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mcdonaldneal
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Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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1970fun
Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: Holland
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 Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 10:41 am Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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It was very nice meeting you Phil and Shona today!
Thank you so much for the lunch, it was very good!
It was a nice meeting on a great campground, i may do this one next year for the whole weekend 
And your bus Phil is superb, doctor Who had his own time machine but you Phil/Shona have your very own adventure machine!
Last edited by 1970fun on Sun May 21, 2017 1:02 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mcdonaldneal
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Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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mcdonaldneal
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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mcdonaldneal
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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| Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 2:54 am Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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I know that some people wonder about the advisability of travelling with a cat. Your results may vary considerably  but our Medo generally prefers to travel loose and stay in the bus when we're stopped. This morning she had a nervous exploratory trip around the perimeter. Then got spooked and jumped back in!
The town we are across the river from is delightful. There is a foot passenger ferry constantly running and the place is filled with interesting old buildings, bookshops and 'coffee' shops (some of which actually sell coffee). We are enjoying a cup in the sun.
You might need to zoom in some of the pics to see the VW content !
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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
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furgo
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Joined: September 06, 2016
Posts: 944
Location: Southern Germany
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| Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 9:42 am Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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| mcdonaldneal wrote: |
Couple of extra pics; a clapped out '80's Citroen Visa we saw on the road, the cat making a bid for freedom and another pic of our campsite showing our neighbour in a Ford Transit camper conversion (also '80's era).
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... in sage green! Now he could just paint the upper half pastel white and call it a Westy 
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mcdonaldneal
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Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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| Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 12:28 pm Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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The tandem is the perfect camping accessory. If you take the wheels off it's slightly longer than the Kombi is wide, but not enough to worry about. It used to be a racing tandem but now is modified for comfort rather than speed, with swept back handlebars, flat pedals and a sprung leather saddle for the Captain (me). The stoker behind has a ladies saddle, clipless pedals and comfy padded handlebars. It's so flat here it's a joy to tour the flat country roads between the canals and dykes, loads of wildlife, livestock and thatched cottages. On our ride today, we had to get a little shuttling chain ferry about 50yds between two stretches of road.
Delightful! 
Time to kick back, more homemade curry and some naan bread!
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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! |
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mcdonaldneal
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Joined: June 13, 2013
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Location: Gullane, Scotland
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KentABQ 
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Joined: September 11, 2016
Posts: 2406
Location: Albuquerque NM
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 7:01 am Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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Thank you for sharing you great trip, and the wonderful pictures. What a perfect way to tour Europe!
And I'm impressed your cat takes it all in stride. Mine would race for the hills the first time the engine started cranking. I'm holding out hope, though, that I can get her used to riding in Chloe so she can go along on a three-month adventure next summer. Any suggestions?
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-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
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mcdonaldneal
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Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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mcdonaldneal
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Abscate
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Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22665
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 7:56 am Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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Love the cat!
Travel safe and enjoy the trip!
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mcdonaldneal
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Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 11:48 am Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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| KentPS wrote: |
Thank you for sharing you great trip, and the wonderful pictures. What a perfect way to tour Europe!
And I'm impressed your cat takes it all in stride. Mine would race for the hills the first time the engine started cranking. I'm holding out hope, though, that I can get her used to riding in Chloe so she can go along on a three-month adventure next summer. Any suggestions? |
Thanks for the comments, I'm glad you're enjoying the thread!
The main suggestion for travelling with a cat would be, choose your cat carefully  !
Seriously, our previous two cats hated travelling in their cage together, and yowled the whole time. Then, after one had died, we were stuck in a snowstorm and had let her out to feed and the traffic started moving again. She jumped onto Shona's lap and settled down. We were very surprised!
From then on we just left her free to roam in the car, and she came on some long trips in the Kombi.
After she died, we just let our current cat, Medo, travel free in the car and took her 2000 miles across Europe when she was four months old ! So really, we've never had a problem with her.
Top tips:
Have a pet carrier in case you need it.
Maybe get her gradually used to the vehicle at home, short trips etc.
Get a harness and lead for when you do stop. Medo is an indoor cat, but some would bolt for freedom as soon as they could!
Litter and water accessible.
Ventilation and an electric fan if you're leaving them and it's at all sunny.
Good luck!
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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!
Last edited by mcdonaldneal on Tue May 23, 2017 1:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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chimneyfish
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Joined: July 28, 2009
Posts: 881
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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| mcdonaldneal wrote: |
We also came across this abandoned fire/high access truck. Definitely needing some TLC, but pretty solid, apart from the putty sealing the windscreen!
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Phil, that is so cool, you need to tow that back to Scotland!
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1965 Type 1 Deluxe (1200cc)
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1970fun
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Joined: August 24, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: Holland
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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| Looking at the pics it makes me feel to load up the bus and go on a roadtrip too |
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mcdonaldneal
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Joined: June 13, 2013
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Location: Gullane, Scotland
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mcdonaldneal
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Joined: June 13, 2013
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Location: Gullane, Scotland
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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We've come a little further North now,
We stopped in a lovely old town, Kampen, and arrived at Giethoorn. Some people had recommended it as 'the Venice of the West' and some had condemned it as a tourist trap, full of Chinese sightseers...
We came past the bigger RV parks on the outskirts and chose a small farm with a campsite attached. The owners were more than a little grumpy, but softened up as we chatted to them. You have to pay for hot water, we are being bitten to death by insects, the electricity cuts out if you try to boil a kettle and the WiFi runs like clockwork (that's not good btw!)
On the plus side, we boiled water on the gas, took a walk into the chocolate-box pretty little town with canals, ducks and enough thatching to roof Wembley stadium and thanked our lucky stars that the Chinese hordes disappear at 5pm!
Unfortunately, most of the restaurants close at 5pm too , although we found one at the prime spot on the lake. We might even rent a boat tomorrow and I've made it sound worse than it really is.
Just one night here and then we'll head further North still.
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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! |
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cliveawn
Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2010
Posts: 481
Location: Southern Sweden
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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Great bus and great trips you guys take! I myself drove down to Croatia last summer with my wife and 2 kids.Epic trip.
You should look into making an awning like mine,works well and takes a few minutes to set up.It folds and fits under the rear cushion.
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12854
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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Totally want that!
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wcfvw69
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Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: 'Let's Go! Scotland-Croatia and onwards in our Kombi!' |
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What a great trip you guys are enjoying Phil. Excellent photo's you're sharing around the world!
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