Despite the efforts of all and sundry including last minute paperwork hassles we managed to leave home at 4.00 pm on Monday 3rd June.

Many thanks to all our friends and relatives for their good wishes.  We will do our best to stay safe and keep in touch!!

First stop was the Holiday Inn next to the Chunnel.  We had fish and chips from the restaurant which was not a good idea but hey ho we are sure we will eat worse than this on our journey.

Up bright and breezy next morning for a quick drive to the Train.  Very calm crossing and no seasickness!  Alright there shouldn’t be on a train but it is an achievement for Tim to manage getting to France without any queasiness.  We the hit the road.  Had a text exchange with Catherine, Tino, Ned and Silva saying they were on way to Verdun did we fancy meeting up for a few days.  Seemed a good idea so arrived in Verdun to look for each other to find we both went to the same campsite by chance and arrived 10 minutes apart.

First Night under canvas

Ned and Silva tried to claim squatters rightsDamn the gas mantle is broken!!  Where will I find a replacement

Had a really relaxing evening eating and drinking before climbing up into the roof tent for the first time in quite a few years.  Both managed it without accident.

We decided to keep together for a few days as they were travelling roughly the same direction on way to Romania.  We stayed two nights in a beautiful campsite in the Black Forest and yes we did indeed eat gateau!! as well as copious amounts for excellent German beer.

Lunch in a picturesque German town

Capturing the moment!!

Another successful descent of the ladders

Beautiful campsite in the Black Forest after a gorgeous drive over the mountains

View from top of hill

Having a great time

Feet

MVI_2208

The view down. Isn’t Isabel tiny!

Happy?  I think so

At last the beer!!

About to start the rest of the adventureSad to say farewell.  Odd seeing our Disco.

Knitted house

After two days we went are different ways.  They headed off to Uffenheim in Germany where Ned had been on a school exchange.  We headed towards Salzburg.  Original plan had been to go into Salzburg for a coffee but traffic jam on motorway delayed us by a couple of hours so headed to campsite on a lake.  Very beautiful but like all of Austria a little bit to perfect.  Austria seems to fulfill all the stereotypes we have of Germany which was not apparent in Germany.

Getting hotter so needed beer

Yet more beer.  Is this becoming the image of the expedition.  Not in Iran we guess.

Beautiful view of mountains in Austria

Next day we went to Vienna and stayed two nights so we could walk this beautiful city.  Vienna is stunningly beautiful in a pristine, manicured way and seems to live on its past with young ticket touts walking the city in historical costumes including wigs.  Very unpleasant for them on a hot day like Sunday was.  It was absolutely heaving with tourists of every nationality but in particular the ubiquitous Japanese.  However we managed to get out of the bustle and find an old fashioned coffee house where we had to eat cake and drink coffee in peace and coolness.  Very lovely.  We were though shocked to see that the rule on smoking inside buildings seems to have missed Austria.  With all their perfectness it was a shock to see the amount of smoking going on inside cafes and restaurants.

Some pictures of Vienna

French Defender Camper with huge trailer.

We got away from Camping Wien Sud nice and early and hit the motorway system hoping to catch a glimpse of the Danube but failed miserably.  We had numerous contacts with Atle and Hilde and decided to meet up near the Serbian border at a city called Szeged.  As we drove into Hungary we both commented the scale of the old border crossings.  Very easy now with only a brief stop to change some Euros into Florints from a grumpy, surly Austrian lady who really wanted us to buy motorway vignette for Hungary.  We had done this online day before but it did not cheer her up.  It has been a shame that the only unpleasant people we have come across so far have both been Austrian women.

The drive through Hungary was uneventful but for people our age quite moving thinking that we were now driving through the old USSR.

Stayed at the Novotel Hotel in Szeged which was very comfortable and reasonably priced.  We had text from Atle and Hilde – only 10 minutes away.  Dash down to bar and order 4 cold beers.  Can’t believe we are finally meeting up after three years planning.  Hugs all round, laughter and excitement. Cheers!  Here’s to our grand adventure. All went out for beautiful meal in large banqueting hall.

Tim on balcony, overlooking the NOT Danube

Back together again, at the start of our great expedition

Trying hard not to squint in bright sunshine

Somewhere on journey. Tim not picking nose – adjusting glasses (so he says)

Where tomorrow?  Will it be Serbia or Bulgaria?  We hope to get to Istanbul on Wednesday so still have two hard days of driving left.  Will have done about 2,000 miles by then in just over a week. 2/10 of our total!!

After great stay in Hungary we hit the road and had beautiful drive through Hungary and then Serbia. While getting near border with Bulgaria the rains came and stayed all day. I can’t remember driving through such bad weather. Serbia seemed lovely and people friendly and everything despite obvious poverty appeared to have some pride in it.

Border crossing to Bulgaria was the first taste of things to come. Bulgaria has not taken to freedom well. It appeared to be the poorest country so far with no pride and care taking place. Everywhere full of dilapidated factories. Roads almost no existent. Sofia was much of the same with ray driving in torrential rain. Most crazy move was done by us when we aquaplaned in main central square (slippy tiles) almost did two full turns before regaining control and carried on. No one batted an eyelid!! Atle offered us use of beta blockers!!

Carried on and found one of worst hotels in living memory. To be continued….

We had looked forward to Bulgaria but found it dour. The hotel, that in the old Soviet times would have been very grand was now down at heel and the Turkish owners saw us coming and right royally ripped us off. In our tiredness we forgot the golden rules of checking rooms and costs. Nuffield said, lessons learnt.

We hadn’t gone far when our split charger monitor started indicating a problem with alternator. First overcharging then dead. Two bits of luck were we had a spare alternator (thanks to Paul and Sally at BG Landrovers) and secondly we had a brand new Optima red top. We therefore drove all the way to Istanbul without turning engine off and using minimum amounts of electricity.

The journey though Bulgaria was much as previous day minus the rain. We arrived at border and saw a marked contrast in countries. Bulgaria all dour and grumpy and the Turkish side all smiling and helpful. Took about an hour and then we were on Turkey. Roads were really good although we were meant to buy some system of paying but carried on regardless. Hope that number plate readers are all low down and so won’t catch us.

Arrived through hectic Istanbul traffic to the Radisson Blue near the airport. (Atle had booked it). They seemed a bit nonplussed to see two expedition Land Rovers and we had to go to the staff car park as we were too tall for the guest one. Room was amazing. Two floors plus all the gizmos you could want. We started with a chilled beer before Atle and I got sorting the alternator. A simple job made difficult by the bottom bolt been seized. A half hour job turned into a three hour one but it was done and charging well so really it did not cause us any delay.

Isabel and Hilda go shopping for supplies, only to find sweet shops. Dinner in hotel, rushed through our courses by over zealous waiters. Hilde insisted upon copious amounts of red wine.

Up early next morning in attempt to get Turkmenistan visas sorted. Took taxi to consulate. We were not allowed to apply, don’t think clerk really understood the purpose of our visit. Atle contacted the Ambassador in Tehran, so we spent the morning completing forms on line. If this doesn’t work we will have to go to Plan C.

Know we will not have time to visit the park or Blue Mosque, another time maybe? Drive through back streets of Istanbul. Other three shop for antibiotics, supplies and T joint for Hilde’s car. Only thing they didn’t find was a gas mantle. I gaffer taped the driver’s door together. All four of us had unbidden help from locals, children and adults alike. Amazing kindness.