1970 miles

Thursday 17th August 2006 - Montargis , France (80 miles 2 hours 20Min), Camping du la Foret
Well time to leave, 11 chucky out time. The morning had started with a downpour so leaving became a bit easier. We all decided to have a run to Orleans about 30 miles to the east. although the guide book did not give it much rating it turned out to be a worthwhile visit with a splendid Cathedral plenty of shops to keep the girls happy, oh and a merry go round for the kids.

Friday 18th August 2006 (2 nights)- Chamonix-Mont-Blanc , France (338miles 6 hours)(1090Miles total)

 

Sleep torture, no choice last night but to park under a tree and as we had learned through experience don't park under a tree. If it rains and rained it did the leaves fill up to the brim with water then deposit it load at once on the roof of the camper. Its like being bombarded with pebbles from 10 yards metres. Never mind the excuses we were up and fed for 8.30am and ready for the off.

Today we will travel to Chamonix (4).This is where the scenery starts to unfold as you approach Mont Blanc. The run was pretty boring until you approach the last 150 miles when you realise why you have travelled so far to get here. In 5 visits it is the first where upon on arrival a cloud in the sky was not to be seen. The Mont Blanc range is a marvel and crowds had gathered at the side of the approach road to take photos of this magnificent impressive view.

Camping du la Barrett's was to be home for the next 2 nights, the difference in France with the campsites is no firm commitment just pay when you leave for the number of nights you have stayed. so if the weather is bad then you can always move on. A passport guarantees your payment as you leave (nothing daft about this lot).

view from the campsite of Aiguille De Midi

Saturday the excursion of all excursions it was to be a risk from the start get up early make our way to the cable car station, pray for good weather that one the cars would be running and secondly if they were then the visibility would be worth paying the money for. this of cause is a visit up to the Aiguille de Midi, a mountain by the side of Mont Blanc standing at 3800 metres.

We arrived at the cable car about 8.30am and it looked not to good not to bad. The station was open the visibility was variable, the cable run across the glazier from the top was closed due to high winds. Undeterred we paid our money (£70) and we were on our way.

Well what a mixed bag we had but overall it developed into one of the best days we have had. The view came and went the cold got colder and at the altitude we all felt dizzy. The final lift accent to the top was free because of the variable visibility, but I could not complain as I could see all I wanted it just came and went. The sight of mountaineers heading off into the White Valley from the top just made me wonder how mad or how fit these people could be.
 

Central peak at 3842m.	North Peak at 3802m
At the top	Lift notice on central peak
the clouds open up at Central peak	It looks impressive from the bottom, but what is is?
Ice cave at the top	Proper walkers- the difference of 5000foot

On the return we departed the cable car at the change over station at 2317m (7500ft) and went for a walk as to not take the shear altitude change in one hit. You move 1471meters in 5 mins this is the highest cable car in the world.

Time for a walk at halfway point-Plan de l'Aiguille at 2317m

View of Mont Blanc from the first station

The temperature change here on the day in the return run was 28c in 11 minutes departing the cable car back at base was 25c an end to an unbelievable experience.

As we walked back to the motorhome a lot of activity was to be seen, the rescue helicopter was flying relays the local hospital next door to the campsite appeared to be active with police and staff staring up the mountain. We were to learn that the body of British climber lost 17 years previous had been found on side of Mont Blanc.

Sunday 20th August 2006 - Randa, Switzerland (90 miles, 2 hours 30 mins)
Sadly time to leave Chamonix this would not be last visit here, it is truly a wonderful place. Just to ease my passage onwards it rained like I hadn't seen for a long time. However by the time time we arrived in Randa just a few miles from Zermatt it was 26c. The plan had been to stop at Visp, however on the spur of the moment I decided to drive down the valley to Randa which would make the train journey a little easier the following day.
 

The wonderful town of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

The road to Switzerland leave Chamonix (4) today and travel to Randa (5)

Interlaken is shown (6) and grindlewald(7)

The camp site at Ronda, camping Attermanzen must rate as one off the best views offered in Europe.

Monday 21st August 2006 (3nights) - Interlaken , Switzerland(110 miles 3Hours 15Mins)

Up early take the train to Zermatt which is one of the few towns in Europe not to allow cars and another top marks from the Michelin guide. An excellent day for the weather a cold start but soon heating up. 8am start for the train and I can never believe how busy this place is a train every 20 minutes to take you the 5 mils or so into Zermatt.

Campsite Interlaken The campsite at Interlaken the Jungfraublick was complete with one of the most friendly owners I have come across, only too willing to help as a guide and advisor ( without selling the tickets). it was complete with kids play area and swimming pool. Situated a mile from town it was perfect.

shall we

water testing time

Tuesday/Wednesday -  No move (except to the repair shop)

Well all days can't be good can they, Well it started early in the morning to go wrong. First I am always a little choosey where I do my toilet necessities, always best at home with peace and quiet not sitting in a row of a dozen or so cubicles hoping the wind is not too loud etc etc. Praying no one is standing outside yours waiting for you to finish. Only to quickly to go and tell the whole campsite what a smell and noise you make. I always prefer to slip out with no one watching.

Well my nightmare, I was sitting there happy in my own world , when the door opened, The lock had failed to engage properly. Not sure who got the bigger shock me or him.
My belief was in that half second would he recognise me, or me him. Well he did when at the same time the next morning he walked into me coming out from the toilet block and said with a nice smile " You finished today ?". Worse was to follow I spotted him on the campsite and he's English he could bump into me anywhere.

Then two minor things, the regulator that keeps my battery in the camper part was not charging the battery. We then walked into town to ask at a camper dealer about a repair and while away the wind decided to launch one big gust onto the campsite on  an otherwise perfect day (weather wise) and tear my awing from the side of the van, fortunately for me another close by Motor homer Roger was at hand to wind the awing in with the help of the site owner which minimised the damage.

The damaged awing had to removed the following morning and thankfully help was at hand on the site to remove the damaged awing. This was later reaffixed by the local dealer Top Car and received same day service.
 

Thursday 24th August 2006 (3 nights) - Grindlewald ,Switzerland (10 miles)
Today's short journey took us only 10 miles from Interlaken (6) to Grindlewald (7) only 10 or so miles but worth it for the scenery and quietness of Grindlewald.
The reason I chose to stay here was for the beautiful view of the Eiger. Providing the cloud is high enough. Which is only about 2 miles away.

The site at Grindlewald
 

On the way in to grindlewald we decided to catch the train from Wilderswill to Shynige Platte to do a little walk, which turned out to be a long wet walk it started fine enough but the weather in the mountains can change so fast.
 

Friday- cable car to First and return from Bort
Today looked like cloud stuck to the van, then as the site owner predicted within minutes it had cleared and we were off. An excellent 30 minute cable car journey took you up 1000 meters to First at 2168m and the start of an excellent 6 mile walk. Taking you to the lake of Bachalpsee at 2263m for lunch and then Waldspitz for ice cream and finally an almost shear 400 metre drop to the cable car station of Bort at 1570m.

Saturday - Time for another walk, Eiger Trail
the ease here that you can catch a train of cable car to another part of the region is fantastic. Along with the views it makes for a wonderful day out. Today I chose one of the Eiger stations and the possibility once there to walk the Eiger trail. a walk right beneath the north face of the Eiger. Starting at over (7500ft) 2320m you could feel the difference in the air. The walk would finish some 4 miles later back at another station with an easy return back to Grindleweld.
 

Sunday 27th August 2006 - Lauterbrunnen, still in Switzerland
the original plan had been to spend a few days driving back through Germany at an easy pace to catch the ferry home on Thursday. However such is the experience and love of this place we have decided to stop 2 more nights and make a run for it on Tuesday.

We have also decided to change campsite to Lauterbrunnen not that we have any complaints here its just that we fancy a look at a different town and it will ease the time taking to do a couple of walks we fancy. The site at Lauterbrunnen, Camping Jungfrau has to be without doubt the best site I have visited in terms of facilities. It was big very big without feeling big. Everything nicely screened and the view was outstanding as this is the valley of the waterfalls.

Okay it was great except on our last night which was to a visit of the local beer bars it rained. it rained so much that we never made it passed the campsite bar. Not to much worry the daytime was dry to an extent and gave us the time to visit Timoloch falls (3stars in Michelin again) which was well worth the hour spent.

Top campsite award was going to take some deciding

Wednesday 30th August 2006 - Kinderdijk, Netherlands (220 miles 4hours 20Mins)
This was billed as the home of the windmills, we where to discover it was not home of the campsite as we spent the night in a car park marked no motorhome overnight. The local pub landlord explained it was against the law to sleep overnight but at the same time said the police normally turn a blind eye for one night. How stupid to have a world heritage site and then no campsite for miles.
It turned out to be a good bar a good car park and a good tour of the windmills.
 

Thursday 31st August 2006 - Ijmuiden , Netherlands (66 Miles 2 hours) and the boat home . Total mileage 1970Miles
One of the beauties of the the ferry from Ijmuiden is the fact it docks back in North Shields only 5 miles from home. While the travel outwards is never a chore the return miles are always hard work and this will be a joy only 5 miles and back home.

We made one slight detour to visit Delft and the pottery factory (thanks dad) a wonderful looking town with a little pottery, which only added 6 miles and passed away a couple of hours.

All 244 6Mb-broadband users

top car, Interlaken (motorhome repairs) -

interlaken camp site -

interlaken railways - www.jungfraubahn.ch

camping Jungfrau, Lauterbrunnen www.camping-jungfrau.ch