Overland to Bosnia Herzegovina 2014 (Hopefully)

[XCovlov70]

Preview

The County Flags in hopefully the order in which we will pass through & maybe spend some time there, but the names have been left blank once again to test your Geography!



While from AutoRoute, here is the route we will be taking, but this time ‘Anticlockwise’ as 3 years ago via some different places we travelled in a ‘Clockwise’ direction.



So now all that remains to be said as we prepare for the ‘Off’ is…..

‘Welcome’ to new and previous ‘Travellers in the Third Seat’ which we hope you will find comfortable in ‘Flamenco Red’ (That’s the Swedish ‘Tug’) and enjoy the tour as we haul the ‘Tin Tent’ (That’s the Caravan) across Europe.

I will try to keep the blog updated as we go, but….
I make no promises on that, as it depends on Internet availability in the places we stop at.

[XCovlov70]

Stage 1 “Across a bit of Wales then a bit of England to Calais (France)”

Once again we follow the same roads to get to Eurotunnel and the trip under the English Channel to France, so after a quick check around ‘Flamenco Red’ & the ‘Tin Tent’….



While making sure that ‘Flamenco Red’ would once again act a ‘Road Chef’ by cooking the Beef Curry that was for evening meal when we got to Calais…



Finally on our way and as we cross the ‘Second Severn Crossing’ looking over to our left we see the ‘First Severn Crossing’ that was built to take over from the old Car Ferry.



While traffic was quite heavy as we went along the Motorway when we reached the M25 which has the reputation of being the ‘Biggest Car Park in the World’ within a short distance we saw how that reputation was made as we were going Anti-Clockwise around London we started to pass very heavy and at times stationary traffic going the other way.



It took around 4 miles to reach the end of the 4 Lanes going clockwise that were ‘congested’ which I guess was partly due to it being a Saturday afternoon.



Next stop was Folkestone and ‘Eurotunnel’ where we checked in for an earlier train for France and our first overnight halt in Calais at Carrefour Market which also provided a fill up of Gazole at much lower prices per litre than the outlets back in the UK….

Tomorrow we continue on to Luxembourg.

[XCovlov70]

Stage 2 “Overnight in Calais then on to Luxembourg”

Once again as we made our way to the train in Folkestone (Which is in the UK), we end up in France before we get onboard as we pass through security and passport control checks, then drive to the platform for boarding.



After a trip ‘Underwater’ travelling at times at 142Kmph it was a quick but slightly ‘wobbly’ ride to the other side, but much better than being ‘On top in a Force 9 Gale’ trying to hang on to your Toupee as you step outside to just see how high the waves are!!!

After a quiet overnight at 07:50hrs we set off for Luxembourg and being Sunday except for certain types of Heavy Goods Vehicles (Frozen food being one) no others are allowed on the roads in Europe on Sunday, however we did find as we tried to stop at the ‘Aires’ closest to Calais to get some breakfast that all the parking spaces were occupied by Trucks!

While carrying on and getting into Belgium the condition of the road surfaces is rapidly becoming full of potholes that are growing!







As we passed by this sign I did wonder if any of the inhabitants had taken up a specialised occupation or received some sort of training in the art of, as it was also the name of a nearby Village.



As we then managed to find a ‘Rest Area’ with a parking space I couldn’t help wonder about the sign on the rear of this Truck, as to what happens with the other hand when the left is occupied?



One of the long stretches in Belgium that is in better condition than a lot of the others!



While not long after we came to the ‘Old’ Belgium – Luxembourg Border Crossing…



Then just on the other side we have entered and are in…..





After another 40 or 50 Miles we come off the ‘TOLL FREE Motorway’ and head off along the main road to the Camping Bon Accueil, Alzingen for our next stop…..









Must have timed it nicely as Reception only opens at 14:00hrs for the afternoon session while we arrived at 13:55hrs but found the door open!
While the place looks the same from when we stayed here 3 or 4 years ago, the price/night has not risen while they have now installed a Wi-Fi ‘Hotspot’ in the centre of the campsite which gives everyone access so you don’t have to go and sit outside the reception office doing your updates or email!





After a leisurely afternoon and a couple of small ‘tasks’ that needed to be done we settled down for a quiet evening, a decent night’s sleep then after breakfast the following morning set off to get the ‘Eurobus’ into Luxembourg City. In making our way to the Bus stop we passed this rather nice house on the main road…..



Then after just under 20 minutes we got off at ‘Luxembourg Royal quai 1’ while just around the corner is the ‘Hotel des Postes’ building….



Making our way back down to the high wall of the city the next 4 pictures are clear parts of the view that we could see while trees blocked the rest….









While looking back into the city you are confronted by a number of small streets that run away from the wall….



Moving along the wall further we came to a War Memorial which commemorated both First & Second World Wars with the following inscription in 4 languages around the base of the memorial….





Next stop was Luxembourg Cathedral …..





















A bit further along you find yourself in the ‘City Judiciaire’ area with this small model and an Key to each of the buildings presumably for people who need to attend the different courts for one reason or another……







A couple of the buildings…..





While the view from this part of the city was rather good…..







With the constant take-off and landing of all sizes of aircraft at Luxembourg International Airport



We then moved back into the city with the intention of heading over to an older part with these views as we walked along….





Having spoken over coffee to an English speaking resident who told us that property was expensive here, we were then not surprised when we saw this Parking Place advertised in an Estate Agents at €175/Month ! (£147 or $220)



While a little bit further along was this rather lovely little shop!



For some reason that we could not establish this ‘Monument’ had something to do with the story of ‘The Pied Piper of Hammel’









Next stop was…..




Then back on the main road we pass this small set of fountains….



As we looked down to where we wanted to get to….



Bit further along the road and we find the pathway going down…..



With some interesting and BIG ‘Wild life’ clinging to the wall at the side of the pathway….





Then we finally get to ‘Pfaffenthall’



Building work still uncovers old ruins…..















Good job we didn’t drive here!



While this was a good spot for our ‘picnic lunch’….





Then we start the climb back up to Luxembourg City….





Then it was up this last section and back to the Bus Stop for the return to the campsite…..



That’s it for today as the DARK Clouds have filled the sky and that ‘Watering Can’ from up above has just been turned ‘ON’!

Next stop for tomorrow is a place called ‘Bitche’!
NOT you dear! It's the name of the town!

[XCovlov70]

Stage 3 “Luxembourg to Bitche”

After a rather wet night as the rain finally stopped around 03:00hrs we were on our way by 08:15 for the short trip to Bitche, but not before we had spotted this arrival on the campsite which looked rather nice for an ‘Overland Camper’ but I never got chance to enquire which way the occupants had come as the camper was ‘Made in Australia ….



Rush hour for traffic coming into Luxembourg…..





Next we were back on the Autobahn and into Germany….



As we get near Saarbrucken we go past a very large Steel Mill in Völklingen with the Blast Furnaces……



Followed we think by the Rolling Mill…..



Followed by the Electricity Generating Station ……



While some very LARGE water pipes went along the road into the Electricity Generating Station and around to the Water Cooling Towers…..





Then a bit further on we passed the Pit Heads of the Coal Mine…..



While just after were the lock gates for the Barges on the Saar Canal…..



Coming into the outskirts of Saarbrucken……





Then hang a right and we are back into France…..



Coming into Sarreguemines…..











Then further along the road and after a descent down a 15% hill we come into Bitche and the outline at the side of the tree on the left hand side is the Citadelle which is absolutely enormous!







As we get to the far side of the village we then hang another right passing this display on the far side of the town to head up to the large carpark at the Citadelle….



OK so we know we are heading in the right direction….



While to give you an idea of the place here is an ariel photograph that I ‘borrowed’ from a book we got in the Tourist Office in Montreuil sur Mere as we came back from Morocco and paid them a visit…..



Now on the car park looking at the pathway leading up and the walls while high are over 1meter thick…..



The ‘Plan’ of the Citadelle….



The outer gate…..



The view over into the town…..



The building on the left was only 1 story high but was made into 2 story’s by the Germans during WWII, while the ‘roadway’ behind with all the archways underneath is the only access in and out…..





Looking back down you can see the mechanism of the Drawbridge by the two story building that is now the Ticket Office….



At the top of the ‘roadway’ although the picture is a bit ‘fuzzy’ you can see a LARGE door on the left set back which has deep axe marks in it after one battle where the Citadelle was stormed but the attack failed. The door when closed was also used to stop the enemy gaining entrance, should they get on the ‘roadway’

While a bit further up is a metal portcullis which was also lowered down….



We then made our way to a small room for a film about the attack by Prussian soldiers in 1780 which was very realistic, and at the end had to follow a defined route through various tunnels into different rooms to hear more about the attack which was very interesting, however my apologies for some of the following pictures that did not turn out that clear due to very low lighting in the tunnels and rooms…..













Into the Blacksmiths Workshop, where they made knives, nails, and other implements including horse shoes…..





Carry on into the main room for the Well which held 2 large buckets of 200ltrs each, and was drawn by 2 men who pulled the buckets up from the inside of the well using the large wooden wheel…



Next up was the stables where a lot of the townsfolk took shelter during the siege and the injured soldiers were brought…..



While a bit further on was the Bakery which made all the bread for the Citadelle which was something in the order of around 500 loaves/day….



The Bread Oven….



The Officer’s quarters…..





Then after a very enjoyable hour on the Film/Video/Audio tour it was back outside and a walk around the top….





Inside the small museum….





A model of the Citadelle at the time of the siege….



The old church with a clock that still works today…..



While inside upstairs is the mechanism which I could not get rid of the balcony rails!



Looking out from the walls…



One of the Guns on the walls….





Looking from one end….



The single Poppy in the car park that we saw when we got back…..



While a walk into town gave us these two pictures…..





That’s it for today. Tomorrow it’s back into Germany and Hohenstadt.

[ssicarman]

ROAD TRIP!!!!!!

Looks great so far. Incredibly green. Very jealous seeing as my Mayday tree is just starting to bud out and the rhubarb is poking out and then we had 4-6 inches of snow on the ground Saturday morning.

[XCovlov70]

ROAD TRIP!!!!!!

Looks great so far. Incredibly green. Very jealous seeing as my Mayday tree is just starting to bud out and the rhubarb is poking out and then we had 4-6 inches of snow on the ground Saturday morning.

Well you got the Snow & we got the RAIN, so me thinks that's why it so green!
I was just glad that the 'Tin Tent' didn't spring a leak for some of the stuff that came down!

[XCovlov70]

Stage 4 “Bitche to Hohenstadt”

Rather nice yesterday evening as the Citadelle was lit up….



While we were up and away this morning at 07:30hrs from our very quiet overnight stay on the carpark which also had an ‘Aires’ for RV’s/Campers however the Bitche Tourist Office confirmed we could spend the night there which was nice section for





As we past a rather interestingly decorated house in Bitche…..



We very soon got into the countryside and woods of the Alsace Region which gave us a drive through the woods and small villages some of which are in France while the others are in Germany as the region crosses the border….

Oops! I went a bit heavy on the colour adjustment on this one and couldn’t get the original back! Sorry……









































Finally get to a section of road that has a sign which declares 3.5Tonne Limit and 2meters wide, while there is nowhere to turn around!
While one car didn’t trust me and got off the road, while there was plenty of room to pass, after about 0.5 of a mile we found ourselves at one of the ‘Back Gates’ into Germany, after which the road got considerably wider!



Then a little further we are into some of the ‘Vineyard Countryside’ of Alsace









Not long after and we are back on the ‘Autobahn’ passing a new ‘Bridge’ that is under construction while further back we ran into some serious road re-surfacing works that brought 3 lanes of traffic down to one with around 3 miles of very slow moving traffic as the nearside lane was totally full of Trucks…



Car Park at Stuttgart Airport that has been built over both sides of the Autobahn!



Then not much further on we come off the Autobahn and along a small road that takes us up into the village of Hohenstadt while ‘Camping Waldpark’ is on the far side of the village…



Campsite entrance…



In the lower section is the HEATED shower & toilet block with piped music combined with birdsong…..



While a number of the pitches are ‘seasonal’ some of them are a credit to the campers…..



Spot of lunch and it was off into the village before the rain started, while we also noticed that a large number of the houses had both Solar Electricity & Water Heating panels up on the roof…



Guard Dog Kennel….



Not sure how this Elephant ended up on the right hand side near the Church…..











Time to head back to the campsite before the very dark sky caught up with us and the ‘Overhead Watering Can’ was turned on again!

Next stop tomorrow is Sulzemoos from where we are hoping to make a day visit to Dachau…

[XCovlov70]

Stage 5 “Hohenstadt to Sulzemoos (Dachau)”

After a very stormy night with very heavy rain, hailstones, Thunder & Lightening that didn’t stop until very late on we were on the road by 07:45 for the short drive to our next overnight at a Camper(RV) and Caravan Dealer who provided a parking area in Sulzemoos that you could stay at, so off we went with the intention of staying there while we went to visit the Concentration Camp at Dachau….

Widening of the Autobahn which seems to be quite a ‘feature’ over here in Germany as we see more and more of it as we pass along….





The overnight halt later on that day after we got back from Dachau…





Having got set up we then set off for the short drive over to Dachau and from here I will just let you read the words on the pictures unless something specific needs to be identified……











Old railway platform….



Entrance Gate…..



Every prisoner passed through this gate….



To be met with one of the buildings that was eventually to be their ‘accommodation’…

















The sculpture of prisoners throwing themselves against the barbed wire which resulted in being shot and killed by the guards….





Inside the ‘Delivery or Shunting Room’ for newly arrived prisoners….







Some of the personal items taken from prisoners upon their arrival…..









The ‘Inspection’ of the prison baths with the ‘Pole Hanging’ beams that you will read about later…..

















The ‘Bunker Layout’ which I could not get face on with the camera as it was too long….













‘Standing Cells’ where you did not have enough room to sit or lie down as you were in a space that was 70 x 70cm or 2’6” x 2’6” and did not get out for 72 Hours…..

















Locker and dining room with benches and stools but because of the numbers if you did not get a seat you had to stand…..









This was the roadway between the 34 rows of huts of which 30 were living and sleeping rooms for the prisoners, the other 4 huts were for the guards while one was used for ‘Experiments’ on some of the prisoners….





Left hand side, while except for the first row all the huts have been demolished..



Likewise for the Right hand side of the road while Hut Number 10 was for the ‘Experiments’ and Number 11 was the Infirmary which hearing the audio recording if you went into you did not for a number of reasons come back out alive....



The last Hut row, while the first 4 were not numbered as they were not for the prisoners…



One of several religious memorials erected after the liberation…















‘Barrack X’ which was a larger crematorium that also included a Gas Chamber…







The entrance to the Gas Chamber which gave you the impression ‘Brausebad’ and you were led to believe by the guards if you could not understand the sign over the door that you were ‘Going for a nice shower’….



The inside of the Gas Chamber. The gas came out of the lower black square between the two men in the centre of the picture….



As you went in for your ‘Shower’ naked all your clothes were then taken next door to….



Where they were all put into Fumigation Chambers where once again the Gas was pumped in to ‘clean’ the clothes….



Back outside and into the main area of where the Prisoners Accommodation was as we make our way to the exit….



29th April 1945 ‘Liberation Day’ of Dachau Concentration Camp by American Soldiers….



With the two plaques from the Liberating American Soldiers…..





While behind the Prisoners of Dachau sculpture are the words that resound around the camp ‘NEVER AGAIN’….



Our visit here was a very moving experience made even more so from the Audio Guide that you can hire at reception and was well worth the small price paid.

Tomorrow we continue on to Kiefersfelden…..

[XCovlov70]

Stage 6 “Sulzemoos (Dachau) to Kiefersfelden”

Interestingly after leaving our ‘Overnight Halt’ and going the short distance back to the ‘Autobahn’ to continue along the A8 after a short while we are directed off by ‘TomTom’ into Munich, then through a lot of roadworks on the Inner Ring 2 before we then re-join the same A8 Autobahn, the mind boggles at times with the directions provided ….

‘Around the Inner Ring 2’





Then back on the Autobahn, the same one we ‘exited’a few ‘Ausfahrt’s back!





Rolling clouds & hills as we continue through Germany….









Then it was off the Autobahn and onto the minor roads to get to our next campsite….







Hmmm, will we fit through?



We did as we head for the next left hand bend….





Finally arrive at our next campsite which is also a water ski park….





Then I spot this small ‘Bird of Prey’ looking for their lunch and hovering very well until I pointed the camera up…..



The water ski buildings with shower & toilet but interestingly no fresh water or chemical waste, but just as well we filled with water and cleared out the chemical loo before we arrived…..



The scenery as we headed off on a walk into Kiefersfelden….



While we nearly step on this BIG fellow who was crossing the road albeit very slowly…..



While a bit further along the road was this nice but closed up café…



With a rather large farmhouse off to the left….



Finally get into the town and the first thing we spot is this ‘Hydro Electricity’ installation alongside the river…..









Next up was a rather small church….





While we think this might have been a ‘special’ Maypole….



After a rather nice coffee and a bit of grocery shopping it was back to the campsite just as the ‘Watering Can’ in the sky was turned on yet again, but thankfully we got back reasonably dry this time, while after dinner the pressure in the Watering Can was turned up so the drops came hammering down once again….

Next stop tomorrow is in Slovenia…..

[XCovlov70]

Stage 7 “Kiefersfelden to Danica Bohinj”

After once again a very wet and ‘noisy’ night from the ‘Overhead Watering Can’ we left the campsite at around 07:15hrs for the trip to Slovenia and the next campsite while having to purchase a ‘Vignette’ to travel on the Austrian Motorway as well as the cost of going through the one of the very long Tunnels which when added to 2 cups of Austrian coffee at a Motorway Cafeteria all together it came to €26.30 which made the 3 hour drive across Austria a rather expensive trip….

As we left the campsite at Kiefersfelden and got back onto the A8 Autobahn it was again very soon and we were off and going through the Austrian Border before starting a long steep ‘hill climb’ with raindrops all over the windows which sorry, did affect the pictures!

Statue of St George & the Dragon as we enter Austria…



A proper ‘Maypole’ on the outskirts of the village….



As we start climbing we look back at where we came from….



As we spot this Scandinavian theme in the style of the gable end wall on the house…



Up we go with ‘Flamenco Red’ giving that nice ‘growl’ as we continue on….



Then as we get up to the top and around the last hairpin bend we run into ‘Low Cloud’!....



Coming out of the cloud and strangely back into Germany we pass by this very large ‘Schloss’ up on the hill, but we struggled to find the name as we went past…





‘Cable Car’ Traffic Island….





As we then turn left then right out of the village we once again cross the border and find ourselves back in Austria….



Were you have to get the Vignette, and I am rather glad we are less than 3.5Tonne as above that it gets seriously expensive….



With more low cloud and wet roads, all we can do is take it easy going along while being surprised at the number of drivers who travel with no lights on on their vehicles…..





Next up was the Tauern Tunnel at over 6km long it feels a bit eerie as you travel along inside especially I think when it is wet….





While out the other side it was a bit brighter as the cloud had lifted slightly…



As it got brighter and clearer further along….



But that didn’t last as we soon ran into another rain storm as we spotted this next ‘Schloss’ on the hill….



Not long after and having got the 2 coffees that cost €6.80 (£5.70) we approach the Slovenian Border where if you wish to travel on their Motorway/Autobahn roads you have to get another Vignette but as we are using (thankfully) none Motorway roads for a bit more scenery, then we don’t need it…..





As we then spend another €7 on the cost of going through the Karawanken Tunnel from Austria into Slovenia from our last experience of this I remember that the Slovenian side was in much worse road surface condition than the Austrian side while you can smell the exhaust fumes coming into your vehicle as there are no exhaust gas extractor fans in the Slovenian side roof….







Finally out and into clean fresh air while the road surface must have been resurfaced, then we ‘Exit Stage Right’ before we get ‘clobbered’ by the Police for being on the Motorway without a Vignette as the camera takes your picture and fires off a ‘message’!



So off we come and head into Jesenice and take the main road which is nearly as ‘rough’ as some of the side roads we travelled on in Morocco as we get bounced around as we go along!!!













As we then come to the outskirts of the town of ‘Bled’ we find that the Police have closed the road through but have not put any diversion signs in place, so we leave a re-routing to ‘TomTom’ while keeping fingers crossed that it does not contemplate taking us back to some obscure place in the process…



Thankfully the re-routing worked and we find ourselves coming into Bled from the other direction past the famous Church on the Island in the lake…..





Then going passed the Horse & Carriage with the couple in enjoying a ‘country ride’ (While we hope it doesn’t start raining on them!) and down to the junction ahead were we turn right onto the road we should have come along in the first place….







30 minutes later and we arrive at our next campsite Danica Bohinj….



While the following day as the ‘Sunshine’ arrived the campsite suddenly looked a lot nicer…..









So after breakfast we set off for a walk into the town of Danica Bohinj…



Petrol Station converted into a very nice Patisserie & Bread shop….



Fire Station in place since 1884….



The church that gives us our ‘Early Morning Call’ with the bells….



Main road through the town….



Looks like the Romans came this way at some point in time….





The dedication picture and writing to Ceconi’s Park who was a construction engineer and designer who was recognised for all his work and became a Count…









The view at the side of the park up the river….



In front of the church whose bells ring out each day….



Inside the church….



One of the old farms near the town centre….



Who still has their fields at the rear of the building…..



From here we made our way back to the ‘Tin Tent’ for a spot of lunch and then decided to walk to Bohinj Lake which after we got back slightly exhausted realised that we had covered around 22Km (13.5Miles)!

Firstly from the campsite we crossed this wooden bridge over the river…



With very clear Mountain water flowing underneath….





While a bit further the panorama just opened up…..



Then a bit further along the small roadway we see this new farmhouse….



With a nice view of the mountains as we came to a bend in the river….



Next along was this ‘Resting Place’ which I guess would also protect you from rain and snow…..





With more nice scenery….





As we then come to the end of the lake and the town of ‘Ribčev Laz’ we see two of the Electric Lake Cruise Boats…..



Continuing along the path by the side of the lake and in front is the church in ‘Ribčev Laz’….



While from the centre of the bridge across the river that starts from the lake we get this panorama……



While the fish idly ‘cruising’ in the water looked quite large….



Move along the lakeside and look back…..



While around the corner you can just see the top of Mt Triglav (The white peak on the left next to the very green tree.)…



After that it was time to head back to the campsite and start thinking about our evening meal which thankfully was a nice steak to replace some of the used ‘energy’…..

Back on the road tomorrow