NOVEMBER 2006
ENGLAND-Dover
Saturday 11th we crossed the channel
from Dover at 0915, earlier than our booked time of 1050. The
crossing was smooth and we fortified ourselves with a hot chocolate
drink and a cake. We set off, on landing, for Armentiers and
arrived just after having had our lunch. We booked into the
camp. The weather was reasonable, although it rained in the
night. An early start on Sunday setting off for
Eupen, south east of Liege, in fine weather, which turned to rain in
the afternoon. Both camps were deserted and it didn’t look too
promising, so we continued on into Germany to, eventually, find a camp
at 
Simmerath or more precisely, at Woffelsbach, on
the side of a lake with a very low water level. Monday we drove along
narrow, unsignposted roads, navigation was difficult, trying to find
the autobahn. We ended up in Frankfurt-am-Maine, instead of
Marktheidenfeld, (too far) near Wurzburg. We saw the smallest
possible motor home at the camp. Driving through the Ardenes and
Eifel hill country, with reds, oranges, yellows, greens and browns of
the autumn trees would have been better in permanent, instead of
patchy, sunshine. Tuesday
was spent doing the washing, and shopping, in cloudy weather. Wednesday we continued
eastwards towards the Czech Republic with the afternoon sunshine
turning the drab tree colours into a beautiful scene, including various
golden hues. We camped at Weissenstadt beside the lake, 15miles
short of the border. Thursday
we left early, got lost on the minor roads and ended on a major road to
the Czech Republic. There was a temperature inversion, so we were
driving in low level clouds and every so often we climbed a hill
into brilliant sunshine and blue skies. We crossed the border
just before lunch and continued, in more sunshine to Prague. The
route was not difficult until we were nearly there then low bridges, in
Prague, were a problem. On arrival at the camp we were given a
cheery welcome and a few necessary words in Czech. Friday turned out to be
overcast and a National Holiday, but we still took a tram ride (the
first in many years) into Prague, to visit The Castle (the biggest in
the world) with it’s Cathedral inside. The stained glass in the
Cathedral was magnificent. We then crossed the Charles Bridge,
with vivid paintings for sale (a reminder of Montmartre) and then we
walked through the pedestrian streets to the Starometz Nam, finishing
up in Wenceslas Square, for the tram back to the camp.
Saturday 18th we left Prague to drive south east to our next camp near Telc. The day was overcast although we saw the sun briefly a few times. On Sunday another overcast day, we continued our travels to the south, into Austria and on to Vienna. Monday there was still no change in the weather, Howard took a rest day while Mervyn visited the Schonbrunn and the Cathedral together with a general wander. Tuesday we both visited Vienna, the Hofburg where the Spanish Riding School is based, unfortunately the morning exercise was finished, so we did not see the Lipizzaners. Wednesday like American Tourists, we left Austria, drove through Slovakia and crossed into Hungary to camp at the border town of Komarom. Thursday we travelled on to Budapest, having our usual problem of finding the camp. Friday Mervyn journeyed into Budapest, having a free bus ride (tourist OAPs) and seeing the Old Fort, the ex Royal Palace, crossing the Chain Bridge and ending up at the Parliament. Howard continued working on the computer/printer compartments.
Saturday 25th the journey continued eastwards to Eger, only to find the camp closed. The local restaurant suggested the Hotel Rubinia. When we arrived there we found that the hotel and the camp were owned by the same person, so we were OK. Today we saw the sun for the first time in a week. Sunday we made an early start on the long run (123km) to Hajduszoboszio. It was sunny all day. We passed through the Hortabagyi National Park, a wet land with thousands of birds. We also saw hundreds of birds flying south. Mervyn baked a Christmas cake in the afternoon. Monday dawned fine and sunny, we drove to Debracen to hunt for a Tesco, we found one, and did a big shop. We continued on and crossed into Romania, we soon found a camp just south of Oradea. It was sunny all day. Before leaving on Tuesday we went to a bank and then drove eastwards via Cluj Napoca to end up at Targu Mures. After Cluj Napoca we looked for but could not find a camp. At Targu Mures Howard took a taxi and Mervyn followed in the caravan, to the camp. It was closed but with our woeful expressions, we were allowed in. Just before Cluj a heavy mist (smog) set in for the rest of the day. Wednesday we travelled south east to Sighisoara, where Mervyn visited the Citadel. After lunch we continued to Brasov. During the day the mist was in the valleys, it was clear on the hill tops. At Brasov we missed the turn and ended up at Bran. The camp was closed and we booked into a hotel for hot showers. After dinner in the hotel the alarm sounded on the caravan. On investigating Mervyn found the van door wide open and the thieves had fled with Mervyn’s mobile phone and the outside locker keys. The window next to the door was also damaged. The police arrived quickly and, with the help of a local translator, we explained what had happened. The policeman suggested that we camped at the police station, we agreed. Thursday morning we returned to the hotel for hot showers and breakfast (included in the price). NO HOT WATER. After a long argument the hotel refunded our money and we crossed the road to stop for breakfast in the caravan. With the outside keys missing Howard stopped in the van while Mervyn visited the Castle. We returned to the police station to make a report and obtained a copy. Back through Brasov and southwards to Bucharest. We found a camp that was open with the promise of hot showers. The hills that we drove through were very similar to the Black Mountains. Out of the towns we saw many horse and carts, about a tenth of the road traffic.
Simmerath or more precisely, at Woffelsbach, on
the side of a lake with a very low water level. Monday we drove along
narrow, unsignposted roads, navigation was difficult, trying to find
the autobahn. We ended up in Frankfurt-am-Maine, instead of
Marktheidenfeld, (too far) near Wurzburg. We saw the smallest
possible motor home at the camp. Driving through the Ardenes and
Eifel hill country, with reds, oranges, yellows, greens and browns of
the autumn trees would have been better in permanent, instead of
patchy, sunshine. Tuesday
was spent doing the washing, and shopping, in cloudy weather. Wednesday we continued
eastwards towards the Czech Republic with the afternoon sunshine
turning the drab tree colours into a beautiful scene, including various
golden hues. We camped at Weissenstadt beside the lake, 15miles
short of the border. Thursday
we left early, got lost on the minor roads and ended on a major road to
the Czech Republic. There was a temperature inversion, so we were
driving in low level clouds and every so often we climbed a hill
into brilliant sunshine and blue skies. We crossed the border
just before lunch and continued, in more sunshine to Prague. The
route was not difficult until we were nearly there then low bridges, in
Prague, were a problem. On arrival at the camp we were given a
cheery welcome and a few necessary words in Czech. Friday turned out to be
overcast and a National Holiday, but we still took a tram ride (the
first in many years) into Prague, to visit The Castle (the biggest in
the world) with it’s Cathedral inside. The stained glass in the
Cathedral was magnificent. We then crossed the Charles Bridge,
with vivid paintings for sale (a reminder of Montmartre) and then we
walked through the pedestrian streets to the Starometz Nam, finishing
up in Wenceslas Square, for the tram back to the camp.Saturday 18th we left Prague to drive south east to our next camp near Telc. The day was overcast although we saw the sun briefly a few times. On Sunday another overcast day, we continued our travels to the south, into Austria and on to Vienna. Monday there was still no change in the weather, Howard took a rest day while Mervyn visited the Schonbrunn and the Cathedral together with a general wander. Tuesday we both visited Vienna, the Hofburg where the Spanish Riding School is based, unfortunately the morning exercise was finished, so we did not see the Lipizzaners. Wednesday like American Tourists, we left Austria, drove through Slovakia and crossed into Hungary to camp at the border town of Komarom. Thursday we travelled on to Budapest, having our usual problem of finding the camp. Friday Mervyn journeyed into Budapest, having a free bus ride (tourist OAPs) and seeing the Old Fort, the ex Royal Palace, crossing the Chain Bridge and ending up at the Parliament. Howard continued working on the computer/printer compartments.
Saturday 25th the journey continued eastwards to Eger, only to find the camp closed. The local restaurant suggested the Hotel Rubinia. When we arrived there we found that the hotel and the camp were owned by the same person, so we were OK. Today we saw the sun for the first time in a week. Sunday we made an early start on the long run (123km) to Hajduszoboszio. It was sunny all day. We passed through the Hortabagyi National Park, a wet land with thousands of birds. We also saw hundreds of birds flying south. Mervyn baked a Christmas cake in the afternoon. Monday dawned fine and sunny, we drove to Debracen to hunt for a Tesco, we found one, and did a big shop. We continued on and crossed into Romania, we soon found a camp just south of Oradea. It was sunny all day. Before leaving on Tuesday we went to a bank and then drove eastwards via Cluj Napoca to end up at Targu Mures. After Cluj Napoca we looked for but could not find a camp. At Targu Mures Howard took a taxi and Mervyn followed in the caravan, to the camp. It was closed but with our woeful expressions, we were allowed in. Just before Cluj a heavy mist (smog) set in for the rest of the day. Wednesday we travelled south east to Sighisoara, where Mervyn visited the Citadel. After lunch we continued to Brasov. During the day the mist was in the valleys, it was clear on the hill tops. At Brasov we missed the turn and ended up at Bran. The camp was closed and we booked into a hotel for hot showers. After dinner in the hotel the alarm sounded on the caravan. On investigating Mervyn found the van door wide open and the thieves had fled with Mervyn’s mobile phone and the outside locker keys. The window next to the door was also damaged. The police arrived quickly and, with the help of a local translator, we explained what had happened. The policeman suggested that we camped at the police station, we agreed. Thursday morning we returned to the hotel for hot showers and breakfast (included in the price). NO HOT WATER. After a long argument the hotel refunded our money and we crossed the road to stop for breakfast in the caravan. With the outside keys missing Howard stopped in the van while Mervyn visited the Castle. We returned to the police station to make a report and obtained a copy. Back through Brasov and southwards to Bucharest. We found a camp that was open with the promise of hot showers. The hills that we drove through were very similar to the Black Mountains. Out of the towns we saw many horse and carts, about a tenth of the road traffic.
ROUMANIA-Bucharest