Tam &Toby do Europe ...Take two

[Val 3 dogs]

Both having the dogs and travelling to new places is a a steep learning curve Tam.
It was wet here most of yesterday and so far again today, but when I walked the dogs out during a brief dry spell looking South of here there was a sprinkling of snow on the mountains.
It may not be what I want but it is what the land, flora and fauna needs. Nature knows better than us Tam.

 

[Reallyretired]

I have toured France many times over 30 odd years and have learnt to avoid the coast. The med is built up and expensive and the Atlantic coast is boring and flat. Inland is where you find the good places and the friendly French but avoid Paris even the French won't go there if they can avoid it.

 

[klaatu]

The weather was pretty good in France before you arrived

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

That bit of the coast road is stunning and worth the drive....but before you get there why not visit the Camargue which is really interesting, and then detour inland slightly to Arles and Avignon, which are both worth a visit. You can then drive through Provence heading East which is lovely, and then drop back down to the coast .

Someone mentioned the Gorge du Verdon .....its fantastic and well worth a detour.

That does sound a good plan, can't vouch for the towns, but the gorge is impressive, went there while on a short trip to Monaco, top place for people watching and you see cars you never see anywhere else, only time I've seen a McClaren F1.

We hired a pedalo to view some of the gorge from sea level, they call it Europe's Grand Canyon!

 

[Lenny HB]

Absolutely peeing it down this morning and has been since 6.30 when it woke me up.
Weather forecast is for rain and wind all day today
I really wish I'd stayed in Spain another month. All you seasoned European travellers should have told me the weather's shit over here lol.

What do you expect, they have been saving it for you because you keep dissing their country.

When we went down through France in Feb it was warmer than Spain and came back 2/3 weeks ago travelling up to Belgium then a few days in northern France getting home last weekend and it was all warmer than Spain. Wish we hadn't bothered going to Spain.

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

 

[Grianan]

I think I understand how Tam feels .... I’m comfortable in France, speak the language and feel at home there. We’re planning a trip to Germany this summer and it all feels alien .. the language, the weather, the countryside, the food ..... but I hope to learn to love it

 

[Lenny HB]

I think I understand how Tam feels .... I’m comfortable in France, speak the language and feel at home there. We’re planning a trip to Germany this summer and it all feels alien .. the language, the weather, the countryside, the food ..... but I hope to learn to love it

Germany is 2nd Motorhome Heaven after France. In the west loads of people speak English on the old eastern side their 2nd languae is Russian but a lot of the youngsters speak English. Fantastic underrated country, food a bit grim though.

 

[nicholsong]

Germany is 2nd Motorhome Heaven after France. In the west loads of people speak English on the old eastern side their 2nd languae is Russian but a lot of the youngsters speak English. Fantastic underrated country, food a bit grim though.

I used to have that view but on a recent stop at Bautzen 50km from Polish border on A4/E40, which is a regular stop for us, both our normal restaurants were closed, so we ventured into a new one where the food was excellent, equally up to French standards.

At the end of the meal I said to the lady in charge of front-of-house that she should keep the chef. She said 'I will - he's my husband' Absolutely PMSL. From now on the other restaurants will not get a look-in.

Bautzen is a very attractive Medieval town.

Geoff

 

[Langtoftlad]

Tam @Northernraider in France

 

[Drum Major]

Not much better here believe me

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

 

[Northernraider]

Aye I know I sound like a grump lol

Listen I suffer from depression....I refuse to pump myself full of pills so I find other ways to try and keep myself in a positive mindset.

Most of the time I do that easy enough but sometimes when I've had a run of bad luck or I over think things or dwell on negatives I sink In a hole a bit and it's not always easy to drag myself out. Add to that I get bored of my own company and feel a little lonely at times I can end up a right misery lol.

I'm a sun lover....I used to suffer real bad seasonal affective disorder over the winters in Scotland...had uv lamps and everything to try help and I always had holidays booked somewhere sunny mid October and January so I had something to look forward to.
So I'm just not a fan of cold , wind and rain.

When it's warm and sunny I'm generally in a better mood.

I'm not sure what I expected of France but I think the not being able to speak a word of the language doesn't help as I do feel a little isolated. ....Not sure that's gonna be better in Italy either lol.

I'm also a real nightmare of a worrier, when I made my rough plan of travel I'd planned to spend maybe 3 weeks in France so I wasn't driving loads every day and hoped to find a few places where I'd stay 2 or 3 nights which then breaks up what I'm spending in fuel etc.
I feel I've been putting money in the tank every second day for nearly 10 days now so my budget for April has nearly gone lol and it's only the 6th
I hadn't planned to be going In to Italy till start of may but I've not found anywhere that's been nice enough to stay more than 1 night. And unlike places in Spain where I've met other folk both off here and at places I've parked I've not spoke to anyone face to face since I left @gus-lopez place which feels like weeks ago lol.
Like I said most of the time I'm fine and it will pass I just need to break the negative cycle.


SO anyway ...I left wherever it was I was last night around 9am as it was absolutely heaving it down. I decided to head inland in the direction of this gorge place as despite what folk think I do listen to others advice lol and folk seem to think that area is better ....so I stopped off at this aire to use the free services.

Which if you're in this area I can reccomend as they even have a free shower block you can use if you wish.

I then continued on and stopped here for a coffee and a wee walk with dogs as the rain had stopped. Windy as anything though and nearly getting blown over so it was a short walk lol and the rain is back on

Going to head to "esparron de Vernon " now where I'll stop for lunch and possibly the night.

Will see

 

[alex n]

Do yourself a favour Tam, get back into Spain - that's what you like. It's not a competition, life's too short!
Whatever you decide, go and enjoy and 'aw the best'.

 

[Northernraider]

Do yourself a favour Tam, get back into Spain - that's what you like. It's not a competition, life's too short!
Whatever you decide, go and enjoy and 'aw the best'.

I like Spain but prior to last year I'd never been before.
I want to see different places...that was my read on for doing this as there's a lot of world out there I've not seen before so I want to stick with my plan of Italy, Greece Albania, Croatia then see where I am after that.

I may only ever get one chance to do this and to be honest I did all the coastline of Spain last time.
Hopefully the weather and temperature will improve soon.
I think maybe I just left Spain a month early

 

[Drum Major]

Just get on with your adventure we are all enjoying it with you

 

[Feltwell]

So I'm just not a fan of cold , wind and rain.

Yeah, I can see that's a bit of a handicap for a Scot - a bit like my Maltese friend who burns to a crisp at the first sight of the sun (He's half English - that half includes all the skin, clearly).

I know what you mean though, I don't have to resort to lamps etc but everyone's mood seems to lighten when the spring sunshine emerges. Even when I've only got inside jobs to do, I'm much more likely to get on with them and be in a better mood when the sun is out.

But I also don't do heat - at all - make it 21 degrees, sunny and with a stiff coastal breeze to take the edge off the heat and I'm in heaven. Mrs F DOES NOT agree. At all.

How anyone copes above 28 degrees is beyond me, and as for when it's warmer outside than the temperature of your blood, surely that can't be healthy...

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

 

[Four of us]

I think most people would find it tough travelling alone for a long period of time, add in crappy weather and a motorhome journey can lose its joys...... However, the weather will improve, and the joy of motorhoming is that you can adjust your plans accordingly. While you're in the area we loved St Croix du Verdon. The lake is very pretty and its great for the dogs. We stayed in the municipal site right down by the lake but there was an aire up the hill by the town.

There's also a nice aire at Castellane, to the north of the Gorge. It's right in the town beside the river and is good for a circular dog walk... you can see what's important to us when travelling!

We found Italy quite hard work but the Istrian part of Croatia better. But I would tend to follow the weather. Everything looks better in the sun.

 

[Feltwell]

I think most people would find it tough travelling alone for a long period of time, add in crappy weather and a motorhome journey can lose its joys...…

I agree, my house is a near-constant chaos of kids and activities and DIY and Lord knows what else, and I yearn for peace & quiet. But I absolutely hate it after about 48 hours here on my own. I work from home a lot in my job, which has lots of very valuable benefits - but I do go a bit stir crazy if I don't go out somewhere at least once a week.

The weather will improve, you will move on & find some places you like, you will find some people you like, and all will seem much better. Hunkering down when it's cold & wet can be quite pleasant for a day or two, but then quickly loses it's appeal.

 

[Clarky]

Oh dear! Sorry you’re not enjoying France Tam.
We’ve just spent almost four weeks in that part of South East France and the weather has been glorious. We had a couple of tiny showers that didn’t even dampen the dust.
Don’t give up on France, there are many lovely places.

Richard.

 

[Podney]

Keep your chin up! Spending so much time on your own can be a bit self centering,and the more you think about yourself,the worse it gets.
My advice......get in some bars,get some company,preferably young and female.

 

[nicholsong]

Tam

As per 'keades' post, another vote for St Croix. We stayed at the Aire. It is a bit of a steep walk up to the village/town for croissant and baguette, but even further from the lakeside. Nice place, good views and handy for the Gorge.

Geoff

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

 

[Val 3 dogs]

Thank you for sharing your feelings and troubles with us Tam.
I know telling you to cheer up won't help, but hang in there, we are getting nearer to the warm/hotter weather every day.
We are now close to Easter, the tourists and students will be out in force soon. Though it is very non pc to say it, lasses in shorts and short skirts will be about everywhere soon.
Jade and Milo will ensure you will always have someone to talk with (even if it is a wrinkly old guy in the skud)
Go on with your plans but accept they don't have to be cast in stone!
You know you can return to Spain whenever you want coz we all luv ya babe

 

[Northernraider]

Well I've been sat here doijg some calculations from my travel log

Since I left @gus lopez at Lorca I've travelled 1357 miles.
In that time I've used €260 of diesel
Using an average of €1.30 a litre that's 200 litres.
Dividing by 4.5 gives 44 gallons of fuel
Dividing 1357 by 44 gives approx 30mpg

Rough estimate of course but I'd worked it out around 25mpg before so somewhere between the 2 is probably right.
I left there on the 23rd march it's a lot of miles this month.
I've now done 4220 miles since leaving home.

Spent £717 on fuel between 15/01/19 And 24/03/19 and £222 between 24/03/19 And 06/04/19

Total £937 in diesel

 

[Val 3 dogs]

As you say Tam, that is one hell of a lot of miles, but I imagine you are well pleased with the mpg .

 

[Northernraider]

As you say Tam, that is one hell of a lot of miles, but I imagine you are well pleased with the mpg .

Well it's better than I got with franky which was a flat 20/21 mpg I think I just notice it more when doing lots of miles in shorter time. As I'd sort of ambled down from girona to Malaga over a good 6 weeks you don't notice the fuel usage as much but when you do that many miles in 2 weeks I guess it feels more and causes me to panic if I've budgeted enough to do the route I plan.

Like I said earlier I tend to over think and worry unnecessarily it's just how I am.
It's not like I don't have the money there or indeed a contingency fund etc I am prepared.
I got this from my mother lol I always have what if at the back of my mind regardless of how hard I try to think all will be fine.

So I won't get stranded etc I think it's just because I've no income at present so what I have in the bank is all I have till I return to some sort of gameful employment.

Hard habits are hard to break and I do think it's just when multiple things go wrong in succession my brain hits spiral lol.

On the plus side I definately notice Toby is quieter and handles better now so not all bad.

Although Im now having control panel issues lol .....It's never ending

 

[Northernraider]

Parked up overlooking the lake here

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

 

[Val 3 dogs]

Oh Goodness Tam, as you say it's never ending.
I guess in my case this is where ignorance is bliss, I wouldn't notice anything wrong with the panel and if I did, definitely wouldn't know what to do about it.
All manner of things might break down with me but at least having no idea til it happens saves me a lot of worry!

 

[Carol]

Hi Tam, I hope the weather clears a bit., the Gorge Verdon is spectacular the colour of the water is usually crystal clear aqua,, it is quite a hairy drive though.
If you have a hour to spare see can you find the film "under the Tuscan sun" a true story we seen the film and set out to find Cortona where the story was set We found the walled town just as portrayed it was very friendly and we were told by the police lady (wearing high heel boots very red lipstick and carrying a gun) that we could stay on the car park immediately under the town walls no problem at all, the was even a water tap we could use. We also enjoyed our visit to Assisi have a Google seen what you think
We really enjoyed Italy though we did struggle finding food we liked but maybe that was just us.

 

[Northernraider]

Hi Tam, I hope the weather clears a bit., the Gorge Verdon is spectacular the colour of the water is usually crystal clear aqua,, it is quite a hairy drive though.
If you have a hour to spare see can you find the film "under the Tuscan sun" a true story we seen the film and set out to find Cortona where the story was set We found the walled town just as portrayed it was very friendly and we were told by the police lady (wearing high heel boots very red lipstick and carrying a gun) that we could stay on the car park immediately under the town walls no problem at all, the was even a water tap we could use. We also enjoyed our visit to Assisi have a Google seen what you think
We really enjoyed Italy though we did struggle finding food we liked but maybe that was just us.

Both cortona and Assisi look my cup of tea ...especially Assisi which I'd actually planned to visit anyway.

Although no longer practicing or a believer I was raised as a Catholic so there's places in Italy that the names are in my head. Turin from the Turin shroud , Assisi as my gran used to go on about st Patrick of assisi etc
I'll look out for the movie on my download site x

 

[Lenny HB]

Although Im now having control panel issues lol .....It's never ending

Self inflicted, you keep using. You know Motorhomes are supposed to sit on the drive for 9 months of the year.

What's it doing or not doing then?

 

[Carol]

I hope its St. Francis lol, the sun changes the colour of the town as you look at it, also the churches in the lower city are well worth some time, Eddie was totally taken with the intricate patterns in the tiles on the floor in one of the churches.
Forgot the big Pork Baps with some specilal bits in can't remember what the proper name is are gorgeous

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