobbit house out of a big barrel? The toilet and shower are also housed in an even bigger barrel. 

Loads of friends in motorhomes means a good catch up and natter to some people which we have not seen since last year.  We are also booked  in the wine tasting event tonight! Yeah! But as Allan is driving off tomorrow he isn't drinking. Does that mean more for me? 

Tuesday 12 Sept Day 3

A bit more driving today, just 216 km into Germany and our favourite winery stop over in GAU_BICKERHEIM.  

We aim to stock up for our travels. 

N49°50'23" E8°1'19"

Monday 11th Sept day 2

We left the Canterbury Park and ride onto Dover fir our crossing with DFDS into Dunkirk. We prefer this destination as its straight into Belgium with minimal time in France. 

It's a gloriously sunny day at 22° in the UK. 

Straight into Dudelange at 32°

This is a nice little free camperstop with water, elsan and electricity. Close to the train station where all public transport is free throughout the country.

To Cyprus and more

DAY 1  Sunday September 10th 2023

Well as usual, we think we have packed everything for the trip. Then a final read of our organised tour itinerary and Allan realises that we still hadn't got any Turkish Lire  and it was cash only tolls according to our itinerary.

Luckily Asda travel money was open and I was dutifully despatched to procure toytown cash. While Allan got the van off the drive. 

OK, on our way finally to Canterbury Park and ride overnight before the ferry in the morning. Let's just hope there are no more delays.

2019 Adventure

That's it,  we have  both had enough of the news and all the politicians throwing their toys out of the pram cause then can't get their own way!  It  is time to escape the UK before the Brexit shambles implodes.

Today we are leaving via Hull, we haven't used this port before so it should be a change of view as we sail to Rotterdam.  Finally we have upgraded to an outside cabin and twin beds.  No longer attempting to climb down that awful metal ladder when half asleep to nip to the loo.  Although I admit, last time we were on the ferry, I dragged the mattress off the top bunk and put it on the floor to sleep! I am getting too old for climbing up those heights!

Tomorrow, (Thursday 5th Sept 2019) we arrive in the Netherlands to make our way on to Germany.  Our first stop though, is to the local German Lidl store.  We have 3 bags of empty cans and bottles which were bought from Germany last year and need returning and recycling.  At first I called Hubby all the tight wad names about keeping the empties for over a year. But when they were returned and I got a bottle of gin out of the proceeds I no longer complain.  It also does our bit for the planet and recycling.

I will attempt to fight technology and post daily our journey and stop over locations of people want to follow in our footsteps on tour.

tootles
Kim

It's that time again

The planning and preparing for a road trip. This time we are a bit more adventurous and are setting off on our own. We don't even have any planned meet ups along the way. At least there will be friends waiting for us when we finally get to the FICC rally in Croatia

Relaxing at Rinteln, Germany

We stopped at the Rinteln site on the way over into Poland but it was a quick overnight stay and we didnt get time to look at the town.  As the camperstop was a free site with a nominal charge for electricity and water we decided to return and explore some more.  It can be found at the coordinates N520  11' 32"  and E90 4' 42"51° 36' 25"

 The site is next to the river and over the road from an outdoor swimming and water park.

 The town is  very traditional wood based buildings and is really pretty.

Here we met the same lady with her Turkish rescue dog that we talked to at Burg and later the German van which was parked next to us at Wolfsburg parked again next to us at Rinteln.  we must all have the same routes planned!
We stayed for two night in the sunshine before we were planning heading back into the Netherlands after the weekend.

VW Autostadt, Wolfsburg, Germany

On our travels we were advised to vist the Volkswagon Autostadt in Wolfsburg.  Volkswagon have built a sort of theme park on cars.  Although we were not sure whether we were going to visit the cars or just to stay on their available motorhome camperstop for the night, it turned out to be one of the best visits of the trip.

If anyone is travelling across Germany and is heading for Berlin it is well worth the time to stop off at Wolfsburg.  Follow the VW Autostadt signs in the town and once there the Motor home night stop is signposted.  It might show on a Sat Nav POI as an amusement park.  There is free electric hook ups and water but no elsan disposal on site.  The parking only costs the same as their long stay parking which is free from 7pm to 6am and then 3E per day.  

We purchased a day pass but others went in after 4pm for a reduced rate and discounts for those over 60years and disabled. The central reception lead off to the education and renewable energy interactive section and lots of shops and restaurants.

There was a section for each make of car, this beautiful designed building housed the Porche models.

This below was a one off prototype Golf which was a mean machine for rallying

As part of the day ticket, we also had a panoramic cruise on the river boat to show the length of the manufacturing plant.  Site visits were also available

 The museum was fantastic with many old and unique vehicles.

They even have their own power plant on site!

This customised beetle had gold paint, rhinestones on the bumper and chrome and a pink damask interior.  It was definitely pimped!

Even this bike housed a V8 engine!

The view of the storage towers lit up from the camper stop.
One of the highlights is the musical water displays which the 10pm showing includes a laser light show.  Many locals head into the autostadt for an evenings entertainment.  It was definitely worth the visit.

Burg, Germany a bit of peace and quiet

As we couldn't wait to leave the big city behind we planned our next stop in a tiny village off the motorway heading east. Burg was quite small  but they had a lovely stellplatz in a restaurant guesthouse. We explored the village and stayed at the pension stellplatz on Thursday 22nd August.

We liked this town as it had its very own Adria Cafe.  It made us feel at home from our Adria van.

it may only have been the local post office but it was an impressive building.

Our own personal parking space! peace and quiet at last.  Well it was peaceful until we heard and tracked down the woodpecker in a tree!

Later another little van turned up with a lady who was touring with her dog. The dog was a lovely black shaggy thing which took a liking to Allan and refused to move from his feet after being petted up. We were told it was a rescue dog from Turkey; it obviously ignored instructions in every language.

Up to Berlin, Germany

We left our little convoy on Monday 19th August in Krakow.  John and Chuck still have another few weeks to spare but we have to get back to the UK and our ferry was booked.  They were wandering off to the Czech Republic but we decided to head off alone back into Germany.  I think we needed time to learn the ropes and adjust to the touring lifestyle by ourselves.  Our main task was to get out of Poland without a working sat nav, but we we were heading straight up the motorway toll roads it wasn't too difficult.  I was wondering what other drivers were moaning about the state of the roads in Poland until I took the main motorway.  The road north was new with obvious rest places built and gantries for tolls.  However on the southbound side, the road was in original distressed concrete blocks with weeds and holes every metre.  No wonder everyone was complaining.  we had found a few unusual road surfaces in our travels from brand new under construction roads, to ones with 2m x 3m holes down 4inches to the bedrock but not coned off so drivers were having to try and swerve around the extreme potholes.

 Our first stop was just over the border in Germany in a little village of Dobern.  We had found the site in the Bord Atlas at co-ordinates N51° 36' 25" and E14°  36' 43" this turned out to be a lovely little stellplatz where we were the only one parking there.  The small site had electricity water and showers and a very friendly owner of the village guesthouse who made us very welcome all for 8Euros.

After relaxing there for the night we set off again the next morning for Berlin.  our first impression was not good.  As we dropped off the motorway into the centre of the city to find the stellplatz, half a dozen young men jumped out at the traffic lights and squirted a liquid at the van.  They smeared the liquid over the screen in the pretence of washing the windscreen.  They banged on the windows and tried the cab and habitation door handles to try and get in demanding money.  After all the journey through Poland where people were warning of incidents we had no problems and were made welcome.  Only in Berlin were we accosted.  We tried to find the site recommended in the centre Mitte but as all the roads were dug up with major building works and one way systems were in place we soon gave up and headed off for the next overnight stop at Spandau.  What a bleak site that was! as they were charging 15Euro per night there were very little facilities and they charged extra for the showers and water.

The local M45 bus took us into the centre of Berlin into the Zoo Gardens bus station and from there we boarded the sightseeing bus tour.  While the tour was interesting and there were some lovely historical buildings, we really didn't like Berlin and couldn't wait to get out of the big city.

 The last Russian border

 remnants of the Berlin wall showing the East side Gallery of world renowned artists

 The Brandenburg gate

 ...and finally after putting up with the sights of Berlin, a hard earned beer or two  in the local beer garden.  Well if that was Berlin we have seen it and its time to go.... other places to see.

Sunday 18th August 2013 Krakow

Today its a chill our day in the van. We are still at the camping Clepardia site in Krakow and as its so hot we have done the washing and planned our next stop overs and routes.

Tomorrow we leave the site early and part company with our little convoy. As we have to be back in England for that dreaded four letter word WORK.

Our friends are continuing the journey over to the Czech city of Prague before heading back up through Germany. We have to go straight into Germany on Monday so we can have time to visit places there.

The free wi-fi on the site is quite good and we have completed the planning. But now its time for a beer and a relax in the sun.

Saturday 17th August visiting the Salt mines.

After much deliberation whether to drive in the van or catch the local buses we decided to just go on the local tourist trip. At that time we found out that the trip was not really suitable for disabled access in the small bus and also with the guided tours. Doreen decided to stay and visit the local lido as it was so hot. Once we had undertaken the trip ourselves it was really not wheelchair friendly. We were so glad we didn't attempt the trip by local transport as the driver arranged everything for us. It was absolutely amazing and highly recommended for anyone in the area.