On the Road Again!

 I have to give a plug for my brother's blog as it's the brotherly thing to do .. https://whirl2026.blogspot.com

We were right at the rear left on Deck 3 on the ferry and so we were probably the last off that deck. Due to some jiggery pokery the deck has to be cleared before Deck 4 could be cleared.  There was some holdup as a couple in a UK registered Porsche took their time coming down and vans and cars had had to squeeze past them. They took their time putting their bags in, then just forced their way into the column a few vans in front of us. Ignorant or arrogant? The queue for passports and EES was quite quick. Claire's Irish passport was checked and returned. I had to do my fingerprints and have my photo taken. The next was pet check. They had the pre-registration details and checked his pet passport and waved us through. It was a much different exit that we had way back in 2014 through the large industrial port to the A67 motorway. The route that TomTom had was simple. Two motorways, A67 and A8, a stop off at a Merca...

Day 1 We planned to set off at around 1030 for the drive across to Wyndham Farm in Gillingham in Dorset.  In the end we were away at 1029? It was relatively easy going with the first stop at Cobham Services for Reggie to stretch his legs and us to get a McCafe. As usual the approach is four lanes of solid traffic. The millions they spent on the A3 job action, "to speed up journey times" was wasted on the M25, in both directions. Hopefully some benefit, for someone. Whoever they are. Wherever they are. As we were heading to the South West we took the M3 to the A303. The duel carriageway sections are a doddle. Then the eff up at Stonehenge where the road is reduced from 2 lanes to 1. The dawdle past the stones and through villages. It all adds to the stress for drivers...

Who thought that winding 25m of heavy duty cable onto a reel would be easier than coiling it in the hands? Yes. Me. It's not. It's still bloody heavy and winding it isn't as simple. The cable goes where it wants!!

🚐 Overview of your route Total distance: ~520–560 miles (840–900 km) Driving time (no tolls): ~12–14 hours total Suggested duration: 3–4 days (comfortable touring pace) Countries: France → Belgium → Luxembourg → Germany Tolls: ❌ None (Germany has no tolls <3.5t; route avoids French autoroutes) � IDS Camping and Leisure You’ll head via Belgium & Luxembourg (fuel stop), then into the Rhine valley before entering the Black Forest and driving the B500 scenic ridge road. 🗺️ Day 1 – Calais → Luxembourg area (~280 miles / 4.5–5 hrs) Route Calais → Dunkirk → Bruges → Ghent → Brussels → Namur → Luxembourg This avoids French toll roads by using Belgium’s free motorway network. Stop suggestion (first overnight) Camping Fuussekaul ✔ Large, quiet, very motorhome-friendly ✔ Good for seniors (flat pitches, facilities) ✔ Dog-friendly walking trails nearby 📍 Why here: ...

To give my brain a bit of a rest as I sat in the conservatory listening to the rain pelting down on the roof, and for two days when I should be packing stuff in the van, I have been looking at the autumn trip we have already booked. The plan was basically to go to Germany and to visit the Cathargo factory and showroom in Aulendorf in Schwabia. But where afterwards? I have looked at Austria and there's a possibility. More fancifully at Hungary? At the moment I have rough idea plotted in MyRouteApp to do the B500,  Schwarzwaldhochstraße (Black Forest High Road) first then turn eastwards to Aulendorf. Returning along the Romantic Road from South to North. It's a way off and so we have time to work on that but in August.

The first stop after Oyambre has always been Potes in the Picos de Europa on the plan. Now that we are on Plan G it's still there. We have been before, twice in fact,  but not for very long each time. The first time was way back in August 2014 when we were heading back from a long week trip to Spain. Our destination was Santander. The night before we had stayed in the Parador at Cervera la Pisuerga.  We stopped again in May 2024. A quick stop on the sloping dirt car park behind the supermarket, and then further up the road at the bus station.  Again we had a short walk into the town.   This time I planned to overnight two nights at the Vanventure Campervan Park . Checking on the aire's website shows that out of 19 bookable pitches there were none last night and again tonight. It also looks like people are pre-booking ahead of time. So I have. It'...