Germany/Austria August/September information sharing.

[suavecarve]

I'm not going to bother with the Criti Air Plakette this time round, until I know I actually need one.

I made that mistake a couple of years ago ! The areas come at you from nowhere and when you least expect them and normally on a Sunday of a Bank Holiday weekend

 

[David and Sally]

Kev and Ju and ourselves are on the Mosel at Schweich. We stayed on a site in Saarburg but could only be there one night as full.
Phoned a few sites on the Mosel - all full till Monday, one till the end of October!

Nothing for It but to hoof it along the river for a few miles and chance it. First site we tried is on the river bank at Schweich. No problem. Pitched up together, electric, some shade, great bar & restaurant, decent facilities. Zum Fahrturm. Five mins to town and supermarket but not much to do here really. The main towns up the river would be more inviting but I guess that’s why they are all full. Still, a couple of nights and we’ll move on and hope that the Germans have largely gone home

 

[JockandRita]

I made that mistake a couple of years ago ! The areas come at you from nowhere and when you least expect them and normally on a Sunday of a Bank Holiday weekend

My journeys through mainland France these days, tend to be out of season Jon, ie, Jan to March, to and from Spain, but Will research it before our next jaunt to the sun.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Crazylegs]

We stopped At the old Hymer world looking for an accessory, woeful selection in the shop.
Then back to the old walked town of Ochsenfurt which has a large free Stellplatz by the river and an amazing town hall. Reading up
Birth
Wisdom
Death
Clock
Moons position
Sunday lunch

 

[On the road again]

I made that mistake a couple of years ago ! The areas come at you from nowhere and when you least expect them and normally on a Sunday of a Bank Holiday weekend

I posted earler in the thread about a diversion (umleitung) and ended up in Mainz , in the Umwelt zone,without a sticker because my (proposed) route didn't need one- but, after that, I got one sharpish.
Lesson learned- it's not worth the hassle or worry for the cost of avoiding such incidents.

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[PhilandMena]

Today we have decided to be spend the whole weekend somewhere quiet and idyllic, and so headed off to Ottenberg. A FLT's paradise. Smashing stellplatz on the river by a small town and all free. As we drove in I saw space at the very end and remembered the FLT code of conduct 'Who dares wins Rodders, who dares wins' and drove straight into the spot to the amazement of all the german motorhomes parked elsewhere. A very kind Herman pointed out that I had now taken up the towns swimming stretch which was reserved for swimming and pointed to some signs that appeared to bear this out. I was going to point out that my dad captured this very spot from the Germans who were asleep on guard during the second world war and therefore as he never surrendered it back it was technically speaking now mine. However, as I'm a guest in his country and he was polite I did the little Englander thing and accepted his point with good graces and moved to another spot.........Just across from his motorhome. Two pictures. One showing the stellplatz and the other our new location, next to the tree and with the gap I drove into on the right. Last night a Herman knocked on my door and gave me a gift ? some fine German beer !!! They have adopted me I think. (All very nice people too, apart from the odd one).

 

[BrianF]

Just loaded to the tunnel - some very detailed questions and checks on forms - including last point of refuel and how much currently in tank. Worth noting if anyone is thinking of topping up before Calais.
Happy holidays all !

 

[MotorhomersRus]

BrianF

we boarded this morning and was asked where we had come from .......answer Germany Q.have you filled out the gov paperwork A. Yes Q. Your aware then of what your meant to do A. Yes
Have a nice trip on your way.
so it must depend who you get.
also they were checking every car and van in front of us but waved us through !!

 

[glenn2926]

Lunch Wurzburg.
View attachment 425507

I think we were sat at that table a couple of weeks ago. Have a great trip.

 

[glenn2926]

BrianF

we boarded this morning and was asked where we had come from .......answer Germany Q.have you filled out the gov paperwork A. Yes Q. Your aware then of what your meant to do A. Yes
Have a nice trip on your way.
so it must depend who you get.
also they were checking every car and van in front of us but waved us through !!

Our experience a couple of weeks ago was the same as yours. Where did you come from and have you filled the form in? He didn’t want to see it, just asked if we had filled it in.

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[Stealaway]

I've just got a new one as just had the screen changed. I'm going to laminate it then stick it on the screen so it's easy to remove.
Still waiting for the French one to arrive.

I've done exactly the same with my two ----- spooky?

 

[suavecarve]

My journeys through mainland France these days, tend to be out of season Jon, ie, Jan to March, to and from Spain, but Will research it before our next jaunt to the sun.

Cheers,

Jock.

France is fine, its the german ones that come out of nowhere in comparison. I ve never bothered with the french one. No chance of me needing it (he says optimistically)

 

[suavecarve]

UK 61.8 up by 2.5
Germany 24.3 up by 0.7
Italy 33.3 Up by 0.3

Interestingly Sweden came off the naughty list the other day (12/9/20). They are currently 30.3 if that helps with decision making.

UK 65.4 up by 3.6
Germany 25.4 up by 1.1
Italy 33.6 up by 0.3

 

[JockandRita]

France is fine, its the german ones that come out of nowhere in comparison. I ve never bothered with the french one. No chance of me needing it (he says optimistically)

Yes Jon, that's why I have had an Umwelt Plakette since they became available, but I'm not bothering with a new French one for the Flair yet.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[suavecarve]

Yes Jon, that's why I have had an Umwelt Plakette since they became available, but I'm not bothering with a new French one for the Flair yet.

Cheers,

Jock.

Apologies, I thought you were risking the German thing, which can backfire. (as it has on me and A N other who just posted)

I ve never bothered with the french one either

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[Busman]

Well, near the end of a great trip left the UK October last year met some great people but sadly mot time beckons. Thanks to Suarvecarv for starting and keeping this thread up to date.
Now at the P&R Aachen Chunnel tomorrow
Auf Wiedersehn
Dave & Maggie

 

[Lenny HB]

Well, near the end of a great trip left the UK October last year met some great people but sadly mot time beckons. Thanks to Suarvecarv for starting and keeping this thread up to date.
Now at the P&R Aachen Chunnel tomorrow
Auf Wiedersehn
Dave & MaggieView attachment 426333

I was hoping to catch up with you Dave but I won't be in Germany for another week and a half.

 

[Rudski01]

It's very straight forward, search for a German MOT (TUV, DEKRA or GTU) station on Google maps, drive to it, present your V5 and they will issue you with your sticker and ask for about 6 groats.

"Umwelt Aufkleber, Bitte" with lots of smiles and Danke's thrown in worked well for us...

You should end up with a Green Sticker with a number 4 in the centre, if not, explain in your best Granglish, that it is a "Whonmobile"... I've not seen anything on the road that is not classed as 4 if its a motorhome.

Please ignore my german spellings, I've only been at it for two weeks...

The visit to Keltenwall was very interesting, informative, and I imagine, without C19, would have been more interactive. There is a "Flax Breaker" there that started up in the 1300's and was used until 1926! The village must have been huge! I walked the walls and am sure they encompass many more acres than Chester! All the info boards are in German so make sure you take Google Translate with you! I also met my first "Edible Doormouse", they're HUGE! Apparenty the Romans thought they were a delicacy.

View attachment 426176

View attachment 426178

View attachment 426181

Looks to me like Piece en Piece construction was developed by the Celts, not the French?


Then drove for hours (6hrs) through traffic on the AutoBahhn to BernKastel to see Christian Marks with Bannock, the van threw in an engine light for good measure, so we pulled in to a service station and hooked up the diagnostic software, apparently the injector on pot 3 is not behaving, intermittantly...., cleared the fault and so far...., so good....

Christian Marks... What can I say... A proper CHARACTER, If you've met him you know what I mean, when you meet him, you'll understand what I mean, 4 Groats to worm and examine Bannock, including the tablet.....!

Now at a free SP about 50km from BernKastel, in the middle of nowhere, very quiet, but with full services, loving it..!

View attachment 426182

Tomorrow on to our start point at Hellenthal, a homecooked meal with Drexxer and dart for the tunnel on Sunday


Cheers
Bannock, Chris and Red

Wow we paid £80 for our two at Dachau

 

[Crazylegs]

Well us lovers of Germany kinda knew this anyway, but how reassuring that Germany is seemingly the safest from covid 19 country IN THE WORLD.

COVID250 Regional Saftey Assessment

www.dkv.global

 

[JockandRita]

Wow we paid £80 for our two at Dachau

If you have kept the receipt, call in to another DEKRA Testing Station, or phone their Head Office to question the price charged.

Good luck.

Jock.

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[RedFrame]

Today we have decided to be spend the whole weekend somewhere quiet and idyllic, and so headed off to Ottenberg. A FLT's paradise. Smashing stellplatz on the river by a small town and all free. As we drove in I saw space at the very end and remembered the FLT code of conduct 'Who dares wins Rodders, who dares wins' and drove straight into the spot to the amazement of all the german motorhomes parked elsewhere. A very kind Herman pointed out that I had now taken up the towns swimming stretch which was reserved for swimming and pointed to some signs that appeared to bear this out. I was going to point out that my dad captured this very spot from the Germans who were asleep on guard during the second world war and therefore as he never surrendered it back it was technically speaking now mine. However, as I'm a guest in his country and he was polite I did the little Englander thing and accepted his point with good graces and moved to another spot.........Just across from his motorhome. Two pictures. One showing the stellplatz and the other our new location, next to the tree and with the gap I drove into on the right. Last night a Herman knocked on my door and gave me a gift ? some fine German beer !!! They have adopted me I think. (All very nice people too, apart from the odd one).
View attachment 426251View attachment 426252

Say hello to the guys in the "Delphin"? (white and blue van opposite you with the beige mid sized dog), ask him if he's got any of that fine peach schnapps going...

If you have kept the receipt, call in to another DEKRA Testing Station, or phone their Head Office to question the price charged.

Good luck.

Jock.

I think they were talking about the 4 groats for the Dog Jock...

Cheers
Chris, Red and Bannock

 

[RedFrame]

Well, that's it for us, 09:50 tunnel back in the morning...

We've had an absoloutly amazing time, fallen in love with the Country, the drivers, the roads, the history, the architecture, the traditions, the views, the wildlife, the free SP/PP's, and the people.

We know we've only scratched the surface in the sixteen days we've been here, but the jewels that we've found underneath those scratches have been truely rewarding.

Total cost of "camping" 44 groats, Pet Passport 4 groats, fuel never more than 104.9 groats, Tunnel "free" on Tesco Points, we think we may have spent less than if we'd stayed at home

Huge thanks to suavecarve for starting this thread and keeping us all up to date on the rates of infection.

To Drexxer for suggesting we might want to look at Germany - 5 days before we were due to take a holiday!

To everyone who has contributed to this thread with useful information.

And finally, to the German folk, who very kindly let us in...!

Cheers
Red, Chris and Bannock.

 

[garjanco]

We arrived home today after leaving on the tunnel in the early hours.
We have had a fabulous 3 weeks on the mosel. Two of which we spent in the company of JockandRita and very enjoyable it was too.
Yes the SP were extremely busy but we always managed to find a pitch, therefore we didn't move around as often as we may have.
Thanks to suavecarve for this informative thread and posting the daily covid numbers to keep everyone upto date.
When we got to the tunnel last night it was mad busy, never seen it so busy before. We were questioned by UK border control but they didn't ask if we had completed the gov form.
Very sad to be home, we felt so safe in Germany .
Thanks everyone and have a fabulous time.
Janet and Gary

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Great read, thank you all!

 

[Bessy765]

We were at Rothenburg yesterday, aire was packed, walked up into the town, you would have thought that the virus didn’t exist, really busy whilst people were putting on masks to enter shops, when walking no attempt at distancing, restaurant tables close together seemed to be totally disregarding the serious situation that is happening, felt uncomfortable and left.

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[JockandRita]

I think they were talking about the 4 groats for the Dog Jock...

And I thought they were referring to Umwelt Plakettes for a MH and a Toad.
Never mind. We are onwards to Wertheim for the night, then going straight in to Wurzburg first thing tomorrow morning hopefully, as we expect the SP will be busy until late today.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Crazylegs]

And I thought they were referring to Umwelt Plakettes for a MH and a Toad.
Never mind. We are onwards to Wertheim for the night, then going straight in to Wurzburg first thing tomorrow morning hopefully, as we expect the SP will be busy until late today.

Cheers,

Jock.

Hi Jock, our neighbours have advised against a visit to Wurzburg ATM as it’s a covid hotspot. Naturally the Germans may have a different definition of a hotspot, so do your own research.

 

[PhilandMena]

Hi Jock, our neighbours have advised against a visit to Wurzburg ATM as it’s a covid hotspot. Naturally the Germans may have a different definition of a hotspot, so do your own research.

I can confirm when we were there we were told, One school, one bakery and one bar had been shut down. Discipline seemed to be very good though and like everywhere else we have been to in Germany it would appear they are all following the rules. Clearly some are not. Wurzburg Residence, not to be missed.

 

[PhilandMena]

Say hello to the guys in the "Delphin"? (white and blue van opposite you with the beige mid sized dog), ask him if he's got any of that fine peach schnapps going...
Cheers
Chris, Red and Bannock

They are still here as we are! We have decided to spend a further day here and already some vans have had to turn away as the place is rammed. Neat little town too.
Keep Safe.

 

[Roger20]

We were at Rothenburg yesterday, aire was packed, walked up into the town, you would have thought that the virus didn’t exist, really busy whilst people were putting on masks to enter shops, when walking no attempt at distancing, restaurant tables close together seemed to be totally disregarding the serious situation that is happening, felt uncomfortable and left.

We had a similar experience in Freiburg. Very busy and warm mid-afternoon (Saturday) and there was a music event going on - didn't look like any real attempt to stick to 1.5m distancing. Pedestrian areas were also very busy and no masks unless indoors so cycled through and didn't stay long. The day before it wasn't quite so bad so perhaps mid week popular centres aren't quite so full.

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