Great Escape part two 2nd june 19th July
2nd June to 19th July
The 2nd June find us driving to our next camp site camping Park Oberammergau Ettalerstrasse 56b 82487 Oberammergau (Bayern) Germany. We arrived around 1.30pm on the Tuesday and being Germany the office was shut until 3pm so we had a look around the stunning views could be seen from every pitch, we decided on a pitch and set up only to be told that the pitch I had book was not the one I had pitched on, I was told we could stay if we wanted but our original pitch was much bigger, and next to the dog walking area, so for the second time that day I lifted my caravan legs and moved, but like the lady said much better, it was huge. Wednesday we walked in to the town of Oberammergau walking beside the river it was a glorious day and only took 20 minutes, the sun was shining and it reached 30 degrees, so we were told later, a lot of the shops and houses are painted with religious and medieval portraits. Oberammergau is a picture post card town there are people walking around in traditional costumes, nearly every shop sells cuckoo clocks or religious statues or crucifixes, and I mean every shop there are some super markets but these are situated out of town. In the evening we sat with a glass of the hard stuff and looked at the mountains around us content in the beauty we were looking at. I understand why those people who have been caravanning for years and years still wouldn’t miss it for the world. We had made our plans for what was on the agenda for the Thursday morning, at 6am the alarm clock went off well it wasn’t our alarm clock it was three very loud explosions, this I later found out signalled , the start of some kind of religious festival these loud bangs were quickly followed by the church bell ringing continuously for about 20 minutes, followed by more explosions, and more bell ringing, when we asked how to get to the supermarkets we were told everything is closed and I mean everything so we spent the day walking and also we took the dog to swim in the river that is just by the camp site,
I did a bit of paddling the weather was very hot but the water was very cold and I mean cold, I understand how some of these young people drowned in the reservoirs, Garmish is a fairly sized town with lots of shops, and what now seemed like the obligatory painted houses, but still very nice to look at. We had a problem leaving Garmish it seems the only two roads that lead back to Oberammergau were block off so we had to wait to let the G7 get away so they could get dressed up for there party that night. Castle Lindehof is just around the corner from this caravan park, the drive to neuschwanstan castle Ludwig in Schwangau is about one hour but the views are truly magnificent and should not be missed. This part of Bavaria is very nice tomorrow we leave for Berchtesgaden still in Bavaria but also on the Austrian border.
Berchtesgaden we arrived having had to buy vignetts because we were passing through Austria in fact because we hadn’t timed our travel just right we had to pay for two weeks even though we were only passing through once coming to Berchtesgaden and the next time when we were leaving, but in fact we are now going to visit Salzburg, The scenery yet again is Fantastic we are staying at Camping Allweglan Allwggasse 4 83471 Berchtesgaden (Beyern ) Germany. A nice friendly camp site with a swimming pool which was great has the weather as been very hot but was about to change the town of Berchtesgaden is really nice lots of shops but hidden away so you really get to explore as always the churches are beautiful inside, there is a local Lidl and other shops like REWE they seem to sell everything, I still cant get over the fact that I can buy 6 bottles of lager for 1.65 Euros admittedly the bottles are plastic and if you take the bottles back you get 1.25 Euros back hows that for value. Bad Reichenhall is a great town but you must visit the old town or (stadt) another day out I Rossfeld Panoramastrasse this costs 7.00 Euros to drive around the mountains yet again magnificent views but choose your day carefully if its low cloud you get see lots of cloud and nothing else. We took a visit to Kehlsteinhaus famously knowns as the Eagles Nest I had been looking forward to this since we set out on the 26 April 2015 I was not disappointed, but because this famous place had become a glorified restaurant it seemed to reduce its importance. The cost is 14.00 Euros per person and our dog Tanner goes free,but if you get your bus pass from the reception you get a discount on most attractions. There is a single track road that leads to the lift shaft that takes you up to the Eagles Nest this road is single track so when the three buses depart from the bottom three bus also depart at the same time from the top,there is one passing place with German precision the buses from the top pull in to and stop at the passing place just as the buses coming up come around the bend and pass, its lick clockwork. When you get off the bus the entrance to the Eagles Nest is down a long tunnel you pass through what look like huge bronze doors, I was in awe at the engineering skills that it must have taken to complete that tunnel there are even air conditioning vents at floor level that are no longer in use, the lift up to the Eagles Nest is some thing else its all brass and still in the same condition as it was when Hitler used it. The elevator opens into what was a kind of anti room then you are let loose to explore and wonder how this place got built In just two years, the main room is now the restaurant to the diner it must be a little disconcerting eating with hundreds and hundreds of people milling around and taking photographs, There is a huge fire place made out of marble with if you look carefully names scratched into the marble. Outside on the veranda where we had seen pictures and film of Hitler there are now lots of tables with tourist eating and drinking, the views are unbelievable, from here having left the main house we walked to the top of the Eagles Nest and from this point you can see why it was named the Eagles nest. We spent almost 4 hours looking around and it passed very quickly although my wife was impressed Im sure she would have rather been shopping. I think most people come to view the Eagles Nest because of what it was not because what it as become, although it is now in public ownership I still think if it had been kept as it should have been then more visitors would visit.
Konigssee is a large lake not far from Berchtesgaden, the organised boat trips are very good and yes the views are spectacular. A note of warning when you go to buy these vignettes we were told we needed one for the caravan well you don’t and there is no possibility of a refund. 21st June we say our farewells to Berchtesgaden and move to Switzerland.
We arrived at Camp site Islas 7477 Filisur (Graubunden) Switzerland, the drives was spectacular but did test my driving skills, with single track road works, and us being 8ft wide left just a few inches either side. At one stage I thought my wife was being very loving towards me but then realised there was a 300 foot drop on her side well maybe next time. The camp site was set off the main road about one mile, surrounded by
pine trees with a overhanging mountain looking down upon us with a fast flowing crystal clear river to one side. We were shown our pitch which was close to everything we needed , the toilets were clean with everything provided, lots of hot water for showers and washing pots, and a good dog walk just outside the gate, the bar area was really nice oldie world served food and decent beer. There is a Lidl and a Aldi 30 to 40 minute drive away in Breinz. Zoppi was another town we visited this was the largest town that we got to visit in Switzerland, it as many street leading in all directions but a visit to information gets you a town map that is easy to follow. ST, Moritz on the other hand we expected to be a massive town in fact it was quite small and the shopping is very expensive but it was worth the trip, driving through the passes and numerous gorges the scenery was beautiful, but be warned unless you want to really travel there are very few towns around with shopping it seems there are selected few with food shops. Chur was a very nice town reminded me of a medieval settlement, the old town was very nice to walk around. By now your probably wandering why I haven’t spoken about the Cable car rides its because my wife has been traumatised by the heights of the roads we have been driving on. I was impressed with Switzerland its clean they seem to have running drinking water in every town, village, even in the forests where we walked our dog.
28th June see us bid a fond farewell to Switzerland and camping Islas,
We move to Camp site La Sierra, Belvedere337, 28823 Ghiffa (Piemonte) Italy, following the good old satnav it took us into the hills miles away from the actual camp site, we eventual; got there, we were showed to where we were to pitch and set about doing just that got everything in order was really surprised at the space we had been given, I went to the office to to pay we were originally going to spend 10 days here but have decided on just 3 nights.. When I got in the office we were told the rate is 28.00 Euros I had looked in the book it said 14.00 Euros I asked why he said its because I am occupying two spaces, I told him I would move into the one space he was all smiles and we started undoing and redoing everything we had previously done. This is just my theory but the next day when we came back from or trip another caravan was next to us I couldn’t put my car next to the van and had to park it in the visitors car park, not a big deal you may think after all its a caravan park but this particular caravan park was at the time and is empty so why put the only two caravans next to each other especially as there is so many spaces available. We think its because he wanted us to pay 28.00 Euros. We deliberately chose ACSI sites because of the prices, yes and we realised they would be cheap and cheerful, firstly the electrics keep tripping it says 6 amps but i think its more like 3 amps, there is NO hot water for washing pots, there is NO hot water to have a wash or shave, the showers at best are look warm, and to top it all we are within 20 feet of the main road with traffic volume unbelievable, at night it becomes a race track for motor cyclist. So we are not pleased about this site, it is however on the shores of Lake Maggiore through a under pass because crossing the road would be at times suicidal. WIFI is available at reception and is free, but because of the above we have decided to cut the ten days to three days. Verbania is a large town on Lake Maggiore and boast a Lidl and if you explore into the town a really nice cathedral, and lots of little shops down quaint little alleyways. Wednesday the 1st July we move on to France and Chamonix.
Wednesday 1st July see us arriving at Camping Les Deux Glaciers 80 rte des Tissieres 74400 Chamonix/Les Bosson (Rhone Alps) France, The drive to this camp site was magnificent driving through the tunnels got to be a bit monotonous that was until we passed through the Mont Blanc tunnel going into it was very efficient the taking of the 57.00 Euros seemed painless, because of the excitement of actually going to drive through this world renowned tunnel. The actual cost of driving from the camp site in Ghiffa Italy to Chamonix France cost us 120.00 Euros in tunnel fees and road Tolls, so be aware of this. The camp site is small but run efficiently I cant say its typical of French People but it seemed they are a little regimented in the way they conduct themselves but polite with it, we were shown to our pitch, we were really pleased with it it the pitch was big enough to put the Van in with a bit of juggling around we got it just right, next to the van was a small but fast running mountain stream the water was crystal clear our dog Tanner goes and paddles to cool down its been 36 degrees, in the car it was reading 44 degrees, sitting just outside the awning you can see the Mont Blanc range of mountains the views are spectacular, its hard to comprehend you have the sun beating down yet what looks half a mile away, admittedly up in the mountains you have snow covered peaks. I personally cant see enough of them. The town of Chamonix is quite a large town it has some small super markets but lots and I mean lots of tourist shops selling everything at top price for example I need new flip flops, they ranged between 44.00 Euros which I thought at the time was the size, (I should go to speck savers), to as little as 17.00 Euros but it is a fantastic town lots of watering place to collect free ice cold water all very clean nothing floating in there, I some times wonder if we had such a system in our country would it be looked after like these people look after theirs. Twenty Kilometres away we found a large grocery store that seem to sell everything also getting fuels from there was 1.157 per litre for diesel which was the best price we had seen, and just to cool off there is a lake about 25 minutes drive away that you can swim in the signs say no dogs allowed but if you go to the far side dogs are allowed to swim so we all had a cool down, very enjoying day out and worth the drive . Our time as come to an end in Chamonix 8th July and we are moving to pastures new. The new Camp site is set in the Champagne growing region so I am told, La Croix d'Arles Route Dijon 52200 Saints-Geosmes/Langres (Champagne-Ardenne) France. It seems more of a transit camp since we have been here 3 nights so far the inhabitance has changed 3 times, mostly people from Holland, I was told French camping sites were very good, I have to disagree with who ever made that statement I find this particular site just ok I don’t like the continental approach to toilets, and showering call me a old head maybe so. With influx of Dutch people there is no hot water after about 7pm and also there seems to be so much over crowding van very close to each other, enough about my moans, there is a nice swimming pool with a kids paddling pool. Out and about a really nice town called Langres it is in fact a walled city it has a nice Cathedral lots of shops also a Aldi, on the out skirts there is a much lager Le Clerk store and other stores around it. Walking around Langres you get the feel of a very oldie worldly town lots of nice streets to get lost in . Market day is Friday morning, starts at 8am and closes around midday. The cathedral is quite outstanding in architecture inside and out, if you ever visit this area you must walk the walls you get the feel of how impressive it must have been in the 1600. One of the problems we encountered was fly s millions of them even with all the fly nets down and a dangly furry door thing we bought in Germany that keeps fly s out, they still got in the caravan but the solution was acquired the very next day we bought a very big and I mean big fly swatter, Again we were some what troubled by the site I think because it was like I have stated a transit camp no one got to know each other and that to us seemed strange so we decided to head to our last site in Calais.
On the 13th July we head to our new site Camp site Mun.La Falais Rue Charles Cazin 62224 Equihen-Plage (Nord Pas De Calais) France, although it said English was spoken it was very difficult to communicate as my French isn’t that good and there English wasn’t good either, but eventually we made contact so to speak, the drive was a long one nearly 6 hours, when we had checked in we were let on to the site, I should have realised then that this site was more for static caravans than tourers. We were to follow this vehicle and started up and away from the sea, up and up we went, the road became narrower and narrower, until I had only inches either side to spare, this young man obviously hadn’t got a clue about twin axle caravans, not could he gage the length of our van he stopped and pointed me into this open space which there was noway I could have got in even if I had been crane lifted in, So I gave him the good news NO, so off we go start down the hill and we come to the right angle turn which most people will know doesn’t happen on a twin axle, consequently I broke a part of the bumper faring at the rear nearside. We had travelled the best part of 5000 miles without any problems, or scratch, to say I was upset was a understatement. Once again I gave him the good news but he couldn’t understand me so it fell on deaf ears so to speak.
I looked on the ACSI computer site for a new site near by in actual fact it was twenty or so miles but I didn’t know at the time was only 7 miles from the tunnel, they say things come in threes on the busy A6 I got a blow out I managed to get to the Le Clerc car park and surprise, surprise it was another holiday so no one around and I set about changing the tyre, that done we headed for the new site which was La Bien Assise D231 62340 Guines Pas-De-Calais France. We arrived about 5pm first impressions the site looked very good we went spacious well maintained, we were given a very large area not far from the toilets and the swimming pool and the out door gymnasium, very novel that outside gym didn’t see anyone using it in fact I thought it was a children’s play area, the next day I took the wheel to get a new tyre fitted I was also thankful that I had Tyron bands inside the tyres, although it took five days to repair it it cost 81.00 Euros which I thought was very good, once again we were at peace with the world.
We decided to give Calais a miss because of the immigration problem but having said that we only saw a few when we were shopping in City Europe which is next to the tunnel 7 miles away from the camp site Le clerk is not far away 20 miles with lots of stores around it. Batterie Todt is a museum with lots to see and do built as part of the Atlantic wall you can see a huge gun that is mounted on a train the original gun disappeared many years ago but they managed to get one that was similar, it is a god day out if you like military things. The town of Guines is a mediaeval town still has some of the old wall around the place, lots of quaint streets, and a very nice village pond with wild ducks and plenty of fish that you can actually see.
We were intending to stay 10 days but decided to leave on the Sunday, I had booked Tanner my best friend into a local vets which was arranged by the camp site, and booked the train home, the weather was very good in fact it started to rain just as I had put away the awning, not bad I thought. Next day was an early start 6am UK time we set off for the tunnel, although it is sign posted it can be very confusing you need to have your wits about you, we had made it had Tanner check in at the dog reception, after it was a short drive to the customs post I have to say it seemed like security was non existent, we saw what looked like a immigrant shoes polished smartly dressed rucksack on his back waiting inside the secure area the French police took him away. Customs was a breeze and mean that we breezed through absolutely no checks on our car or caravan, we could have had a hundred immigrants inside, well it seemed like that to me. We arrived in England at around 8am we had already decided to drive all the way home without a stop over, it was a long drive and took us from start to finish 9 hours. A word of warning the Dartford bridge and the Dartford tunnel on the return are as you probably know are toll charges, the have removed the toll kiosk, have been removed and you have to pay by phone or internet we nearly forgot because the sign going to the tunnel is about 2 foot square.
Our journey over it seemed like a anti climax the feeling I had, yes I was tired but there was a void I should be putting up the awning getting the electric and water on, instead I was unloading, emptying the caravan, the Great Escape over, have we enjoyed it yes we have, have we seen sights we would never have seen yes we have, we have had frights where in Switzerland it was a couple of inches between us and hundreds of feet drop, the very tight roads of Italy with the constant sounding of horns made me laugh that, the efficient German machine with whatever you were doing, but the thing that stands out to us is that people are just that people, they try to communicate with each other and just get along, each country was different but the people stayed the same. Would we do it again. Bloody right we would my wife as only just got everything ship shape and I told her we are going to some where nice and warm for winter.
I hope this as entertained and help some of you it was our great escape.
Comments
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Thank you Mike for all that wonderful information, especially about Italy as we intend visiting the lakes next year.
Regards, Roy
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