'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!'

mcdonaldneal · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 1:29 pm Post subject:

We've arrived at the same campsite we stayed at on the way down (where we went to the falconry display and the world's biggest ice cave, remember?)!
The site looked deserted as we arrived, and the sad owner met us and said that they had only had four days without rain in August, and the pitches were waterlogged and a few cars and campers had been getting stuck. I'm not sure if my explanation of rear engine, rear wheel drive persuaded her, but we snuck into just about the last spot above water! Hope there's not too much rain overnight!
Anyway, bonus is that there is WiFi, so I can show you some pictures from the drive up. On the beaches of the Adriatic this morning, seeing snow in the alps by the evening!

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

On the way, passed through some terrific civil engineering! This tunnel is almost five miles long, the Tauern tunnel, at about 1300 metres above sea level.

Settled into the snug little van...

Some of us snugger than others?

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1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

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richparker · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 7:49 pm Post subject:

What an awesome trip! I sure am glad you guys decided to do it. The pics and narrative have been excelent. Safe travels the rest of the way.
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mcdonaldneal · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:27 pm Post subject:

Tcash · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:01 pm Post subject:

Nice going. Thanks for the pix.
Have a safe return.
Tcash

mcdonaldneal · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 1:14 am Post subject:

So, wind back a couple of days, to the waterlogged campsite in Austria...

Up bright and early, to return to our favourite garage! At least there's a great view while your waiting to get fixed up!

Josef handed over our case to the local VW expert, 17 years as a VW mechanic before starting in this garage! He told us to go away for an hour, and when we got back the Kombi was purring like the proverbial kitten.
Bottom line was that one of the idle circuit hoses, which was zip tied on and I didn't take off because I hadn't got a placement was split right through underneath! At least we had an explanation! He spent the next half an hour fine tuning the carbs as far as possible,

And, after a test drive, and a cash transaction, sent us happily on our way!

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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

mcdonaldneal · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 1:31 am Post subject:

Oh, the shame!
We're currently in a McDonalds on the German/ Dutch border, having our breakfast, and taking advantage of the WiFi (and the bathroom facilities!)

The reasons for us succumbing to the charms of corporate America are several...
We had a long days driving yesterday, and we had looked up a campsite on the route, in the middle of the North Rhein industrial complex of cities. Unfortunately, the Satnav took us a similar, but different route, which meant that it became obvious that the campsite was going to be quite a detour. We had already been caught in several long traffic jams, the overhead info signs announcing, '8km stau' (queue) in your direction are enough to strike fear into anyone's heart, especially when the weather had decided to ramp up the temps for our last couple of days!
We then decided to search for campsites actually on our route, and the nearest one was 95km away! Oh, well, let's go for it!
Saw some sights on the way, this lovely early Bay, towing a trailer,

And what I thought from a distance might be an ACVW, but I think is actually a rear engined Skoda!

When we got to the beautiful campsite, on a pony boarding stables,

The farmer met us, and announced that they were closed!
The nearest camper park he thought was back over the German border, in Emmerich, on the Rhein. Sadly we couldn't find any evidence of it!
So, we found a magnificent Chinese restaurant, with an all-you-can-eat buffet, tepanyaki grill and sushi, drinks included! (As well as tooth brushing, water filling and toilet facilities).

And found a patch of waste ground nearby, next to the railway line, where we bedded down for the night, hoping that the local 'Polizei' wouldn't move us on!

Which led us to breakfast at McD's!

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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

notchboy · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 9:16 am Post subject:

All I could see was getting upset! At least it would of been real hard for me not to be. Having good spirits while traveling like this is important - very, if one wishes to keep their sanity.

Love the reports, keep it up.
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Tcash · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 11:02 am Post subject:

mcdonaldneal · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 6:56 am Post subject:

mcdonaldneal · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 7:02 am Post subject:

This is out of sequence but, on the way up, we spent the night in a campsite in Nürnberg. We hadn't booked, but as we got close, we realised there was an almighty German Shepherd dog show going on in the immense conference halls (which were right next to the campsite). Seemed like hundreds of dogs, trailers and owners, all milling around, and we prepared ourselves for the fact that the campsite would be full.
This was the pitch we got!

Absolutely charming! In reality, there were a lot of dogs in the site, but at least we had a spot for the night.
We were on the edge of the Grosse Strasse,

This is the mile and a half long, wide, granite paved parade ground where Nazi party rallies were held, leading up to the war. You can still see the remains of the terracing at the left hand side here,

Although trees and roots have grown through in a lot of places. The part-finished congress hall also still stands.

As in other parts of Germany, there is now a documentation centre to explain some of the historical significance, but it is chilling just standing on a site which seems familiar from newsreel footage.
Slightly bizarrely, it was the middle of a two week carnival/ fair at the city end of the Grosse Strasse and it was Italian night, so we watched parades of Fiat Barchettas, Vespas and Piaggio tricycles, and spent an evening sampling delicious German food, beer and fairground rides!
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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

Stuartzickefoose · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:42 am Post subject:

im going to a show next friday called Volksfest...except its an all VW show. Razz

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mcdonaldneal · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 10:16 am Post subject:

We're getting near to the end now, which is a bit sad, it's been a great trip!
We arrived in good time to the ferry departure terminal,

Medo doing her usual, and jumping in the driving seat at every opportunity, but hiding away when necessary (like when we needed to take her into the offices and have her microchip read!)
As we waited in the queue to board, we were joined by a procession of classic cars belonging to a Dutch gay owners club.
Shona commented that there were some very handsome models...

I'm sure she meant the Mercedes?!

Essential warning stickers, and sign to alert the crew of the fearsome beast within...

Tucked the Kombi and the cat away safely for the journey,

(the Captain announced that the sea is to be dead calm), and we're up in the cabin with our cool bag of provisions!
_________________
1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

wcfvw69 · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 12:02 pm Post subject:

I bet you're glad you took you VW camper! What a great trip and I've enjoyed reading a long and admiring the nice photos.

Question- What's the cost to ferry you across the channel back to home?
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Tcash · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 1:25 pm Post subject:

Medo's recap of the trip.

mcdonaldneal · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:01 pm Post subject:

Tcash, you have caused much amusement in our household, thank you!
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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

mcdonaldneal · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:17 pm Post subject:

Stuartzickefoose · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 3:43 pm Post subject:

mcdonaldneal · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 11:01 am Post subject:

Well, all good things must come to an end, and after a millpond-smooth crossing of the North Sea, and after Shona getting busted for taking photos in the Passport control queue, we headed for home!
A brief stop for coffee and a supermarket shop, before we crossed the border...

Then arrived in Gullane in time for a late lunch.

The village reminding us how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world!

Even though we had been travelling pretty light, it took a while to get everything unpacked, but eventually everything was in and the Kombi is cleaned up and put to bed in a secret location in East Lothian!

We're hoping to get at least another weekend away in the camper before the clocks change, the temperatures drop, and the salt goes on the roads, but for now the van can take a well earned rest.

There's a couple of follow up posts to come, but I'll link to them here, so if you're getting notifications, you'll know.

Thanks to all who followed our trip, commented, encouraged, discouraged, gave advice and support, and kept us company along the way!
_________________
1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

Bala · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:03 pm Post subject:

Such a cool trip!

Just looked closer at your bike. Fixed or SS?

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1976 Westy

1966 Beetle

dasdachshund · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:34 pm Post subject:

Welcome home....
What is Failte gu Alba?

-dasdachshund


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