Travels through central Europe

IMG_2245French 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.

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Tim on balcony, overlooking the NOT Danube

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Back together again, at the start of our great expeditionIMG_2250

Trying hard not to squint in bright sunshineIMG_2251

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!!

Travels through Europe

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.

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First Night under canvasIMG_2177

Ned and Silva tried to claim squatters rightsIMG_2184Damn 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.

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Lunch in a picturesque German townIMG_2191

Capturing the moment!!IMG_2197

Another successful descent of the laddersIMG_2198

Beautiful campsite in the Black Forest after a gorgeous drive over the mountainsIMG_2204

View from top of hillIMG_2205

Having a great timeIMG_2207

Feet

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The view down. Isn’t Isabel tiny!IMG_2221

Happy?  I think soIMG_2223

At last the beer!!IMG_2226

About to start the rest of the adventureIMG_2227Sad to say farewell.  Odd seeing our Disco.IMG_2228

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.

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Getting hotter so needed beerIMG_2236

Yet more beer.  Is this becoming the image of the expedition.  Not in Iran we guess.IMG_2237

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

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Visas continued

We thought you may like a quick update of where we are up to currently.  We had good and bad news concerning our Iranian Visas.  We were granted permission to apply and provided with a permit number but our chosen consulate in Dublin informed our agent that they couldn’t possibly process them in only 4 weeks!!  Agent was furious and suggested that if they turned on their computers then they might find processing visa a bit quicker!!  Anyway another option became available when another customer needed his urgently and was prepared to pay for a courier to fly to Frankfurt and back next week and get it over the counter.  Other than Dublin Frankfurt seems to be only consulate not requiring fingerprints.  So by next week we should have our Iranian visas but this has more than doubled the cost.  Iran is becoming very expensive for just a few days but is crucial to journey so we have bitten the bullet.

When the visas gets back we will thern sort out Uzbekistan visa which should be no problem.  Just the Turkmenistan one to go then.  Have any of you had any thoughts about that one?  By way we got Kazakhstan visa without need to provide hotel details.  Just shows how arbitrary the whole process seems to be.

Our application for a second passport was turned down by the Identity and Passport Service last week.  We appealed but that was also turned down. We claimed that the countries we were visiting were incompatible and added USA into our route but they claim it would be no problem entering USA with Iranian visa in our passports.  They even said that Israel would also not find it a problem.  Should have lied and said we had visa from Israel so couldn’t get Iranian but thought we would get them as we used a letter that had previously been successful.  Asked them for a copy of the list of countries that they consider incompatible but got no real response so will follow up with a letter when we get chance.  When we have all visas we will make a few dummy passports to use outside borders.

Still waiting for RAC to come back with Passage de Carnet cost but expect that any day now.

We are in midst of immunisations for Rabies and tick borne encephalites and got ourselves a one to one medical trauma day for 24th of May with company who gave training to Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman.  The MD was also the chief medic on the Land Rover G4 competition to Mongolia.  He spent 5 months recceing routes before Land Rover pulled the plug. He had some useful advice.  The country and people are fantastic and best country he has been to.  As a result of severe temperatures diesel is difficult to get and quality is poor with plenty of water in it.  Two inline filters sound a good idea.  The more modern Land Rover engines found it difficult but older Tdi and Td5 were fine.  Presume Olav’s Land Cruiser will also be fine.  LR bought in their own diesel and had a tanker for their use.  Terrain is very volcanic and punctures were a daily occurrence.  Suggested that as well as ultra strong sidewalls a few inner tubes would be useful.  He warned that maps and GPS tend not to match.  Whole towns can be 20 miles out on map!!  Features can disappear as well.  Whole lakes were on maps and when found no longer existed.

Preparation of car

 

Went to Cornwall and got Tino to help make the storage area.  Very happy we now have 2 x 1meter drawers with 160kg capacity as well as front locker for all spares etc.

We already have jerrycans for fuel and water to fit as well as gas + cooker and new National Luna fridge.

 

Planning and Visas

Well the speed of life and with that the planning has picked up considerably. As usual Isabel and I have added to our logistical problems by deciding to renew windows, knock down wall and have a new kitchen done at same time as planning for the expedition. In addition Isabel’s sister and family will be moving in as their house is sold and they can’t yet get into campsite they are going to live on for….

Anyway we went to London for a week to meet Michael Palinand to continue with the task of getting visas.  We spent a whole day at Real Russia in Islington filling in visa applications and parting with a load of money.  At least this relieves us of the stress of visiting all the embassies and getting it sorted ourselves.  Saved Isabel a load of grief with her knee into the bargain.  By end of week we have our Mongolian and Tajikistan ones sorted and the Kazakhstan one in process.  Timetable is tight but by paying for express when possible we should have the all by middle of May.  Magic Carpet are dealing with our Iranian ones.  We have applied for second passport which should help.

Next on plan is to get our International driving licenses as well as sort out the carnet de passage from the RAC.

While in London managed to visit Stanfords and buy maps of nearly everywhere we are likely to go.  Feel happier having paper as well as electronic maps.