Two Clots in a Camper

Belgium to Germany
28 April.
Well here we are at the start of our journey. Made it without too much trouble to our first stop just outside Ghent. The site was carefully constructed to look like a woodland idyll, but was actually just off the Belgium equivalent of the Blackwall Tunnel southern approach. We felt quite at home being lulled off to sleep by the gentle roar of cars. The site was fairly soggy underfoot and Vera was tested by a further downpour overnight. Our first night ever in the bus was luckily watertight, though we were a bit chilly with just the sleeping bags. Woke up in the morning with rigor-mortis from the slowly-stiffening cold. Will add a blanklet tomorrow.

To Germany
29 April
Lovely and sunny today and we set off not too early. Crossed into Germany near Aachen by about 2.30pm, Jon tooting his horn in a rare burst of patriotism as he reached the land of his birth. A large part of Vera’s speed is reliant on momentum, fine on the flatter lands but which slowly gets lost on the long climbs on the German motorways. Begin to feel self-conscious as we are down to about 35mph, overtaken by lorries, caravans, kids on tricycles... life in the crawler lane indeed...

The bus is attracting quite a bit of attention as old VWs are rarer sights here than back home. 50% of the traffic overtaking us has had a good gawp. We have got a couple of horns tooted in approval. V has never looked better gleaming in the sunlight with the retro roof rack and a polished chrome against a backdrop of meadows and rape fields.

Decided to stop and enjoy the nice evening...we’re on our ‘olidees after all.... Hooked up in the romantic Rhine Valley. Altenahr, a mediaeval village, is surrounded on all sides by craggy peaks. Did some feasting at the local inn (non-meat eating status put on hold for the moment), with some great local splatzburger rotwein (virtually all the red wine produced stays within the locale as yield is low). Meandered back to do the crossword from the Daily Thanet (picked up at Ramsgate) and listen to the radio. Electric hookup is working well with a fridge that has turned milk to ice in less than than an hour. We’ve been able to charge cameras, mein handy etc. Still to get some decent overhead lights. Deckchairs also a priority.


30 April
Gorgeous day again and Jon dons his shorts for the drive south and east towards Nuremberg. If nothing else he’ll get a van tan, scorched ankles from the under dash heating that blows air hotter than the sun at our feet. Stop at a windy services and scoop out some milk for lunch, along with the crusty rolls n jam J had got from the bakery that morning. We’re making good progress. Vera is cruising up the hills with narry a complaint now so we decide we will reach Jon’s mum in Helisbronn that night rather than search for another one-nighter. For the last 3 hours however we hit murderous traffic and are stuck behind a queue of lorries and families trying to get away for the bank holiday. It is May Day tomorrow. We have done 700km, realise belatedly that our back left indicator hasn’t been working for half of it. I will have to use the hand method til we get a mechanic. Everything shuts down here properly, on bank hols, unlike back in Blighty.

Reach Ute and Martin (Jon’s brother) by 8. Check our bags in to a nearby Gasthof. Homemade Pizza and wine and chat until midnight. We are discussing our plans for the trip when Ute warns us we can’t buy petrol in Afghanistan. We realise she is thinks we are going there rather than Albania.

Back to room, just down the road in the village. The joy of being able to spread out in a proper bed is not wasted on us... and it is only day 3.