Cliffandger Grand Tour

[Forestboy]

Hello all- Internet was rubbish yesterday, so not able to post - we've moved on and are now in Senj, and this is the view from our pitch......
View attachment 109025

We cycled to the Paklenica National Park yesterday which was lovely. The weather was a little cooler so after a 3km cycle ride we parked the bikes and walked up to a height of 400m. The first stop was a system of bunkers which Tito and then the Yugoslav federal army used, but it's been completely renovated and there is now - as is usual here - no mention of Tito or the YFA.

It is now an education and conference centre. We walked around it anyway, and encountered the extremely rare.....
View attachment 109027
'Lesser Spotted EMPTY Souvenir Shop'!

Walking on through many tunnels we came into the education centre, with lots of lovely pictures that the children had drawn on the customary field trip....

View attachment 109028
The CORRECT way to draw the famous Mirila - full marks!

I bet the teachers had a good laugh in the staff room.......
View attachment 109029

The park is a mecca for maniacs with suicidal tendencies - aka rock climbers! As we walked up the path we could see them dotted around all over the place - many hanging on limpet like to the sheer rock face, but just as many standing on the ground untangling ropes!

These photos are 'Where's Wally' rock climbing style.....
View attachment 109030
View attachment 109031

Bags me 'rope untangling monitor'!

There are bears, Chamois, Wild boar, bats, eagles, wolves, falcons and vultures in the park, but we didn't see any - we did see some livestock though......

View attachment 109032
There's a Shepherd's Hut that is much higher up the mountain, and it's basic facilities are free. All it says for the weary traveller to bring is a sleeping bag. I hope the 'porters' got a decent tip from this lot!

We reached the top and had a well earned Pivo in the woodman's cottage, before walking back down, marvelling at the gorge as we went. As locals to the famous Cheddar Gorge, you can't help thinking they should do the same thing, ie rewarding climbers with beer, soft drinks and hearty sausage stew at the top, or even halfway way up, but believe me - we've climbed it - and its a very lonely place at the top! Unlike at the bottom, where you can't move for sweet shops, cheese shops, chippies and Japanese/Chinese tourists!

After drinking the cooling beer, I had to stop off in the 'little girls room' and I had my first experience of the 'long drop, composter toilet'
View attachment 109037

There are many, many routes to climb Anica Kuk, all with very interesting names.....
View attachment 109034

But I bet most of us girls would give no, 1 a miss.....
View attachment 109036

Part 2 coming up - with an ending that will make you all proud of us.......

Senj brings back memories as we were pulling in Jan was reading from the Eyewitness book. Senj is famous for being the windiest town on the coast
Ah don't worry about that says I.
Within 3 minutes of parking 2 new reclining chairs were in the sea and the garage door was literally ripped off its hinges.
This was the same evening.

 

[cliffanger]

Senj brings back memories as we were pulling in Jan was reading from the Eyewitness book. Senj is famous for being the windiest town on the coast
Ah don't worry about that says I.
Within 3 minutes of parking 2 new reclining chairs were in the sea and the garage door was literally ripped off its hinges.
This was the same evening.

View attachment 110731

We didn't experience any wind while we were there, but I think the coast as a whole is very windy. Apparently all building work is happening now, IN the season because it's too windy and dangerous to build during the winter months! That was every campsite receptionists excuse for building works going on in and around the campsites anyway!

 

[cliffanger]

Well all, we will no doubt be leaving Croatia tomorrow (unless I can persuade HWINO to stay for just another day) so a few thoughts on our sojourn here.....

I have loved it! Largely because...

The people, once engaged, are the happiest, most polite and helpful I have ever met whilst on holiday abroad.

EVERY campsite has single sex loos....

The country has, as yet, not been blighted by mass tourism.

EVERY campsite has toilet seats on the toilets in the loos.....

Croatian ice cream gives the Italian Gelato a run for its money.

EVERY campsite has hot water in its loos....

There is only one bus into every city from any campsite so there is no 'bus confusion'

EVERY campsite has loo paper in its cubicles in the loos......

Food and wine is good quality and cheap.

EVERY campsite has soap in all dispensers in the loos.....

Although they have their share of souvenir shops, they have yet to totally dominate the towns.

EVERY campsite has hot air hand dryers in the loos.....

Health and Safety has yet to stifle the excitement of walking around ancient monuments.

EVERY campsite has paper hand towels in the loos......

Every bar, Obe Wan, and restaurant has good quality cheap house wine - Grazevina is a delicious white.

EVERY campsite we visited had 100% Wifi coverage......

The food, although plain was very good - in particular the 'beefsteak' - equally as good as our fillet and at the most expensive was £13.

EVERY campsite we visited provided 100% Wifi coverage FOR NO CHARGE!!!

In conclusion, our first visit will certainly not be our last, and whilst I could list a few negatives, like the woeful lack of pavements and cycle paths between campsites and towns/cities and the REALLY poor standard of their driving when encountering Pedestrians/ cyclists, I can't think of any other negatives.

However, Cliff has just thought of one.

Istria is the home of the suckling pig - goodness knows where they are born and bred, raised and butchered - cos we ain't seen any evidence at all, but every restaurant has an outside oven/rotisserie cooking one - giving off an incredible aroma, which naturally draws one in.

So Cliffs 'beef' about the 'pork'? The crackling is crap! What have I said girls?......

 

[JockandRita]

Well all, we will no doubt be leaving Croatia tomorrow (unless I can persuade HWINO to stay for just another day) so a few thoughts on our sojourn here.....

I have loved it! Largely because...

The people, once engaged, are the happiest, most polite and helpful I have ever met whilst on holiday abroad.

EVERY campsite has single sex loos....

The country has, as yet, not been blighted by mass tourism.

EVERY campsite has toilet seats on the toilets in the loos.....

Croatian ice cream gives the Italian Gelato a run for its money.

EVERY campsite has hot water in its loos....

There is only one bus into every city from any campsite so there is no 'bus confusion'

EVERY campsite has loo paper in its cubicles in the loos......

Food and wine is good quality and cheap.

EVERY campsite has soap in all dispensers in the loos.....

Although they have their share of souvenir shops, they have yet to totally dominate the towns.

EVERY campsite has hot air hand dryers in the loos.....

Health and Safety has yet to stifle the excitement of walking around ancient monuments.

EVERY campsite has paper hand towels in the loos......

Every bar, Obe Wan, and restaurant has good quality cheap house wine - Grazevina is a delicious white.

EVERY campsite we visited had 100% Wifi coverage......

The food, although plain was very good - in particular the 'beefsteak' - equally as good as our fillet and at the most expensive was £13.

EVERY campsite we visited provided 100% Wifi coverage FOR NO CHARGE!!!

In conclusion, our first visit will certainly not be our last, and whilst I could list a few negatives, like the woeful lack of pavements and cycle paths between campsites and towns/cities and the REALLY poor standard of their driving when encountering Pedestrians/ cyclists, I can't think of any other negatives.

However, Cliff has just thought of one.

Istria is the home of the suckling pig - goodness knows where they are born and bred, raised and butchered - cos we ain't seen any evidence at all, but every restaurant has an outside oven/rotisserie cooking one - giving off an incredible aroma, which naturally draws one in.

So Cliffs 'beef' about the 'pork'? The crackling is crap! What have I said girls?......

Hear Hear Geraldine & Cliff. We concur with all of that, except the suckling pigs on the rotisseries and the crap crackling............................................but only because we didn't see, or taste any.

We hope you get your wish Geraldine, ie, another day in Croatia.

Cheers for now,

Jock & Rita.

 

[cliffanger]

Hear Hear Geraldine & Cliff. We concur with all of that, except the suckling pigs on the rotisseries and the crap crackling............................................but only because we didn't see, or taste any.

We hope you get your wish Geraldine, ie, another day in Croatia.

Cheers for now,

Jock & Rita.

Jock I forgot to post it last night - it would have been a fitting end to my epilogue........ And now the moment has passed - but just for you....

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Fenman]

No, that definitely doesn't look very crispy

 

[JockandRita]

Jock I forgot to post it last night - it would have been a fitting end to my epilogue........ And now the moment has passed - but just for you....
View attachment 110793

Nope, not crispy enough for me either Geraldine, so I think we'll have to buy a couple bags of pork crackling, to take with us next time.

Cheers,

Jock & Rita.

 

[cliffanger]

Cliff's just read the post and said, don't forget we stopped at ACSI sites and the camperstop didn't have grey waste dumps - but they still had decent loos and free WiFi!

Do you think they're expecting Croatia to get to the final......

Big telly or what! We're off!

 

[cliffanger]

Quick catch up - we left Croatia, went through Slovenia and stopped in Austria last night - and it was raining!! But it's a beautiful day today (well it is now - but being Austria we could have the windscreen wipers on in hyperdrive any minute now)!

Anyway, we are off to Schladming where we have it on good authority (Our Little 'un) they have a brilliant micro brewery and lovely places to stop for lunch..... Mind you, he was there in the winter, and on a skiing holiday with his mates, so I'm not holding out much hope ....

 

[Mousy]

Take care on your way back up to Calais, I don't want to see either of you fighting with any topless Russians

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DBK]

Well all, we will no doubt be leaving Croatia tomorrow (unless I can persuade HWINO to stay for just another day) so a few thoughts on our sojourn here.....

I have loved it! Largely because...

The people, once engaged, are the happiest, most polite and helpful I have ever met whilst on holiday abroad.

EVERY campsite has single sex loos....

The country has, as yet, not been blighted by mass tourism.

EVERY campsite has toilet seats on the toilets in the loos.....

Croatian ice cream gives the Italian Gelato a run for its money.

EVERY campsite has hot water in its loos....

There is only one bus into every city from any campsite so there is no 'bus confusion'

EVERY campsite has loo paper in its cubicles in the loos......

Food and wine is good quality and cheap.

EVERY campsite has soap in all dispensers in the loos.....

Although they have their share of souvenir shops, they have yet to totally dominate the towns.

EVERY campsite has hot air hand dryers in the loos.....

Health and Safety has yet to stifle the excitement of walking around ancient monuments.

EVERY campsite has paper hand towels in the loos......

Every bar, Obe Wan, and restaurant has good quality cheap house wine - Grazevina is a delicious white.

EVERY campsite we visited had 100% Wifi coverage......

The food, although plain was very good - in particular the 'beefsteak' - equally as good as our fillet and at the most expensive was £13.

EVERY campsite we visited provided 100% Wifi coverage FOR NO CHARGE!!!

In conclusion, our first visit will certainly not be our last, and whilst I could list a few negatives, like the woeful lack of pavements and cycle paths between campsites and towns/cities and the REALLY poor standard of their driving when encountering Pedestrians/ cyclists, I can't think of any other negatives.

However, Cliff has just thought of one.

Istria is the home of the suckling pig - goodness knows where they are born and bred, raised and butchered - cos we ain't seen any evidence at all, but every restaurant has an outside oven/rotisserie cooking one - giving off an incredible aroma, which naturally draws one in.

So Cliffs 'beef' about the 'pork'? The crackling is crap! What have I said girls?......

Now you tell me, just when we've decided not to go! But we are enjoying Italy too much, the late much lamented Eddie was right, Italy is a cracker and I have even started looking enviously at Possl vans!

We will get to Croatia one day. It will still be there even if I have to apply for a visa!

 

[cliffanger]

Hello all, the following thread was done yesterday, but Internet was rubbish so I've left it until today!

Well all, It's been a brilliant day - and in Austria - who would have thought it!!!

We left Wernberg this morning, under the usual cloud (in more ways than one) after four hours of solid, heavy rain through the night. I have to say that even I, the eternal meteorological optimist was beginning to lose my faith, but promising 'Our Little'un' that we would visit Schladming in the summer, so that he could see what it looked like without the snow, we felt honour bound to visit.

On the way we stopped for elevensies at the motorway services - a bit different to Leigh Delamere!

We parked up and visited Schladming, but I have to say, not being 23 (as our Rob was at the time) it didn't hold much interest for me. The main street looked much like the one in Keswick - swapping pubs for coffee shops, Chippies for restaurants and fell walking clothes shops for ski clothes shops - they both have their fair share of souvenir shops - although I've never seen any cow bell keyrings in Keswick!

I know, without having to ask, that this is where Our Little'un 'apres skied'...

We partook of the biggest Apple Strudel and cream (Him) Vanilla Sauce (me) I have ever seen, even though we clearly weren't hungry, bought a case of Schladminger beer to take home for son and heir, as he seemed to home in on the fact that the town had it's own brewery every time he mentioned his holiday, and moved on.

Whilst on the reminiscing theme, I looked at the map and saw that Zell-am-See was on our route back (ish) and worked out that it would be 45 years, give or take a week, since I had been there on a school holiday. As I thought it would be rude not to revisit (and I just happened to be at the wheel at the time) we followed the road directions, programmed Camping Panorama into Dolly Daydream, and arrived mid afternoon.

I have to say in passing that the sun had shone ALL DAY! So taking advantage of a beautiful afternoon, we set up, got the bikes off the van and headed into town.

We'de almost got into town when we heard music and saw synchronised water fountains on the lake. We stopped to watch a brilliant water/music show and were just about to leave when the fountains had finished, when we noticed an alpine trio starting to play on a stage behind us.

We saw a pop up bar in front of the stage and knew we were there for the duration so went to bar, bought two Eidleweiss beers, and sat down to be entertained - and entertained we were!

The dancer on the right kept messing up, wrong footing and knocking his partner's hat off - I bet he kopped it when he got home......

The laws regarding child labour don't seem very rigid in Austria.....

It was absolutely brilliant! Live music and dance at its best! And then........

And then - as it does on the sunniest, most blue sky days in Austria - it rained!

It hoofed it down for an hour - and all the way through they danced, the kids played trumpets in the rain, the girl behind the bar almost got electrocuted disconnecting the pannini machine and fridge, (she feared the machine was recognisable in any language - kaput!)

We huddled under the bar umbrella and experienced the 'bon homie' that often surfaces in situations like this... Me: 'The brochure said it never rains in Austria'

Austrian fella donning his Pacamac (he obviously had 4 seasons of weather gear in his back pack).... 'We make it rain to make you Britishers feel at home.....'

And, looking at a sky as black as your hat, he continued with 'in one hour the sun will shine again!' And he was right!

But we had spied a break in the clouds, and not trusting his meteorological skills, we made a break for it - just as the alpine bells recital was starting! Cliff was in T shirts and shorts so I knew it was the right thing to do - but I know we missed the only chance we will ever get to hear the bells and see the traditional 'lederhosen bum slapping dance' which I am sure would have been the finale of the show!

We are now at today, and as the weather is dry - which I think is as much as we can hope for, we are staying in Zell, and cycling right into town this time to look for the Sporthof Hotel, which was where I stayed, with the school in 1971!

Will report back later!

Oh and Paul @Popeye, I know you're having a lovely time at Stratford, but see what your van could look like........ With the Tyrolean Alps in the background.......

 

[Popeye]

worked out that it would be 45 years, give or take a week, since I had been there on a school holiday.

I can't believe you were still at school in your thirties Ger!

but see what your van could look like........ With the Tyrolean Alps in the background.......

Soon my dear, soon!

 

[cliffanger]

Just left the Irish Bar, watching England beat Wales, and I thought he'd be in a good mood - but not good enough......

€200 - but it's a thing of beauty - the skiiers jump out of the tunnel, then race down the slope, the cable cars go up and down, the lights on the Christmas Tree flash, it plays 10 Christmas songs and 10 Tyrolean ones (so I'm guessing plenty of yodelling) - you think I'm Wurf it, don't you girls........

 

[cliffanger]

But @rb62 - I'm not joking..... It is a thing of beauty, and I want it!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[rb62]

I think the word ' house room' would come into the conversation ,or more to the point van room

 

[cliffanger]

Hi All,

A quick check in before we leave Austria and my Mifi is no longer free to use!

We've had another lovely day in Zell am See, despite the fact that I won't be going home with a thing of great beauty...

We cycled 12km around the lake today, which means it's twice as big as Lake Bled and half as big as Lake Annecy....

A beautiful spot with quite a few photo opportunities....

That cat knows how to chill.....

And yet they also have the blight that is graffiti - no visuals this time though.... (At least I don't THINK there are - not sure about the visual on the right.....)

We then searched for the hotel I stayed in 45 years ago - The Sportshof Hotel - it could have been any one of three - and only one had 'sports' in it's name!

I think it was this one.....

After perusing the souvenir shops I bought a cow bell Christmas decoration - which falls SOOOO short of this beauty.....

I mean I could have picked one of these tacky things......

But I didn't!

We cycled back to the van for lunch and a chill, before cycling back in to watch the match - in an Irish Bar surrounded by a small band of fellow masochists, all putting ourselves through the same torture as we do over and over again - be it watching a football match, or a tennis tournament, or a cricket match, or the Eurovision Song Contest - infact anything where a Brit or a team of England players is involved!

You may have guessed that I've loved revisiting Zell am See and Camping Panorama is the perfect site for visiting the town. But tomorrow is the next step of our homeward trek and we head for Ulm. So, just before we leave.....

So which way are we supposed to litter.....

GrossGlockner in the distance... The view from our van (give or take a few steps....)

Clarks or Stead and Simpson never looked like this!

Will check in whenever we can get WIFI on the way up, but for now...

Goodbye, Farewell, Auf Weidersen, Adieu......

 

[Fenman]

That Christmas goodie is so naff it's beautiful.

 

[cliffanger]

That Christmas goodie is so naff it's beautiful.

I know - our house is full of beautiful things every Christmas!

 

[Taran_Las]

Ulm - home of Magirus Deutz. I'm sure Cliff will understand.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Popeye]

Ulm - home of Magirus Deutz

Are they still going Phil? I used to borrow the 7.5 tonner from a sand and gravel merchant in Salisbury back in the day.

 

[cliffanger]

Are they still going Phil? I used to borrow the 7.5 tonner from a sand and gravel merchant in Salisbury back in the day.

I'll put Cliff on the case to find out. I on the other hand will be looking round the tallest church in the world and climbing the 800 odd steps up to the top of the spire!

 

[Popeye]

and climbing the 800 odd steps up to the top of the spire!

.................... why? .....I used to have my doubts about you Ger...........

.........now I'm quite certain.

 

[Fenman]

I'll put Cliff on the case to find out. I on the other hand will be looking round the tallest church in the world and climbing the 800 odd steps up to the top of the spire!

And no doubt trying to smell out a bone or two.

 

[Taran_Las]

Are they still going Phil? I used to borrow the 7.5 tonner from a sand and gravel merchant in Salisbury back in the day.

Paul, I think they are specialized manufacturers mostly. Fire trucks etc. Geraldine's mention of Ulm sparked a memory of that mainly forgotten marque. After that brief portion of mechanical excitement I'll return to being a sad git. kbye!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Anthea M]

I know - our house is full of beautiful things every Christmas!

Me too! The tackier the better!!

 

[DBK]

Deutz are now just engine makers I think*, the Volvo group (the one that doesn't make cars but makes trucks and owns the bit of Renault which also makes truck - but not cars**) are the main shareholder.

*But there might be another company with the same name selling fire trucks!

**keep up at the back. They also own the Nissan which doesn't make cars either.

 

[cliffanger]

Using my mifi so have to be quick - Ulm was Ok, couldn't find the factory - didn't walk up the steps - so a disappointing day - no bones @Fenman ! But - oh joy - we are off to the Erwin Hymer Museum - even though it's a detour to the south - we couldn't come this close and not visit it!

 

[Anthea M]

Using my mifi so have to be quick - Ulm was Ok, couldn't find the factory - didn't walk up the steps - so a disappointing day - no bones @Fenman ! But - oh joy - we are off to the Erwin Hymer Museum - even though it's a detour to the south - we couldn't come this close and not visit it!

Now THAT gift shop will have lovely little mini Hymer stuff! Enjoy!!

 

[Neilfg]

Enjoy the museum, thought it was interesting nice cafe also, just down the road is http:// www.carthago.com/en/carthago-city/, a camping spot available on site. Nice show room with virtually every van model available to have a look at.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}