On the road again.

Spring has sprung and we are off at last. Sunday we were sleeping on Marine Parade Dover, Yachts to the rear and the ferry boats arriving and departing. Tried the local fish and chips then sleep , before an early morning trip to catch the Dunkirk ferry. Two hours of smooth waters and then the whole of Europe lay before us.

Drove East, through France and into Belgium.Awful roads and boring flat landscape before climbing the gentle slopes of the Ardennes to an Aire at Hans sur Lesse. The following day, it was the autobahns of Germany. At the moment still toll free, but not for much longer, as we saw Toll Collect signs beginning to appear at the road side.

Last night we stayed at an urban Aire in Pforzheim. Free!! Just as well, because today we are at Hofen See in Austria, a proper site and it is costing gold plated euros. 

This is the view from where we are sitting, glass of wine in hand and from the rear, we have snow on the mountains.

To show you how warm it has become, Sue is modelling last year's mid length, shorts.

Tarts are touring once again!!

Thunderbirds are go, and the wheels begin turning as we set off on a new chapter in our Intrepid Travels.

I sometimes have to stop and be amazed , that in my 69th year, I am fortunate enough to be able to have this wonderful passion for exploring Europe and North Africa in a motorhome. This lifestyle began in the 1970s with VW combi vans. Then a working life and a lack of funds got in the way. With retirement came the means to buy a decent travelling vehicle. As with many motorhome folk, a dearly,departed parent provided the inheritance to live the dream. Thanks Mum!!

So here we are just about to set off. Glorious sunshine working its magic on the solar panel, the tyres have nestled several centimetres into the gravel due to the weight on board, the bodywork and windows positively gleam with the brightness of the day. Just the house alarm to set and Dover here we come!!

Newsflash !!!

One day you have a panel van and the next day, you have a motorhome as well!Truth is, that we made a huge mistake downsizing from Delfin to the Rapido PVC. Making a bed every night, sitting down whilst the other person works, as there isn't the room to move about, a huge sliding door, low ceiling in cab area which Sue's head seems to find quite regularly, limited storage,etc etc.
We were missing the greater comfort and space that a motorhome gives us. However, we didn't want to cope with a MH bigger than 3,500 tonnes or as long as 7.5 metres. What to do???
There isn't enough time to change before Greece but to know what we want, find it and have it kept until our return seemed an impossible task.  But hey, we are The Intrepids!!
Saturday saw us on the internet doing the research and by Sunday we had bought a mini Delfin.
Job done and a Burstner Travel Van will be waiting for us when we get back.
We will enjoy our last fling in the Rapido despite her shortcomings and cope with the difficulties as they arise.
Being another year older, with creaking joints was not the time to be denying oneself the comforts offered by a slightly larger vehicle. So here she is. ....... No,not Sue, although she made herself at home before we had even  paid the deposit!!