Tam & co the great winter escape

[Northernraider]

It's not too expensive €60 if you cause a tailback or €120 if involved in an accident without winter tyres.

Not to tempt fate but i ive managed to avoid getting stuck so far despite managing to find myself in snow even when trying to avoid it lol.

 

[Lenny HB]

Not to tempt fate but i ive managed to avoid getting stuck so far despite managing to find myself in snow even when trying to avoid it lol.

Rear wheel drive so should be OK.
Famous last words.

 

[Northernraider]

Finally parked up for the night at rhienau ....i should have been here just after 4 but bloody german inneficiency again and their badly thought out roadworks had me crawling through a tiny town half a car length at a time for 5 miles when they diverted everything off the motorway ...countless lorries stuck and struggling to squeeze through meant that 5 miles took over 90 minutes ...anyway im parked up in a nice wee spot in the middle of the river not that i can see much in the dark

 

[Jays2]

Are you stopping at Ulm?
nice walks along the river and into the town.
last time their, something was going on and the parking was too busy for us, so we move out to a quieter place.
have stayed previously and it was a quite place.

 

[barsteward]

That's great artwork, not the image I had when you said graffiti. I struggle to draw a stick man

So did Lowry but his estate has made an awful lot of dosh since.

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[Northernraider]

Are you stopping at Ulm?
nice walks along the river and into the town.
last time their, something was going on and the parking was too busy for us, so we move out to a quieter place.
have stayed previously and it was a quite place.

Probably not ...im heading to lake constance

 

[Leith Laddie]

Lake of Constance is stunning.

 

[Northernraider]

"A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle"

Eh?

 

[Jamesh]

"A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle"

Germaine Greer, I believe....Feminist author....

 

[CazPaul]

We bought our first Hymer from a dealer nr Lake Constance, Caramobil Stockach, another piece of useless information

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[Kozikot]

It does it at random to be honest ... previous owner was convinced it was diesel running back to the tank ...but im not sure ...you have to perform this wee ritual to get it to start lol.


At least it wont get stolen


As for the fridge its getting a 12v supply as the light comes on inside ....it just doesn't cool on 12v .

The gas is a bit iffy too as i explained to shrimp above.



This van is what you call roughing it ....one step up from a tent

1. Put a non return valve in the Fuel return pipe, so it can't return to the tank...

2. If the fuel filter holder is alloy, it may have become porous, quickest fix, Rattle Can Lacquer it.

3. 50p Seal in the Injector Pump needs changing, as air getting in...

Safe Journey Fella

 

[The Lord Squid]

"A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle"

Eh?

Mural number 3. I heard it all the time in the 1970s.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irina_Dunn

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Either Polar Steps is on a go slow or you are having a serious lie in!

 

[chaser]

Either Polar Steps is on a go slow or you are having a serious lie in!

Don't know which way he's heading, but he is going to be close to Switzerland by tonight.

 

[Fat Albert]

Polar steps on my PC indicates Tam going through Schramberg heading south south east but my iphone still has him in bed.

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[Northernraider]

Either Polar Steps is on a go slow or you are having a serious lie in!

I did have a bit of a lie in ...got up at 9am had breakfast and a little walk ....but a driech morning so then we hit the road around 10.30 i think

 

[Northernraider]

Last nights stop. The park4night description made this sound idylic ...perhaps in summer but i didn't see it lol.

Have now stopped for lunch and a leg stretch at sleppingen just on the banks of lake constance

 

[Northernraider]

One thing i have noticed is that just like Scotland it don't matter how beautiful it is in the summer ,france, Belgium Germany etc are just as grey driech and depressing at this time of year . At least its not raining today which is a bonus but i can't wait for some sunshine and a bit of nice scenery.


Im wondering if im better going down brenner through austria in to north italy then through the dolomites to croatia or going further east then through Slovenia. Ive not been to Slovenia before which is why id planned that route but i may just be wasting valuable shengen days. ...concious i only have 90 this trip and i would like at least 8 weeks in greece


Jackie is on the ferry tonight. She'll be skipping through france and north Italy and meeting me somewhere at somepoint. Im obviously later this year so not sure which way is better weather.

 

[jockaneezer]

You might get a chance to try out those snow chains if you take the Dolomite route ?

 

[Northernraider]

You might get a chance to try out those snow chains if you take the Dolomite route ?

Thats my worry

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[Figaro]

I think I'd head east to salzburg then cut down through Austria and Slovenia, but there are lots of options.
One of the swiss passes to Italian lakes would also be good

 

[TinaLes]

Any snow free, toll free, route would do me, if of course that's possible. That Go Box system sounds both expensive & confusing as we have all read recently on here.
LES

 

[Northernraider]

Any snow free, toll free, route would do me, if of course that's possible. That Go Box system sounds both expensive & confusing as we have all read recently on here.
LES

I avoided toll roads completely last year and intend to do the same again .

 

[Northernraider]

Ok so whoever it was that said lake constance was beautiful .....all i can say is you've not been in the Highlands of scotland as it is nae loch ness thats fir sure. To say i found it underwhelming would be an understatement but ive driven the length of it and to me it was like driving the coast road from Dunfermline to kincardine along the firth of forth ....boring

Anyway im now onnthe outskirts of Landau thinking where do i go next . Its sunny so thats better but its late in the day and not found a nice overnight spot yet. And somewhere for a decent walk before it gets dark

 

[gus-lopez]

One thing i have noticed is that just like Scotland it don't matter how beautiful it is in the summer ,france, Belgium Germany etc are just as grey driech and depressing at this time of year .

Most places are.

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[rb62]

Maybe worth a look

 

[Figaro]

To say i found it underwhelming would be an understatement but ive driven the length of it and to me it was like driving the coast road from Dunfermline to kincardine

I think your mistake is staying on the main road, there are some beautful towns and villages on the shores. But as you said earlier, everywhere looks better with blue skies and sunshine, the cloud and rain will make most places look unappealing.

 

[Leith Laddie]

I think your mistake is staying on the main road, there are some beautful towns and villages on the shores. But as you said earlier, everywhere looks better with blue skies and sunshine, the cloud and rain will make most places look unappealing.

I totally agree some lovely towns, I've driven along the Forth many times and I think you are overselling the views, you'll be getting a bung from Visit Scotland. I'll give you the Highlands though. The Bodensee is pretty too.

 

[Northernraider]

Found a quiet spot up a big hill at an old abandoned holiday village ....it has a nice view and is deadly quiet so that will do us for tonight . ....german camper just pulled in and parked a foot away despite being a mahoosive carpark

 

[Helen Ariel]

One thing i have noticed is that just like Scotland it don't matter how beautiful it is in the summer ,france, Belgium Germany etc are just as grey driech and depressing at this time of year . At least its not raining today which is a bonus but i can't wait for some sunshine and a bit of nice scenery.


Im wondering if im better going down brenner through austria in to north italy then through the dolomites to croatia or going further east then through Slovenia. Ive not been to Slovenia before which is why id planned that route but i may just be wasting valuable shengen days. ...concious i only have 90 this trip and i would like at least 8 weeks in greece


Jackie is on the ferry tonight. She'll be skipping through france and north Italy and meeting me somewhere at somepoint. Im obviously later this year so not sure which way is better weather.

South of France is pretty stunning today but fresh as it's windy. I noticed a massive change in scenery when we came out of the central massif into Southern France. I just love the dry, rocky, piney landscapes. So much nicer for winter than damp, muddy, bare trees.

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