Summer 2014 5th May to 15th October. UK and Europe.
A summer of 2 halves.
Fuller details are given on the other pages.
We arrived in UK on Mayday Monday 5th May, and collected our motorhome, which I will now call Lucy (the Lunar).
Part 1 UK
Minor hassle in that the leisure battery was flat. I was very keen to get a solar panel fitted anyway and we managed to find a mobile fitter in Liverpool. He supplied both the panel and MPPT controller I wanted so we drove up on the Thursday and he duly fitted the panel on Friday 9th. Having driven northwards we continued on to Scotland. There are many advantages here..The scenery, the ability to wild camp, the lack of traffic and more. This all worked out well and we included in our tour a Motorhome meet at Brin Herb Nursery near Inverness. The weather was not brilliant but the meet was. we met some lovely people and the food sharing arrangements were very good. We also visited then Yorkshire dales at the same time as the Tour de France. No inconvenience, we stayed 3 nights at Riiblehead Viaduct.
Then on to Mirfield near Bradford in order to get our Gas system changed to GAS-IT. The company were very helpful and actually fitted it all when we just called in to check all was OK. This now meant that we could go to Europe and get gas.
Also LPG works out about 1/3 the price of "Calor" and is good in that we can topup anytime and both bottles get filled.. We then went to Whitby where I met up with a university friend and his wife. It was their 40th wedding anniversary ( almost to the day ) and I was their Best Man ! We then returned to the Maidenhead area for our visit to London to arrange my Thai Visa.
Part 2 Europe.
Having secured my visa it was off to Europe. We prefer the train but it was fully booked to we got a ferry for £88. We have the easy journey to Dover (2 hrs) for the ferry at midday and we stayed in our "Calais campsite". Fill up with diesel at the local Carrefour and the on through Belgium to the Mosel area. Lots of good and reasonable camping here. Next to near Fussen and the "Fairytale Castles" all very pleasant. Austria was next and a lovely camp at a pension for 1 night before travellng on to the Tirol. We took our time here before moving further East toward Vienna. Here there was an excellent Stelleplatz with easy access to the "metro". A longish drive followed as we made our way into Hungary Crusing along the Danube for a few days before heading east to Estergom and then the Railway at Lillafured. Very good Spas and campsites ok (except 1)..Romania was next and we crossed the border after a journey on deserted roads. No hassle at the border and into Satu Mare to get cash..a nightmare nowhere to park. So we drove on and found a bank in a small town and ventured firther into rural Romania. All very pleasant horse and carts little traffic, market stalls on the side of the road. One night in a "spa" resort (OK) and then to the Turda Gorge. Very nice here and 2 night "wilding" in a grass carpark again the City Cluj Napoca was no good for parking. Romania driving is "Sporting" to say the least but simple care and constant mirror checking should avoid accidents. We next stayed at Garbova a Dutch run pension/camp very nice withe the excellent village of Calnic nearby. Then a short distance to Saliste a very nice local run site and then a medium drive to Doua Lumi another Dutch run site. Next on to Sighisoara a lovely town with a centrally located and adequate campsite so 2 days here. We then headed towards Viscri (UNESCO site) the main road was good but the local road in was a very rough and multi pot-holed affair 1st or 2nd gear for about 40 mins. Viscri itself was very nice and with local articles for sale. The road out was better and then a good road to Brasov and then Zarnesti. Our camp here was a touch difficult to find but well worth it. A lovely campsite with a very helpful local owner. We visited the Bear Sanctuary nearby .. both very sad and yet heartwarming at the same time. We the drove over the hills to Curtea de Arges the early road was lovely but after Campalung not too much interest. We stayed in the area for 3 nights before moving west. Little camping and tedious but not difficult roads. One night in a wild camp before a very long drive to Sarmizegetusa.... and 2 nights in Zamolxe. All OK but this was now typical ....simply not very interesting and difficult camping..We drove on to Timisoara hoping to stay there for 2 nights but simply not comfortable so we left Romania in a bit of a rush. The journey back through Hungary was more pleasant but we were handicapped by bad weather and wet campsites so we only camped for 8 nights before heading to the comfort of Austria and the Germany. Many good stelleplatze and north via the Moselle
We stayed 3 nights at Le Pont d'Oye near Calais..simply very nice.... little bar and cafe on site.
Back to Maidenhead and Stroud Farm Holyport from 5th to 15th October.. Met up with family and friends but by now too late in the year (too dark early too cold). Must remember and leave for Thailand by 21st September in future !