Our grand tour.

[berni109]

Leisurely start today emptied the tanks and put a bit of water in.
Mosided on across to Bergues by way of a french supermarket just off the highway. Wow! how prices have risen since we were last in France. Went in to buy some bottled drinking water and came out after with a bill of close to €50. Everything in there looked so fresh and clean and a cheese isle that stretched the width of the shop. Must have been the French equivalent of Waitrose. I did suggest to the wife that she wait in the van while I popped in for the water but she was having none of that.
Plat de jour for lunch €17 which was excellent. Remember when they used to be 10 franks with a glass of wine?
Bergues Aire (for those who haven't been) is a massive dusty carpark with no shade and it's sweltering this afternoon. Think that calls for a lie down with a hot woman but I will have to settle for a cold beer (old age is a terrible thing but if we are lucky it comes to all of us). Can't complain about the aire it's a free parkup and very convenient for the town and an hour's hop to Calais for a midday train tomorrow.
Did consider changing our booking and crossing this evening but at £108 there was no way that was going to happen.

 

[berni109]

Our grand tour has come to an end.
We travelled 5610 miles in total in just over 2 months. Far too much traveling in the time we had. Never say never but I don't think we will be doing those sorts of distances again.
Frightened to even look at the credit cards bills. It's so easy to just tap the card machine but so much easier than the old days of having to obtain local currency.
Bulgaria, Roumania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland were interesting places to visit but we only had a brief taste of what they had to offer. Barely scratched the surface of their tourist potential on our route but doubt we will ever be going back to any of them.

 

[PxJ]

I’ve followed your trip from the start, once you have had time to relax & chill, I’d love to see your actual route you took

 

[Borisski]

I have thoroughly enjoyed following your trip - thank you!

 

[berni109]

PxJ here you go the places we went to on our travels.

My Maps

My Maps makes it easy for you to create beautiful maps and share them with others.

www.google.com

Never published a MAP before so let me know if it don't work

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[PxJ]

Brilliant many thanks

 

[rolosroller]

Great road trip. And some fantastic photos.
Thanks for sharing

 

[jumartoo]

I've just found this thread and read it through.

What a great trip and a good report.

Thanks.

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

Just like jumartoo i have just found and read your thread….brilliant!! A thoroughly fab read!! Thank you

 

[berni109]

The epilogue - getting the van back to normal.
The easiest job was to take the drawer out and straighten the runner that got bent when it flew open on one of the many hairpin bends with unmissable potholes.
U may remember I destroyed the slide out step early on in Switzerland. Took me a couple of hours to get it off and fortunately the mounting brackets were only slightly bent so easy to straighten out. Refitting the new step went without a hitch and I managed to get the wiring right first time. Should I ever manage to do such a stupid thing again then the van will remain stepless. I definitely won't be spending that sort of money again.
The radio was also a write-off. Reading up I found the flip screen on this type of head unit often malfunction where the ribbon cables get worn through. Pity I didn't do enough research before I bought it.
Although quite an elegant solution to getting a touch screen in a single din space in the dash that worked well for a while not something to waste money on again.

This is the new unit I've fitted. Android 12 9"screen double din and inexpensive but now takes up both holes in the dash. Managed to fit it in such a way that the pop-up flap still can. Took ages to get android set-up as I wanted it - now to see if it lasts longer than the last radio.

Just need to fit the semi air and then all ready for the next adventure. Bring it on!

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[MotorhomersRus]

PxJ here you go the places we went to on our travels.

My Maps

My Maps makes it easy for you to create beautiful maps and share them with others.

www.google.com

Never published a MAP before so let me know if it don't work

can’t seem to access this ……is it still available?

 

[berni109]

My Maps

My Maps makes it easy for you to create beautiful maps and share them with others.

www.google.com