26th April 2011

We have driven 670km since we left Italy, and it’s all been good. The beauty of Croatia is that it’s still not tainted by the west, it’s still got lovely forests and the sea is the most lovely azure blue. We were trying to get to the Plitvicka lakes but we bit off more than fritz could do so we headed to Zadar instead most of our drive here was alongside the sea unfortunately we ran into rain and overcast conditions but through all that the sea and rocky mountain sides are still the most contrasting combination of blue and ragged grey rock that I have seen so far. Zarad is lovely just the road we were to take was closed or construction and that mean a few turn and dead ends with Jane the GPS telling me she is recalculating quite a few times we got here and had a lovely supper with Croatian white wine and fresh fish and grilled squid awesome…    

25th April 2011

Today we are all driving to Croatia via Slovenia the Slovenian part is only 60km and a border post with a grumpy customs official, that over and we are in Croatia we stop in the fishing village of Novigrad and have the most amazing meal at a family run restaurant what a pleasure the sun was shining the small harbour with its clean water so the boats looked like they were sitting in mid air what an absolutely beautiful setting. We then push on to the city of Pula famous for its Roman

24th April 2011

i am having a bit of a job trying to get the photos in the right order so please excuse the mess , i will try and get it right but the so called WiFi every wher is not reliable in any way ...

Rita my littlest sister in law arrives today at 17h00, So Chris and I are back to the island to kill some time and make sure that there really are that many visitors squeezing themselves down those narrow streets. Reet arrives and we site at the water’s edge for a couple of drinks total of about 6 beers and 2 Gin and tonics comes to 50 euro even Fritz isn’t that expensive to run. We then decide to go out for supper and have some real Venishen food which is pasta and it was very nice, we will just leave it at that.

24th April 2011

Rita my littlest sister in law arrives today at 17h00, So Chris and I are back to the island to kill some time and make sure that there really are that many visitors squeezing themselves down those narrow streets. Reet arrives and we site at the water’s edge for a couple of drinks total of about 6 beers and 2 Gin and tonics comes to 50 euro even Fritz isn’t that expensive to run. We then decide to go out for supper and have some real Venishen food which is pasta and it was very nice, we will just leave it at that.

23rd April 2011

We are up an walking to the port by 09h00 as we have a full day in Venice, Venice has over 29 million visitors a year and they are all there today I have never seen so many people in on place at one time no wonder they say Venice is sinking. It’s really very different from any where I have been. We go to the Peggy Guggenheim museum to view the art collection. Then a beer at the local café by the Rialto bridge nice view but I think we paid for it twice. Off st Marco square you have all the brand names and excellent shopping but it’s quite expensive...

22nd April 2011

Chris arrives at Marco polo airport at 14h00 so I decided to leave the Hotel at 10h30 and walk the 3km to the port of Sabbioni to catch the ferry which is in two parts and only takes an hour and a half. If you don’t miss the one you’re supposed to catch because you’re talking to your family on the Sat phone I managed to miss two actually so my I’ve got loads of time turned in to a run to the arrivals, lucky the flight is 20 min late and after an hour and a half Chris walks out so it’s a long day of waiting and boats for me..

21st April 2011

I arrived in Venice and had to find the hotel where we were booked in, this is all very well when you know where to go. But I am getting good at getting lost and then finding my way, so it was a quick sms to Chris who is flying in to join me. Chris has found the coordinates for the hotel and I have put them into my GPS and I still have an hour ahead of me as the hotel is on the other side of the bay in which Venice is an island. When you receive coordinates every little number counts so I was surprised to only receive 48`44.00 and so on any way I was off. Those last numbers mean quite a lot about a kilometre from where I was supposed to be… But its okay my new map all in Italian should help NOT so then it’s time to ask that’s also fun as I have only just got the boujour for France right. I find the hotel and I am a day early as planned so I decided to stay in the hotel and give Fritz a rest.

20th April 2011

The hand brake was there at exactly 08h00 we were there 07h55 I saw it arrive, paid my 400 euro ouch!! And was off to get the job started. After installing it and checking that all worked then putting the cab back and tools away I was off at 10h30 and hour later than I wanted to be but that’s life and I still have to stop in the town of Sciez to draw money and buy air time (that’s the Bain of my trip) so bread and I am off. I took the toll road to Chamonix and was there quite quick I’ve been avoiding the toll roads as they are expensive and you don’t get to see much of the country but I need to make time so it served its perpous. While driving through this very steep narrow little town fritz decided to try my heart rate and burst an air pipe this was not fun as it was in the middle of the town with everyone watching while they were having lunch lucky for me it wasn’t anything I had fixed … and it was relatively easy to get to so it was done it  pretty quick if taking out the spare box then the tool box the step ladder and finding the connectors then the repair and putting it all back is quick.S I am off once more heading to st Bernards pass and there goes another pipe I am losing my scene of humour by now cos it a pain to get all the stuff out to get it fixed and the road is narrow if got cars backed up behind and crazy Ivan nearly wiping himself out on his moped I replace a meter of air pipe that’s been affected by the exhaust pie and I am gone again…St Bernard’s pass is closed because of snow !! I am disappointed to say the least and they rush me 38 euro for the pleasure of using there smelly tunnel, not happy… due to all the delays I drove until 21h00 to a place in Italy called Lake Maggiore .Tomorrow  Venice …

19th April 2011

I started with the waste pump thinking this is going to be a breeze, as it turned out there are no instructions in the file given to me by the previous owner. He assured me all was there yeah right all I have are 4 black rubber valves shaped like duck bills go figure. I eventually get it done after much puzzling and washing of hands and various other pump bits urgh what a job… so now for the next problem the so called small air leak I have heard is coming from the hand brake (I decided to replace it as I was going up St Bernard’s pass. I just might need it), after a call to mike of Atkinson Vos who guessed it immediately I had a good idea of how to get it started. First tilt the cab now this sounds easy till you start this job took me at least 2hrs before I even got to the actual removal of the offending part. Then I managed to bum a ride into town but the local merc agent didn’t have stock of a 28year old Unimog hand brake!! Surprise but it will be there by 08h00 tomorrow and that when I want an early start to the pass via Mont Blanc and Chamonix .so I will just be there to get the ball rolling .spent the rest of the afternoon at the pup drinking rad wine and not understanding a thing anyone said, interesting to say the least.

18th April 2011

I have made my way through to a town called St Michel, after my tunnel shock. So I get here and my Caravan & camping guide book tells me that there is a campsite here and the directions are 1km north of st-Avre they forgot to mention good luck in finding it, I didn’t so I did the next best thing and insulted the GPS which sent me up another pass and it was a serious pass as I was nearly at Fritz’s full turning circle to get around the corners. I arrive at the Village of Valloire at 18h00and I am quite tired and looking forward to a nice shot of Glen Morangie. The village is lovely and they are having a skiing comp on. I find the camp and the owner informs me I cannot enter as my truck is to heavy for his site you don’t want to know what went through my mind… but he then said I could park outside in his parking bay .Good enough for me thanks and I had free Wi-Fi , but it’s cold here

Today  that’s  the 18^th I am heading to Lake Leman (Geneva) I know my dates are really messed up but that’s what happens when you on leave . I have driven for 260km and still have 670 to get to Venice and 4 days to get there but I have decided to take a day off my toilet waste pump has stopped pumping and fritz has developed an air leak so it maintenance day /afternoon and tomorrow 19^th.  

17th April 2011

I seem to have forgotten an admission that happened yesterday, I left Giens and had all my experiences. And while on route to Digne I happen to take a certain D71 now if your vehicle is over 12 t you can’t use it and if your vehicle is over 8mtr long you can’t either so off I go and I am in the back of beyond of France and the scenery is beautiful winding roads that are 25mtr wide bridges the same ,then there is the Gorges de Verdon ,this is where it gets interesting cos the rock over hang is 3.65mtr high and Frits is 3.75mtr high so yes I get stuck , the drop off was nothing short of 45 metre can’t go that way . Lucky for me the only car I saw on that 70km stretch was behind me and after much forward and back letting tyres down I eventually got through my wheel was up against the Armco barriers on the 45 metre side no joke it was no fun and took quite a few whisky’s to calm the nerves when I got to the camp site.

As for today well since I left the coast I have been climbing, I have been into Italy and through the longest most expensive tunnel (Tunnel du Frejus) 48 Euro that blew my hair back…okay so the tunnel was very long but still 500 bucks what are they on. I am making my way to the St Bernard’s pass which is in Switzerland I just hope that its open , there is still enough snow on the ground and mountains for skiing so I will have to find out but that still away to go .

16th April 2011

I am still using the fuel I bought in Andorra , I have already taken 125lt out of my auxiliary tank , I did this for the first time and it was an experience firstly it was raining and had been for most of the afternoon , I had had to do a detour because of road work through  the city of Marseille those streets sure are narrow and in France you can park anywhere …so that makes passing even more fun when your 2,3mtr wide… okay I can do it but add a low fuel situation as well that’s not so fun can you imagine me running out of diesel in the 14h00 traffic madness in down town Marseille I was having such thoughts.

So I clear the city and now to find a place to park and do the refuel, there is never a place to pull off when you need one, so it’s off at the next fly off and find a spot which I did now to refuel …fuel transfer switch on , open tank ,insert nozzle and turn on the pump eish diesel everywhere all over me and the road this pump has got some pressure so much so its burst the perished hose so it goes on …I smell like a diesel bowser but I make it to my site in Digne.

15th April 2011

St Tropez was not what I expected or rather it was, but I didn’t like it firstly they didn’t like me in my big noisy truck …The folk there are almost on display, okay so you drive a convertible Bentley and a Ferrari and your boat is as big as a house but smile it’s got to be fun having all that stuff. These people were miserable, so I didn’t stay long. Bought a litre of milk for 2 Euros and hit the road … the coastal road was very interesting as you drive right next to it and get to see the beaches pity they were empty except for the odd pair or so!!

14th April 2011

I didn’t Make it to St Tropez as there was an accident on the freeway and the traffic was horrendous, If this traffic keeps up my left leg is gonna be a lot bigger than the right. So I made it to a site called Geins, it on a peninsula and only 40km from where I want to go. This is tomorrows target but tonight I am cooking Chicken in the oven …okay it’s been partly cooked all I have to do is warm it up without burning it no worries!!

13th April 2011

Right well I got to the top of the Mountain, and there was snow everywhere. And the people were skiing, I was in shorts and a t shirt and it was lovely. I did phone Ally from the top to tell her where I was, it was great. Then I Filled Fritz to the gills as the diesel is about 40cent (euro cents) cheaper than anywhere else. The auxiliary tank and the main which was half full plus 4 jerry cans and I had 380Llts on board and a big mountain to go down , at least I wouldn’t be using too much diesel !! I am now on my way to St Tropez …

12 April 2011

I got to the town of Foix, and found a lovely site next to a river . this is to be my starting point for the clime up the mountain.And then on to St Tropez...

11 April 2011

After leaving the Memorial village I was of to my camp site in Bordeaux, I had planned a wine tour but the weather was shocking so it was time to hit the road and I decided to head for the Pyrannese and Adrorra apparently the diesel is really cheap!

14 th April 2011

As usual I am playing catch up , sorry for no pics . I have them i just cannot seem to get them on the blog... as soon as I get to a hard wire connection of a reliable WiFi then i will edit the blog and post the pics ...cheers for now kevin
hay how about some feed back only Dill has said any thing recently!!

10th April 2011

Its as earlier start as I can make it , I have another big day 375km as I didn’t achieve the distance I wanted to I also to a wrong turn or two my excuse is I can’t hear the GPS over the row that frits makes when he gets up to his cursing speed of 90km/h you can’t hear a thing ( I can hear the old grey one say what have you done Kevie that’s my friend Chris) So I get to the village at 14h45 luckily they only close at 18h00 so I have got some time to walk around the ruins, the village had 642 men women and of that number 193 were children. The hole village was massacred only one child and one woman got away. I took a whole load of pics but the weather was grime like the mood over the remains of the village. I had to find a camp site to stay at so my time was up.  

9th April 2011

My girls are leaving me and they are off to Brussels with Mike and Rita the back to Amsterdam to catch their flight on the 11, I will miss them as it’s been quite an experience us all being together and driving around in Fritz and seeing and visiting all the lovely places that we have been so fortunate to experience. I am heading south to a war memorial called Oradour s Glane, it’s going to be a two day drive …I eventually find my camp site at 18h30 and I am finished.

8th April 2011

I must be getting old or that twilight zone ride did me an injustice, boy I am stiff today …Mike has a surprise and we are off to see the famous Monet painting the water lilies…they are beautiful and thy are huge here I was thinking they would be normal these are 12 mtr long if not longer and no flash pics the big French guy told me!! Then we are off to see Nostradamus and clime the 200 small steep steps tp the top and see the famous gargoyle and the bell Quasimodo rang. Then we are off to see this chapple that has the most amazing lead light windows I unfortunately cannot remember the name but it was very nice …I am still feeling the effects of my stomach bug so I don’t really last a hole day.

7th April 2011

Ally and I are taking Daniella to Euro Disney for the day, Ned bank are you ready for this… It was a blast we caught a train to the park and well the park get on average 15million visitors a year its really big and you don’t know where to start so we just climbed right in and did as many rollercoaster rides as we could and eat junk food and just had fun after 15h00 we eventually made our way to the other side which is dedicated to the movie side of Disney like the Toy story and the twilight zone (that was a good ride Dana screamed the whole way up and down) we got home after 21h00

6th April 2011

Our 3^rd floor apartment in the almost centre of Paris is great these guys party all night I can vouch for that the at around 04h30 the street sweepers start they must be deaf cos the shout at each other

But the vibe is great we visit the Eiffel tower and go to the top what a fantastic view ,then we are of to the Rodin museum to see the over 6000 sculptures including the Kiss, the thinker ,the gates of hell and many more then we are off for a boat trip along the Seine it was very nice ,we shared the experience with 150 Chinese tourists!!!

5th April 2011

We are heading to Paris but on the Way we have decided to go to Giverny to see Monet Garden and paintings Daniella has offered to go with Mike and Rita I think she needs a change of company and so quiet driving, it gets noisy in good old Fritz. We say our good byes to the lovely couple at the Manor and head off to fill up ,this is when it get interesting first I fill ,no prob then I think I’ll check the oil…right I guess we need some ,sorted then I jump in as there is a tour bus needing fuel I start Fritz and what’s that noise switch off quick and it’s still there and its really going for it the engine off but it vibrating like it running then there’s a bit if smoke and I am under the truck now okay it’s the reconditioned starter motor spinning like a mad thing now I now the solenoid is stuck but how to unstick a solenoid when you have some Herbert in a tour bus up you’re jacksie I need a spanner so it’s open the back and steps out clime in and dig out a spanner 23 will do ,back under the truck and begin to try and tap the solenoid sparks everywhere, not there then buy this time the smoke is serious and the smell is worse  then …Ally is everything okay !!! I’ll leave that one to you. I hit the spot and the noise goes away and we are on the road I am in a sweat and it’s not even 09h30.

Monet’s garden was beautiful, I being the ignorant middle aged male just didn’t know which was what… then on to Paris with my very efficient co driver and we found the parking even if we upset a few pariesans on the way.

4th April 2011

My dates are a bit upside down as we are doing so much I cannot keep track, we have seen the 70 metre long tapestry of how the French sorted out the Brits (sorted point that) ,and as I have said previously we have seen the D-Day beaches. To Day we are off to Mont St Michel which is described as something out of a Tolkien book … sure is and what a place to build a castle Monastery!! I have caught a stomach bug or eaten something that didn’t like me so I feel rather green will do.

3 April 2011

I have always had this rether morbid obsession with war, after visiting these places and seeing what actually went on its got worse! we went to Omaha beach were the Americans landed what a lovely long beach with over a hundred meters of sand before the road way, nice if you've only got you're towle and sun screen not a 40kg pack ,a 8kg rifle that doesn't like sea water and some nutter on the other side with a rate of 1500p/m rate of fire...

 this the front of an american landing craft,not everyone got off..

 symbol of memorial and peace to the fallen.

me standing in one os the many bome craters,it must have been noisy to say the least.

over 4000 dead in one day and 1500 injured.But we are still speaking english so thanks guys.

1 April 2011

Happy birthday Les, I hope your mates spoilt you. Today we have a long haul 475km which in SA and my Prado I wouldn't even worry about but its a bit differant in a 7 ton ex army truck that has a top speed of 90km/h and a built in hill detector... it was a long day for all we were driving down to Normandy to the D-Day beaches to a place called Bayeux to lovely Manour we have booked in for 3 days .

31 March 2011

We are off to Bruges, its not a long drive but as usual its getting going that takes the time.Just a few pics of the medievil city .

31 March 2011

Ally and Daniella have arrived safely(just so you know i cannot do a spell check cos its comming up in French!!) and they have brought the rain with them so i dont have more pic's of Amsterdam with them...just some of these.

30 March 2011

After the parking fiasco which turned out okay, I decid to walk the 4km to the accomodation which has been prebooked by brother-in-law Mike good man!!.i was pleasantly suprised , a house boat in the center of Amsterdam does it get better than that. To -day Ally and Daniella arrive from SA and its been a month since I have seen then ,I cannot explain how happy I and excited I am to see them .So its off tto the airport to collect them.

29 March 2011

Okay here is the entrance to the Harbour. I have been advised that the parking was going to be a mission so Mike had kindly looked up on the net parking places and there was one of many so I made my choice and off I went to park Fritz up for 3 days at the designated parking in Amsterdam! Yes you guessed it ,nothing is ever as easy as it seems and if it is then you’re doing something wrong.. I get to the designated spot after a hour or so and the parking is underground and there is no way fritz is fitting in there even on his side. So now what I am here and I don’t know anyone to ask or where to go for plane B.F-ing great…but not all the folk in Amsterdam show you the finger some actually help and I found one, a very nice dude drew me a map of where to park for free doesn’t get better than that March

March 28 2011  day?

I have started my drive to catch the ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland I decided to take a cabin as the crossing was an all nighter.  The ferry was uneventful, can’t say that for the docking side. It was after 21h00 when I arrived, I had been driving for 7 hrs. Solid so my brain was more frazzled than normal, it must have been the big mog driving in circles that got the attention of the guys who are supposed to direct you to where you’re supposed to go .But I got there. And to Holland, then to the Amsterdam to meet Mike and Rita. This was a challenge on ita own cos firstly they drive on the other side of the road which is okay if your handlebars are on the other side I have just changed mine around and that now makes driving Fritz a whole new ball game and some very upset Dutchman !! one even showed me the finger so I waved back…