Lenny's long trek south

[Lenny HB]

Started our trek down to Greece today, normally like to amble down slowly, but had to cut 2 days off the journey as need to be in Riminn by Saturday ready for the San Marino Motor GP on Sunday, 'er indoors still not very happy about it, she spent ages searching for her ear plugs.

Arrived at Dieppe at 2 pm, first vehicle off the Ferry, that's a first, a quick shop & fuel fill at the small Careforre and on our way.
Camped up in a little village Englancourt about 20 miles east of St Quintin, little car park by the church with fabulous views over the valley, a bit hairy getting here last couple of miles, the road was only a few inches wider than the van, all roads in and out of the village about 7 foot wide.

Want to try and make it to Aulendorfe tomorrow (probably take a couple of days knowing us) nice Stellaplatz there, also known as Carthago City, sssh, haven't told 'er indoors that bit. Could be risking life & limb.

Also have a brilliantly fast Fon connection.

 

[Forestboy]

Enjoy Misano be awesome if Rossi wins at home, we were at Mugello this year what an atmosphere.
Looks like I'll be at Valencia on the bike in November for the season finale as my lad wants to go. Bloody camping though my old joints dont enjoy that.

 

[Lenny HB]

Really looking forward to it. We are only camping, in a Hymer of course.

 

[Lenny HB]

Last nights stopover

 

[The Dudess]

Whereabouts in Greece are you heading? Ferry or via Albania?

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[Judge Mental]

Hope you are lucky @ Carthago city as when we visited end of July the massive showroom was near empty as most stock moved to Dusseldorf show. Its an impressive place, far more impressive then Hymer center nearby. The high end luxary vans are built here and its the service centre for all else as well...good Aire, quiet at night.

safe travels

Eddie

edit: Lenny going via ferry

 

[Lenny HB]

Whereabouts in Greece are you heading? Ferry or via Albania?

Acona to Patras ferry on Wendsday.

 

[Lenny HB]

Have been without internet for days.

On Wednesday we made it to Aulendorfe after a drive of 424 miiles, someone in the van was not impressed as I drove into the Stellaplatz at Carthago City. Next morning Mijhan had mellowed and we spent several hours going through every single model in the showroom. Intial impression of build quality was not good, not helped as the first van was very battle scarred from Dusseldorfe. Some of their engineering was good, gas struts even on small locker doors, insides let down by cheap tacky chrome CBE switches, shower screens that were a jigsaw of pieces, shower trays that creaked when you stood on them, not good for daily use especially on some models were you needed to stand in the shower to access wash basin & loo.

Anyway Mijhan liked the Chic S plus and the Highliner, "they won't fit on the drive " I said, apart from comitting financial ruin & bankruptsy, she says, we can make an entrance down the lane into the garden and keep it in the back garden - arrrg!!!!.

We could be tempted with a Chic C Line i 4.9 or 5.0, but having realised just how good our Hymer build quality is, doubt if we will change vans at least for a couple of years.

Carried on in the afternoon going through Austria via the Fernpass and Brenna pass, stopped the night at Wolf, parked at Wolf Gasthous in exchange for a buying a meal.

Next morning as we cross the border into Italy Mijhan spots an expensive looking outlet centre, 2 hours later an expensive pair of casual shoes each plus an expensive luminous green drainer for the van, we are back on the road. Arrived at Carpi, looked like a modern Italian town until we walked into the centre, an amazing large plaza with histroic buildings all round.

Saturday arived at our stopover next to Misano World Circuit, did a recky down to the circuit entrance, came back with the most expensive T shirt I've ever brought, but to go to a Motor GP in Italy without a Rossi T shirt might be risking life and limb, all Italians appear to worship the god (Rossi).

Race day, arrived at circuit a bit after 8 didn't realise circuit opened at 5 am on race day, we managed to find 2 sq feet of grass on the bank to stand on, Mijhan took her knitting but common sense prevailed and she didn't get it out for fear of being lynched.

If you thought Motor GP bikes were loud, nothing on an Italian crowd when Vale (Rossi) overtook Lorenzo for the lead, and later when Lorenzo crashed out the crowds reaction was unbelievable Mijhan got knocked over. Didn't think it was possibe that one man could have such a huge following. A Moto GP in Italy is certanly an experience. Final 6 laps were a bit of a dissapointment, due to 2 changes of bikes. We had a few drops of rain on our side of the circuit but nothing that would make it anything but a dry race so must have been more at the back of the circuit. With so many bikes out of place no one knew who had won (no screens near us) at first, until they looked it up on their phones.

Couple of phots of Carpi and of course Moto GP

 

[Judge Mental]

Ah! Gastahou wolf.. stayed there years ago....fantastic dinner and beer...peaceful night

Forgot to get a Three SIM did we !

 

[Lenny HB]

Ah! Gastahou wolf.. stayed there years ago....fantastic dinner and beer...peaceful night

Forgot to get a Three SIM did we !

Too much beer, every time glass was empty landlady grabed it and refilled.

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[hilldweller]

Did you get any sleep on the campsite ?

Yes, main race was mighty confusing. Redding fell off yet finished 3rd, Smith was showing 20th once yet finished 2nd.

It's racing, but not as we know it Jim. Might as well be F1, the results did not match rider skills or machine capabilities.

Would love to have been there with you though. Did you book the campsite ?

 

[Judge Mental]

Three SIM no good in Greece anyway

 

[Judge Mental]

Too much beer, every time glass was empty landlady grabed it and refilled.

Short walk home!

 

[Lenny HB]

Did you get any sleep on the campsite ?

Yes, main race was mighty confusing. Redding fell off yet finished 3rd, Smith was showing 20th once yet finished 2nd.

It's racing, but not as we know it Jim. Might as well be F1, the results did not match rider skills or machine capabilities.

Would love to have been there with you though. Did you book the campsite ?

Booked a Seosta behind circuit as no circuit camping, needn't have bothered farmers open up fields and loads of Motorhomes on this industrial estate which has nice green areas, no problem with sleep peaceful night.
Until they changed bikes the 2 nd time it was awesome, the lead Rossi was pulling out on Lorenzo was incredible, how Markas won didn't add up from about lap 10 he was well off the pace.

 

[Lenny HB]

Filled up with LPG, first garage a blank refusal to fill hab tanks, next one no problems.

Quiet day on Monday original plan was ferry to Greece on Tuesday, that one was cancelled (we were imformed a couple of months ago), now on a boat on Wednesday, they have given us a free meal as compensation.

Tuesday had a slow drive down the coast road to Ancona and boy was it slow with road quality similar to Belgium. By comparison the Autostrada's have the best road surfaces in Europe, a few years since we were last in Italy we had forgotten about the shabby chic armco (rusty).

Spent the night on Sosta by the Auchan on the outskirts of Ancona, topped up the wine and gin stocks, ferry sails at 2 pm.

Fridge decided to pack up on gas, managed to sort it, see my post on "http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/what-did-you-fix-today.92000/page-17#post-1554269What have you fixed today" post No.338.

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[Judge Mental]

Weather looking good in Greece...are you getting emails as i have some things to discuss re van

 

[Lenny HB]

Did have a good connection gone a bit tits up now couldn't even edit by screw up on the in last post. Maybe OK now.

Now on the harbour front at Itea, Central Greece not far from Delfi, temp was still in the 30's at 7pm, Fantastic vent & Truma Combi on vent setting working overtime.

Silly boy I didn't bring the external screens.

Eddie, use Whats app, at least the message will come thtough when I get a connection or text.

 

[Lenny HB]

Itea appeared dead when we arrived at 5:30 yesterday thought it was just out of season, went for a stroll along the waterfront at 9:30 pm, full of life all the bars and restaurants busy no sign of recession here.
After a few beers in a local bar a peaceful night

Spent today looking at old rocks at Delphi, returned to Itea for the night will try a local restaurant tonight.

Some pics of old rocks.

 

[Judge Mental]

Itea appeared dead when we arrived at 5:30 yesterday thought it was just out of season, went for a stroll along the waterfront at 9:30 pm, full of life all the bars and restaurants busy no sign of recession here.
After a few beers in a local bar a peaceful night

Spent today looking at old rocks at Delphi, returned to Itea for the night will try a local restaurant tonight.

Some pics of old rocks.

View attachment 76156

View attachment 76158

Oh my....you are DEAD! You wait till i tell her

 

[Lenny HB]

Saturday now, set off heading north only got as far as Thermopyles hot springs, the area of the springs were a bit of a dissapointment with long dissused spa buildings, but a dip in the boiling hot water was great apart from coming out stinking of sulphur.

Nice big wild area to camp next door all on our own, next morning had another smelly dip and lazy day before setting off in the afternoon.

Were going to head north towards Mount Olympus, but Mi decided she wanted to look at the Pelion peninsula we got as far as Anchialos but on the way there took a wrong turning - not a good idea in Greece as we found out the hard way. We ended up going through a hill top village, very steep hill, nasty sharp turns, road barely wider than the van, still suprised how we got through unscathed. Parked up for the night on the harbour front & went for a meal.
Horrendous storm during the night, clear next morning, went for some bread and milk and discovered very intersting archaeological site, visited after breakfast, only 2 Euro, started to rain got back to the van before the heavens really opened, turned into another horrendous storm, within 15min the water was rising in the road and about 6" deep under the van, kept a careful eye on it ready for a quick getaway, too horrendous to drive in, so sat tight for an hour or more.

Once cleared drove on to Kato Gatzea and to a site as we needed to do some washing and not been able to find a launderette, made another mistake on the way; ended up in a road with cars parked all down the left side and trees with branches down to 2 m on the right, very traumatic with the branches rubbing down the side of the van . Got off lightly with only the Snipe dish skewed round a bit (it reset OK). Weather has been so bad with constant storms ended up here for 3 nights (beats last years 2 nights on sites) didn't even get out of the van yesterday. Worst appears to have passed as had a sunny afternoon so will move on in the morning, not sure which way yet as we have lost a few days. Looks like a cold week ahead forcasts showing only 22 -23 deg

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[Judge Mental]

Prices and photos plse

Nice food?

 

[Lenny HB]

Prices of what?

Greek food, salads OK main courses so far a bit crap.
lntrestingly beer and wine same price in restaurants & bars as in shops.
Local wine quite drinkable needn't have stocked up with Italian wine.

The boss won't let me post photos of her in the hot springs most of the other ones are of old rocks and been stuck in the van for 2 days, see if I can find some tomorrow half past midnight here going to bed,

 

[Judge Mental]

food and drink....fuel, campsites whatever really...... (I know you wont be using many)

 

[Lenny HB]

Beer €3 for 500 ml sometimes draught cheaper, wine varies as normal but cheap local stuff €3 for 250 ml, shop prices the same. Food, starter salads (often huge) €3-€6, main courses €6-€15, a lot of fish priced by kilo up to €50/kilo not risked that, gone for fixed price on menu.
Fuel €1.08 - €1.12 & no problems with supply, LPG plentiful not needed it yet, topped up in Italy.
Camp site we are on €16 (3 nights here has blown our years budget) same price ACSI or not another ten quid wasted.
Difficult finding food most of the small towns and villages only have bars & cafes dozens of them but no food shops.

 

[scousebird]

I love reading about & looking at other peoples holidays. Seems like you're enjoying yourselves

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[Judge Mental]

Thanks Len I'm sure its not just me who is interested in the practicalities of a trip...have fun

 

[Lenny HB]

A few pics, sorry not as good quality as usual.

Thermopyles hot springs.

Wild spot by the springs, all on our own.

An old rock at Anchialos

Well I thought we parked in a road!

Kato Gatzea from our pitch.

 

[Judge Mental]

Hope you have umbrellas..just watched Euro weather report and Greece looks very stormy. East side looks like it has half a chance...

 

[DBK]

Thanks for the pictures. The weather looks a bit iffy in Greece for the next day or so but should be better next week. The sun has finally made an appearance here in Brittany after a long absence!

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks for the pictures. The weather looks a bit iffy in Greece for the next day or so but should be better next week. The sun has finally made an appearance here in Brittany after a long absence!

We have been in the mountains weather has been mostly crap for a week now on the west coast 21° an some sun. Greece's worst weather for a hindered years had one day at 12°. First time had a decent internet connection for a week, will try & do an update on our travels
, still recovering from walking up Mount Olympus, made it to second high test peak 9,550 ft, took two days second day on the mountain for over 12 hours.

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