Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Monday, 29 June 2015
MAGICAL MYSTERY CAMPING TRIP 2015
MAGICAL MYSTERY CAMPING TRIP 2015
I am of the opinion that the North West of England is the best area to live in the UK .
There are however a couple of tweaks that would make it even better .The first is move Wembley Stadium to the Midlands ,or rather rebuild it in the Midlands
The second is more tricky but if we could nudge the whole of the British Isles 285 miles South and align Hull with Calais taking the Channel Tunnel with it that would be the icing on the cake.
Rochdale to Folkstone is a pain in the arse and I admit to being jealous of folk who live less than 100 miles from the Tunnel.
To ease the pain we decided or rather I decided to book the 5.30 am Eurostar train and leave at 10 pm on Monday 15th June driving through the night.
As it was my idea I will take the credit and pat myself on the back as it was a bloody good one . I will even go so far as to say it is the only way to make this journey by car in under 6 hrs with stops.
The only problem is possible motorway closures for maintenance but diversions will be traffic free.It was our first time through the tunnel and we were both impressed.
We arrived in France just after 7 am French time having been awake all night and having covered 290 miles . We were heading towards Colmar on the French/German border but didn't hold out much chance of making it as it is a full days drive.
We hit the toll road and Jackie got some change ready for the first pay booth.
Ouch we had covered less than 100 miles and it was 22 Euros seeing we had a journey of 400 miles 88 euros could be better spent .
The sat nav was reset and we hit the countryside. This area of France I find a bit boring but once off the motorway the roads were enjoyable , Jackie took over the driving and the miles and time passed
quickly.It looked like we would make our destination Plombiers les Bains not far from Colmar and in Tour de France Country.
Just under 700 miles had been covered when we arrived at our first camp-site L'Hermitage and the journey had been really really easy.
Most of the camping I have done over the last few years has been on a motorbike and when packing the realization that I could take a pillow chairs a table and even a wok, hiking boots,
,air beds, the list goes on and on , put a big grin on my face.
Recently I have noticed I have become attached to various possessions , I don't know when this started , maybe an age thing maybe the growth of the bargain shop selling low quality goods or the
sophistication of advertising selling over priced goods . Anyway two items have fitted into this category recently the first a pair of Keen walking sandals , superb !
And then the new tent . £499.99 for a 4 man polyester cotton tent with footprint and carpet .It oozes quality ha ha.
Every detail thought about and made to a high standard,easy to put up, I am attached . The only thing I would say is that I am glad there is two of us,not four.
2 large potatoes
1 chorizo
1 cup of rice
1 tin of tomatoes
Dice and boil the potatoes till cooked
boil the rice
slice and fry chorizo in a little oil in a wok or large pan
drain rice and potatoes combine with chorizo add can of tomatoes and eat .
tastes better outside!
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| Lost in France just made it back before dark |
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| Tension mounts |
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| Pool day |
I am of the opinion that the North West of England is the best area to live in the UK .
There are however a couple of tweaks that would make it even better .The first is move Wembley Stadium to the Midlands ,or rather rebuild it in the Midlands
The second is more tricky but if we could nudge the whole of the British Isles 285 miles South and align Hull with Calais taking the Channel Tunnel with it that would be the icing on the cake.
Rochdale to Folkstone is a pain in the arse and I admit to being jealous of folk who live less than 100 miles from the Tunnel.
To ease the pain we decided or rather I decided to book the 5.30 am Eurostar train and leave at 10 pm on Monday 15th June driving through the night.
As it was my idea I will take the credit and pat myself on the back as it was a bloody good one . I will even go so far as to say it is the only way to make this journey by car in under 6 hrs with stops.
The only problem is possible motorway closures for maintenance but diversions will be traffic free.It was our first time through the tunnel and we were both impressed.
We arrived in France just after 7 am French time having been awake all night and having covered 290 miles . We were heading towards Colmar on the French/German border but didn't hold out much chance of making it as it is a full days drive.
We hit the toll road and Jackie got some change ready for the first pay booth.
Ouch we had covered less than 100 miles and it was 22 Euros seeing we had a journey of 400 miles 88 euros could be better spent .
The sat nav was reset and we hit the countryside. This area of France I find a bit boring but once off the motorway the roads were enjoyable , Jackie took over the driving and the miles and time passed
quickly.It looked like we would make our destination Plombiers les Bains not far from Colmar and in Tour de France Country.
Just under 700 miles had been covered when we arrived at our first camp-site L'Hermitage and the journey had been really really easy.
Most of the camping I have done over the last few years has been on a motorbike and when packing the realization that I could take a pillow chairs a table and even a wok, hiking boots,
,air beds, the list goes on and on , put a big grin on my face.
Recently I have noticed I have become attached to various possessions , I don't know when this started , maybe an age thing maybe the growth of the bargain shop selling low quality goods or the
sophistication of advertising selling over priced goods . Anyway two items have fitted into this category recently the first a pair of Keen walking sandals , superb !
And then the new tent . £499.99 for a 4 man polyester cotton tent with footprint and carpet .It oozes quality ha ha.
Every detail thought about and made to a high standard,easy to put up, I am attached . The only thing I would say is that I am glad there is two of us,not four.
 |
| Recipe of the day |
1 chorizo
1 cup of rice
1 tin of tomatoes
Dice and boil the potatoes till cooked
boil the rice
slice and fry chorizo in a little oil in a wok or large pan
drain rice and potatoes combine with chorizo add can of tomatoes and eat .
tastes better outside!
Sunday, 28 June 2015
OFF TO ITALY
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| Road side picnic easy to do when camping . Even had a brew . |
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| My new toy , bad spot though plenty on midges . |
It is now Saturday 20th June we have had 4 nights in Plombiers, I am still attached to our tent and today we leave for Italy . The one advantage bike touring has is less stuff , up up and away . The more gear the longer it takes to pack . Hence the 11 am start . Also stopping one night is possible but hard work so we hope to choose camp-sites with care and stop a few days .
We couldn't decide between Tuscany and Croatia , The sat nav was set for Trieste and it took us through Switzerland . There was heavy rain and a landslide delayed us for 3 hours .With the late start and delay we were well behind schedule and with the time at 7pm we commanded the sat nav to take us to the Ibis Como. With rates advertised at 45 euros we were a little stunned to find the nightly rate to be 106 Euros . However too tired to look for another hotel we checked in . I have to say it was very nice ,allowed us to charge things up check the internet and we can now say we have been to the Italian Lakes .
Recipe of the day Egg Curry
Hard boil 4 eggs
In a frying pan or Wok add
Oil
2 x Onions
1 to 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 to 2 teaspoons chilli powder
1 to 2 teaspoons turmeric
1 to 2 teaspoons garlic paste
1 to 2 teaspoons ginger paste
4 cardamom pods
1 x tin chick peas
1 x tin tomatoes
heat stirring and simmer for a bit add the eggs and serve with rice .
This is the fast version fry the onions and spices first if not in a hurry .
Saturday, 27 June 2015
FRESH START
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| An Indian movie being filmed in Pisa ,the guy with the hat is not involved |
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
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| What we came for |
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| Looks like a Hotel room to me |
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| Yes we are still camping |
Florence
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| Florence |
We are a hardy lot in the UK.How is camping so popular?I don't think it's just a question of saving money quiet a few of us actually like it. Of course there
are alot of never agains but that is not surprising really. There are plenty of camp sites open all year due to demand! I am not to sure I can say the same
for our neighbours. On the two camp sites we have visited we have been the only tent.Plenty of caravans and campers mostly Dutch and German plenty of room for
tents which will arrive in the school holidays,but no campers
We had a new experience yesterday at the station in Pisa.Its was busy boarding the train and being polite Brits we hung back and let everyone on first. Just
as we started to board more people arrived and a young girl of school age pushed infront of me.I thought to myself ignorant little person but being the polite
Brit didn't say it.We were happy to stand in the area between carriages and there was room in the corner but as I tried to make my way through my path was
blocked by another two young girls.I wasn't suspicious just thinking, kids. I did manage to push through to the space and then a young lad asked is this the
train to ?? and on being told no five of them got off. Jackie joined me in the corner . My man bag was unzipped,as was Jackie's bag. My phone was still
there in the main compartment, and by a stroke of luck the zip where I have two credit cards and about 100 euros had lost its puller and it was a two handed
operation to open. Saved by cheap low quality goods ha ha . Jackie's camera was still there but she thought she was a few tissues short. Joking aside this
could have been serious if we were carrying passports and wallets. Fagin is alive and well and training them well as for us it was a question of being let
lightly and I doubt I would be so chirpy if it had ended differently.
Recipe of the day
half a jar of the finest Italian Ragu
tin of finest Italian tomatoes
pasta
simples serve with salad ,bread and red wine
Friday, 26 June 2015
FIRST TIME IN CROATIA
So where are we up to . 4 nights camping in Plombiers Les Bains France . 1 night at Ibis Como Italy 4 nights camping at San Romano Italy , 1 night Ibis Padova Italy and now settled at Camping Marina Svete Croatia.
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I am apparently swimming |
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| Boat trip to the Island of Cres |
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| Getting married |
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| Svete |
So what have we learnt so far.
Its better to apply mosquito repellent before being bit rather than after
If you take your airbeds outside the tent to sunbathe check the ground for stones
A right hand drive car on roads where they drive on the right isn't really a problem
Having your own car abroad is much better than a hire car
Camping in nice weather and eating outdoors is very enjoyable
Electric hook up is a must, as is a cool box
Croatia is great
Sat nav saved the day on more than one occasion
We are not used to toll charges
We brought way too many clothes.
Ibis Hotels served their purpose well . Good internet access and safe parking .Reasonably priced and modern
Meal of the day
250 gms dried mung beans soaked for 8 hrs
3 x onions
3 x green peppers
loads of ginger and garlic fresh or paste/powder
oil
soya sauce
Drain the mung beans and simmer for half an hour
Fry the onions and green peppers with the ginger and garlic
add the mung beans and soya sauce
simmer till cooked
serve with rice and fresh tomatoes.
I have always thought it important to learn some of the language when visiting a foreign country,and have attempted to learn Portuguese. The result of this
however has been a brain melt down when trying a bit of French/German/Italian. So against my principals in Croatia I made no attempt to learn a single word
and spoke English to everyone whether they spoke any English or not . Now the funny thing is it worked fine, the pressure was put on them not me. Arriving
in Germany I did the same thing no Morgan or Dankes and again it worked fine , not even an eins swei drei . So until I am fluent Portuguese no more foreign
languages for me.After all English is the international language . I did upset one woman at a toll booth with my inability to understand but it was her problem
not mine she was taking my money and not the other way round .
Thursday, 25 June 2015
MUNICH
Europe is a great place , so many different countries , so much history and things to do .We planned this as an activity holiday with the intention of avoiding
major cities . Then followed two day trips one to Pisa and the other to Florence . Both enjoyed so when Munich was mentioned as worth a visit by our German
neighbour on the campsite in Croatia we booked 2 night in an Ibis Munich . We were not dissapointed something to see at every turn easy to navigate with an excellent
public transport network and a visit to the Hofbrauhaus in the evening a great end to a great day.
Wednesday, 24 June 2015
BLACK FOREST
We ended the trip with 4 nights in the Black Forest on a campsite in Titisee. We picked it as it was at a height of 900 m so hopefully a bit cooler than our original destination Freiburg . We loved the campsite , it had a back in time feel to it , slightly dated but everything clean and working . We also loved the summer fruits available in the village , Raspberry's , Blackberries and my favorite Blueberries . We had a trip to the cable car at Schauinsland , which was a great day out .
Time to go home , A bit sad .
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| Plenty of room |
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| Trip to Decathlon |
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| Schauinsland |
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| The Bright Forest |
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| Our only pic together . |
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