2022 Croatia + France/Spain

Croatia - 26 April to July 9  2022

After 2 years stuck in the UK due to covid we decided to make our first trip to Europe in the Motorhome to Croatia, again! We never need much excuse to go there (but this was a good one) because Croatia was not yet in Shengen (which means the time spent there would not take away days from our allowance of 90 days within 180). We have travelled there in many ways, towing a caravan, in the camper, in an Austin Maxi and even by bicycle (without Chris), but the first time we flew there and went back packing for our honeymoon. 

We had such a bad experience with buses in the first week, we found somewhere in Omis and stayed put for the second, but the place inspired us so much that we drove back the next year in our Austin Maxi. Mind you that was not without its transport problems as the gear box started to fall apart in Northern Italy and we managed to get it half way across Germany before it fell apart completely and we had to abandon it for the AA to get it back to us a few weeks later, whist we went home by train.

But that trip was also not without its inspiration as I re-built the engine and added a recon gearbox during the winter and we drove to Italy the following year (and back) without any issues.

This time I am glad to say, we had no issues at all with the motorhome

Flachau, Austria

Lake Bled, Slovenia .Looks just the same as when we first came here 50 years ago, when it was Yugoslavia

We spend a few days up the coast from Vrsar and take a boat trip there from the camp site

Having a coffee in Vrsar

Camp site near Omis

We then moved to a site right in Omis so we could walk into town. We couldn't find the place we staid in for a week during our disastrous honeymoon here 42 years ago

Trogir, our furthest point South this trip

Campsite at Nin near Zadar

Nin, like many towns is on a small island next to the coast

Seng Harbour

Now we are in the 1st world war trenches in Solvenia in the Soca Valley

It was then the border of the Austro Hungarian Empire with Italy, where fighting continued for over 2 years without movement either way, but which took the lives of 1.7 million soldiers between 1915 and 1917,

The Command hut

The Commander

We found a secret door

For the little people

Looking over towards Italy

Camp Site near Bovec

Where we found some interesting solar powered bikes

France/Spain - 17 September to 3 November 2022

We have spent a lot of time is Spain over the last 20 years, but very little documented in the blog as we bought a house in Andalucía in 2002 and have had many flights back and forth to Malaga, Jerez and Seville (as we were equidistant from all of them). We did drive their a couple of times in the camper via Portugal, the first time in 2017, when Chris had to fly back from Lisbon  (detailed in the Nov 2017 blog) and then again in 2018 via a similar route. 

We have since sold the house (plus the camper and the Landcruiser, all within 3 months in 2020), but  still have a few friends down there and as it is 6 years since our last visit we decided it was time for another, this time driving via places in Spain we have not visited before,

 

Starting at Arras, our first time here but quite impressed (with an Aire right in the city, next to a canal). 

Next day we stopped at an Aire on the river side at L'escale de Gurgy and decided to take the tow path (about 7 miles) to Auxerre.

And stop for an omelet for lunch

Cyrano de Bergerac (in Bergerac). Stopping at a nice camp site on the far side of the river just under a mile from the center. We had lunch in the restaurant on the far side of the statue.

Avilla, second day in Spain, I have wanted to come here for a while. Ruby pulled the lead out of my hand and ran up to the top of the bank, towing her lead, and sat below the wall and waited for me! (and it is a bloody steep bank. Chris decided to go back, whilst I walked Ruby round the outside of the wall and the heavens opened just as we got to the furthest point, we got soaked (unlike France none of the bars would me in with Ruby!)

Alcazar de San Juan - Don Quixote and Pancho

Campo De Criptana 

An impressive row of Windmills

With a small castle at the end

Back to Alcazat de San Juan

Wher the whole town is devoted to Don Quixote, wit various metal statues

and Mosaics

Then a stop at Coripe, which is in the middle of a Via Verde, which have ridden before but its always well worth riding again. This one was built in Franco's time, it has around 30 bridges 12 tunnels and 5 stations, but was abandoned before they laid any track.

Then on to Jemira de Libar (just down the road from Cortes de la Frontera, where our house was. We met Paul and Synnove (in picture) at the bar at the station in Jemira de Libar not long after we bought the house. A year later they moved up from the coast and took over running the bar. They made quite a name for themselves by putting on some terrific Music Festivals that people would travel for miles on the train to get too. They were also both avid walkers but Paul has had to give up the bar and walking because he has Parkinson's, but still organizes and promotes the Festivals

Not far from Biarritz, almots November so getting chilly now, but still warm when the sun is out.

Then along the beach

 Walk was a bit longer than we thought so time for a well earned kip.

 

2021 - Starting Again From Scratch - 7 Weeks in Scotland

 August 2021, Covid is hopefully over, we have had our inoculations, Ruby has been with us for over a year, we have had a few days here or there in the Motorhome, so its off for our next adventure. It is a long while since we have been to Scotland so off we toddle.

Ruby settled into to life on the road immediately, lying on her mat between the seats (secured by a lead which has a handle halfway up that we secure to the passenger arm rest). She is asleep as soon as we set off, will sit up when we stop at traffic lights but goes back to sleep if we set off again, but once I switch the engine off and apply the hand break, she is up and raring to go, with a bark or a howl if she feels we are not moving quick enough.

We took her bed with us and when we got home bought her a new one so that we could keep this for the motorhome, but in winter it sits under my desk in the office and she often comes up and lies in it when I am working and occasionally sleeps in it if she wants a change.

We start our trip with a pub crawl to Scotland, preferring not to drive more than 3 hours per day if we can help it, it takes 4 days to get to Scotland, having dinner in each one to make life easier. They wouldn't allow Ruby in one, so they delivered our meal through the motorhome window!

On our second night Sarah and Vicky joined us and also slept in their van in the car park.

The plan was to do the East Coast first (as we had never been that way) but as we approached the forecast was poor, but excellent in the West, so we changed plans and headed west, stopping first in Kinlochleven. The site is half way up that lock and we got a spot right on the Lock side, so our one night stop was extended to 3, and when we realised that it was a bank holiday weekend (and the weather was fantastic, so all sites would be full) we extended for a full week (and got 1 night free!).

We finally dragged ourselves away and headed up to Scourie, where we stayed for 3 days, before heading across to Dornoch, where we stayed for 4 days. We then headed along the North East Coast staying in 2 car parks and a pub. before stopping for 4 nights in Portsoy. 

From Portsoy we moved slowly down the coast to just outside Dundee, before a 4 hour drive to the border. From here we struggled to find a site with room, so stopped in another pub carpark and finally found a pitch at a site just north of York, so stayed there 3 nights and then drove straight home.

1,700 miles over 41 days and Ruby was perfect.

Not long after getting into Scotland we see the Kelpies, 30m high, so we have to stop for a visit.

Then we find a Sculpture Park at Crianlarech

We take a trip up the side of Kinlochleven and find this campsite half way up and find a pitch right by the Loch, we decide to stay for 3 nights, then realise it is a bank holiday weekend, the weather is amazing so end up staying nights (with 1 night free!)

I'm ready for a walk when you are!

And there are some excellent walks

The mist rolls in in the afternoon, but rolls right on again afterwards.

Its my turn to drive today!

After Driving up the west coast to Scourie, the weather starts to deteriorate so we drive across to Dornoch (where the forecast is better, where we stay for 4 days at a camp site walking distance from the town

I'm sure you've got a treat in there somewhere!

And we then get some superb weather along the East coast

Slains Castle, near Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, part of which dates back to the 16th century and apparently the inspiration for Bram Stokers Dracula

A flying visit to The Angel of the North on he way home