Category Archives: General Posts

General Posts, Wales

Dining Around a Woodland Campfire

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Being in the campervan fold for the best part of 5 years you can’t help but feel there is a little something for everyone. Both Mandy and I have done our fair share of travelling and we almost feel like veterans in the field. Some people dip in to the scene and move into other areas never to be heard of again. I will be the first to admit I have other distraction and have been guilty of taking my eye of the scene to focus on other things. That said, we always look forward to time away in the van.

There are certain perks to sharing your travels with others. The feedback is seldom met with anything other than positivity. That longing to be in the shoes of the person relaying those amazing pictures can only serve to inspire and lead others to follow. We have done this on numerous occasions, purely because we fell in love with a location we had no idea existed prior to that electronic telegraph on a social media post. And the reality is, we have rarely been disappointed!

All of this said, there are less than a handful of people that I feel really embrace this lifestyle. The restrictive nature of the small format campervan can offer an element of achievement to anybody that is used to the luxuries and trappings of bricks and mortar. To be able to enjoy yourself with a vastly limited array of everything compared to a what most take for granted is a major buzz for the casual campers. But a safety net is there for most in the form of home, which is quite often only just a short drive away, if the need should arise.

There are few in this world that take that leap of faith and remove any option of returning to what we would call the norm, by selling up and deciding that life is better enjoyed on the road. No fixed abode and no fixed income are surely going to offset any illusion that this is going to be an easy ride. But the memories will stay, and the harder the journey, the longer those memories will last. Who would do such a thing…?

Michael and Steph chose life on the road because they both had busy lifestyles, and hardly ever saw each other due to the long hours worked, and opposing shifts. Mike is a seasoned chef, and Steph has a love for animals with previous employment in the veterinary fold. Both were unhappy with the work life balance, and made the decision years ago to try and re address issues to give them a better quality of life.

The Westfalia T3 Atlantic syncro is one of the most capable campervans ever made. True 4×4 off road capability, twin hob, great internal layout are stock on this very rare van. But complemented with a raft of other outdoor cooking options like BBQ, Cobb oven, or just a plain old big fire for roasting all manner of things, has been inspiration to all in the fold on social media for years in the form of video blogs, instagram, facebook and twitter via Chefcampers unique branding.

So having known Mike and Steph via our click on social media for some time, both Mandy and I were amazed that we had been offered a ‘Golden Ticket’ for DINING AROUND A WOODLAND CAMPFIRE. To actually experience Mikes cooking, with his best friend at his side Keiren who is also a professional cook, was just too good an opportunity to miss.

We arrived late afternoon at the campsite. The venue for dining had been a work in progress for the previous two weeks. The forest surrounded the encampment giving it a really cozy feel.

Mike, the fire…and the van 🙂

Hay bales were dotted around, and a long gazebo offered dry seating from what turned out to be a night of rain and drizzle .

Kieran. What a star!

Music played to enhance what was already an amazing evening, and each soundtrack complimented every one of the seven courses.

Moroccan lamb served on bamboo plates, Steph, the waitress, and amazing company…

We were truly gifted to experience this night out. We have camped in our van in some amazing locations, but this evening had everything. Close friends, great food, good music, amazing location, and of course our home on the road. Fantastic!

Quote below from one very happy Mike ( Chefcampers )

What an evening!
Last night, we hosted a banquet in the woods. We served up 7 courses, all cooked over fire. The time invested into pulling this off was insane. There were moments when I sat up late, asking myself, “why?!”
Last night, that question was answered. Our guests brought their absolute best to the experience. As we inhaled the flames, we heard laughter, corks popping and a sense that we were at the heart of something special.
Our food got amazing feedback and it made the whole experience worthwhile.
The tasting menu was a chance for us to showcase what we can do, using the best produce from the local areas, challenging the limits of open fire cookery.
For those who took a chance and booked a ticket, thank you. You said “yes”. You didn’t hesitate and you took a chance to pursue a food adventure. You guys are now ChefCampers and welcome to the crew.
Shall we do it again in the Summer?!

2019, General Posts, Travels & Camping

Norfolk – Thetford

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Our September break always used to be the one we focused on as our main holiday. That said, the last three years we have taken advantage of extended holidays earlier on in the year to make the most of the good weather, but also avoiding high season. We have the luxury of being able to skirt the rush of the school holidays, and taking breaks after schools starts the new term in September, has always been a blessing to us as the usually extortionate prices plummet.

Lots of things have happened since our amazing and blissful getaway in June. Mandy’s Mum became seriously ill, and I have had to take some time off work with anxiety, stress and depression. We both considered cancelling this holiday for all of the reasons mentioned… but the treatment for Mandy’s mum looked promising, and we both agreed we could do with time away to just chill.

We set off with a campsite booked. It was my job to sort this, and I was overly chuffed that i had found a camp site that I felt would be perfect. The Caravan and Motorhome sites usually offer some of the best amenities, and the webpage pictures looked perfect, but it seemed remarkably cheap!

Caravan and Motorhome site. (Nice, but no toilets or showers)

However, after a late start and obviously late arrival as a result, we were a little confused when we were asked if we had a toilet by the campsite reception. Mandy questioned this, and we found that the lower price was reflected in the lack of amenities. Electric was included, but no shower and toilet block.

So we spent a little time on our mobile phones trying to get another pitch local. We found one that looked like it would tick the box, but the phone went dialed with an out of hours message, and everything was looking like we wouldn’t be able to arrive late notice. our options were limited and the campsite was only a short drive away so we took a chance and drove half an hour to Puddledock Farm.

Fortunately, on arrival we were greeted by the wardens and given a healthy list of available pitches. We parked in a very roomy corner pitch a short walk from the shower blocks. We were really pleased as the website photos didn’t really do this campsite justice. Pleasantly surprised!

Puddledock Farm

2019, General Posts, Travels & Camping

York – Rowntree Caravan club.

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We were invited to a good friends 60th Birthday party a few months prior. It was being held in the City of York, and we knew that it would be nice to hook up for the occasion, and combine it with a long weekend away in the van.

Birthday boy

We had stayed at this club site previously, and knew that its close location to the city centre made ultra convenient.

York Rowntree Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite:- Terry Ave, York YO23 1JQ

General Posts, Present Vehicles, Vehicles Past & Present

yamaha XS400

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My enjoyment of vehicles started with the motorbike. The freedom I found in the mid to late 1980 was something that has stayed with me to this very day. I had a whole raft of learner legal bikes throughout this period, flitting from a trail bike to road bikes and back again. The vast majority were Yamaha, and almost every one was stripped to the bare frame, painted and rebuilt so that I had an understanding of the bike, and confidence in its reliability. My dream bike at the time was the RDLC350, but sadly it was out of reach due to my lack of commitment to progress my licence from provisional to full.

Yamaha RDLC350

In anticipation of passing my test i purchased a RD250 DX which was the earlier air cooled version of the LC (liquid cooled)

RD 250 DX in Kenny Roberts colours. Brought this bike on a whim and had to sell it because i hadn’t passed my test 🙁

However, I eventually moved more towards cars, and this became the transport distraction for the next five years or so.

In the 1990s I found an interest in classic scooters, and it was at this point I decided to take my full bike test. After passing this I was content with scooters, but passing my test would stand me in good stead for my most recent purchase years later.

I saw the bike on ebay and the looks, quality of build and the price made me want the it instantly.

The bike was paid for and couriered from Scotland to the Midlands in less than a week. After few small running issues that turned out to be timing related, its an absolute dream to ride. It pulls like a train and it encompases all that I love about two wheeled transport.

General Posts, Travels & Camping

Calke Abbey

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We spend a lot of time at Calke Abbey. It’s one of the few places you can park up in amazing surroundings and just chill with friends and family. It’s great to be able to use the campervan as a base to prepare food and drinks, or just to provide a cool place out of the sun if we are blessed with the good weather.

The calm before the storm. Mandy chilling before relatives arrive.

However, the only disadvantage was the toilet facilities were a twenty minute walk each way to the main house. This proved quite an inconvenience, so having a portaloo in the van went some way to helping the situation, but it wasn’t ideal.

That said, for a couple of years there was some major work being carried out behind the trees and we heard it was a new visitors centre. It was a long time coming but this Sunday outing we finally got to experience the new attraction. We were all really impressed.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/calke-abbey/projects/a-new-outdoor-hub-for-calke-abbey

2019, 2019 Euro Trip, General Posts, Travels & Camping

France (Camping Château du Gandspette )

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We reached our final campsite before catching our ferry back to the UK on Saturday morning. The drive was a bit of a challenge and the second longest journey of the trip. We left Heidelberg early in the morning and the temperatures started to soar as we moved into southern, then mid France. On the last leg, the temperature started to drop substantially, and we arrived under grey skies. For the first time in weeks I had to put a long sleeved top on to keep the chill off. The clouds did eventually cleared in the evening and it turned out to be pleasant, although still a little chilly. But that was most likely to do with our climatisation over the last month.

The campsite wasn’t expensive as we could get discount using our ACSI card. We had a walk round on the first evening and were really impressed with the facilities and cleanliness of the campsite

After a good night’s sleep our first full day at the campsite was spent chilling. Mandy read her book by the swimming pool and had a dip and I choose to try and keep cool in the van.

In the evening we were invited to share a drink with an english couple who were, like us on the last leg of their journey. It was during these conversation that they mentioned a German WWII rocket factory…

The Blockhaus

It was an amazing surprise to find out that just 10 minutes cycle ride from our campsite was one of the most interesting historical places related to World War II . It’s called the Blockhaus d’Éperlecques and it’s where they started manufacturing the V2 rockets.

It got compromised by British and allied bombing once they realised what was being produced there, so never got to cause the damage it was designed for. I think this is the first time I have seen a structure of this size that has the scars of war with craters in the forest, and massive holes in the concrete from the specially designed “Tall Boy” & “Disney” bunker busting bombs.

” The biggest bunker in the north of France, witness of the 1939-45 dark age, from 1939 to 1945.
Open to the public since 1973 and listed “Ancient Memorials” in 1985.
A 90min-visit, alone or with your family, to discover and learn the history of the Eperlecques Bunker, the technologie of the V2 & V1 secret weapons, in a wooded parc, you’ll be impressed, interested and you’ll keep and unforgettable memory. “

Reception / ticket office consisted of a lot of interesting historic items.

Once we paid we passed through a small doorway where you were encouraged to follow a meandering along which were a whole raft of different and very thought provoking items. Vehicles were dotted here and there along with artillery, unexploded bombs, dummy bombs and german defence items retrieved from the D-Day landings.

Below is a small section of train track with two cattle trucks. One had footprints on the floor to depict how many victims were shipped to concentration camps at the start of the war. These gave the impression that although the truck was clearly carrying a good number of prisoners, there was at least space to breath. The second truck was full of footprints showing standing room only and barely enough room to move at all. This was brought to life by commentary and the sound of discomfort as it travelled to its destination where a return would not be an option for many.

It goes without saying the most interesting thing was the Blockhaus itself. The saddest part is that most of the casualties in the bombing would have been prisoners of war who were put to work building the missile factory.

I would highly recommend visiting this attraction to anybody that finds themselves in France via the Euro Tunnel / ferry at Calais or Dunkirk.

V1

133 rue du Gandspette 
62910  Éperlecques 
Pas-de-Calais / Nord-Pas-de-Calais  –  France
Tel: 03 21 93 43 93 – Fax: 03 21 95 74

https://www.chateau-gandspette.com

http://www.leblockhaus.com/fr/

2019, 2019 Euro Trip, General Posts, Travels & Camping

Germany (Heidelberg)

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The originally predicted 5 hour journey from Salzburg to Heidelberg expanded to 8 hours as we hit the end of the German holiday traffic. This weekend was the weekend to avoid travel wise, but we only realised that when we were sat in traffic wondering why the heck it was so busy. We arrived at Heidelberg and after the usual supplies replenishment courtesy of Lidl, we moved on to our camp site.

We were a little apprehensive on arrival as some of the reviews were hit and miss largely related to it’s close proximity to the road, and the subsequent noise as a result. We were restricted to a location away from the reception because we didn’t require an electric hook up, and I think this made all the difference. All of the hook up pitches were near reception, but these seemed disorderly and congested. Not very pleasant at all.

But this is the beauty of not having to reley on mains electricity. Much more flexibility, and in this case a nicer, grass pitch in a quieter part of the campsite on the bank of the River Neckar.

Heidelbergs only campground is located down riverside in the district named “Schlierbach”, about 5 km away from the “Old Bridge”. To city center it’s 10 min by bus (directly at the site).

Quote above from campsite webpage

After a spell of rain on the first evening we both had one of our best nights sleep due to the drop in temperature. The morning was partially cloudy, but there was also plenty of sunshine so the thermometer had crept back up to the late 20s come midday.

The Barges are loooong by the way!

We opted for a morning at the campsite as the Sunday bus service didn’t really start until lunch (other than a pure 9am bus that I can only assume is for shop staff). We could have cycled into Heidelberg at approximately 5km, but the travel cost weren’t expensive and we wanted to save our energy to explore without being sweaty on arrival.

We’ve been to so many places over the last few weeks, and I feel that one city break after the next is a recipe for becoming immune to the beauty of these places. Some might call it boredom, and there is a danger that you can have too much of a good thing. So to do Salzburg then Heidelberg in short succession we felt this could be a big mistake. They both share a similarity that they are on a major river, but as we were to find out, they are both very different.

What we saw of Heidelberg on the Sunday was amazing . The temperature steadily crept up to an almost unbearable level with next to no breeze So after three weeks on the road, and the rush of of our last stop in Salzburg, moving on to another high profile city meant we couldn’t sustain a second day of sightseeing without it feeling like a chore as the temperatures reached the mid 40s. Traveling can be a blessing, but you also have to be realistic about your physical and mental ability to be able to enjoy your surroundings.

So we made a decision on Monday morning to have a chill out day. The campsite had cleared of the weekend bustle and we almost felt that we had the whole place to ourselves. Early on i made a feeble attempt to clean the camper of the dirt dust and grime accumulated over the previous weeks travels, but it was just to humid and any exertion lead to a sheen of sweat all over my body. Very uncomfortable. So I ended up spending most of my time in the van updating my travel blog and watching Formula E and drinking beer (With ice pops to cool). Mandy finished her third book on her kindle as she moved between sun and shade.

Our options for Tuesday were to explore the old castle that lookes down on the city of Heidelberg, or go for a river cruise. It was set to be another scorching day so we chose to do the boat trip as we thought it would be a good way to catch the breeze. Although it was a great trip there was absolutely no breeze and the heat was relentless. Suffice to say I had to have a nice cool beer or two to try and keep my temperature down :).

We finished our trip to Heidelberg by perusing the shops for one last time and had a final meal in a restaurant. Proof that the temperatures were abnormally hot came from our waiter who said he had not known heat like this before , even in the height of summer. Not just us then!

Next and final stop France.

Camping Heidelberg
Schlierbacher Landstr. 151
D-69118 Heidelberg

Phone +49 6221 802506  
Fax +49 6221 802506 
info@camping-heidelberg.de

2019, 2019 Euro Trip, General Posts, Travels & Camping

GERMANY (The Eagles Nest)

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BERCHTESGADEN

As our holiday got to the mid way point in Croatia, we knew that things would get a little fluid. Reason being was that we had only planned the first couple of weeks before we set off from the UK. This has it’s pros and cons, but it’s nice to have some flexibility as we move around for a number of reasons. As has been said in previous posts for this trip, the weather for Salzburg was not looking particularly favorable at the time we were planning to visit. So making the decision to stay further south in Trieste was last minute, but it worked for us, and we got to see another fantastic location unexpectedly. Leading on, I hope you will see why the above is particularly relevant here.

After another hot day in Trieste we made the decision late afternoon to leave the campsite and move towards Salzburg rather than stay for the fourth and final night. This meant we could get the majority of driving out of the way in the evening when it would be cooler, and quieter on the roads. We knew we would be to late to check into the campsite so planned to wild camp somewhere. After three and a half hours drive, and with only one hour predicted drive to Salzburg we started to consider a stopping point.

We went into an service station that allowed over night camping, but decided it was too noisy. So we consulted a mobile phone app for flexible camping in the area. We found one that looked like it was going to be be in more tranquil surroundings a little further up the road, so we moved off the A10 motorway at a place called Flaucheuwinkle and found a layby under the cover of darkness. All we could see was limited by the headlights. We had a sneaky suspicion that we were near a fast flowing alpine streams due to the noise, but the views when we got up this morning were amazing.

Mandy had messaged her brother last night before we went to bed regarding our location. He is quite well traveled in Europe and suggested we visit The Eagles Nest. Being really interested in the Second World War, I was excited to find out we were so close to this place our historic interest. After all, this was Adolf Hitler’s summer retreat high in the mountains, in Germany, just on the border of Austria. It was also where a lot of the meetings took place during Hitler’s reign. It was literally a few kilometers off the main road as we moved towards Salzburg, so we both felt it would be to good an opportunity to miss.

As we moved off the main road towards Salzburg, towards Germany, the road started to climb. My van with its 1.9TD engine conversion is prone to getting warm / hot when climbing hills. I always feel it would never really be an issue, but when it gets to a certain temperature on the gauge, if the opportunity arises, I try and stop just to let things settle. The location was amazing as we entered a small alpine village. So we stopped at a hotel / restaurant for a coffee. It was still relatively early, and the Eagles Nest was only a short drive away.

Hotel Neuhausl

We were immediately greeted by one of the members of staff that showed a genuine interests in my camper-van. Lots of questions, but I’m always willing to share my passion with others should the opportunity arise. Her name was Katherine.

Katherine

After some discussion we were lead along the front of the hotel to a decked terrace area. This gave us a great vantage point to a fantastic panorama. Shortly after our cappuccinos were brought to our table by Katherine, who told us to enjoys these free of charge. This was a pleasant surprise. She also added that we were to come and find her in the kitchen before we departed as she wanted to bid us fare well. We really weren’t used to such hospitality.

After enjoying the view and our coffees we wandered inside the hotel to find Katherine. I don’t think I’ve ever been inside a hotel that was so prefect. It looked nice from the outside, but the attention to detail inside got me thinking this is 5 star. We moved outside and took a few photos by the van with Katherine. During our parting conversation, we found that it was a family run business with all members, and Katherine was the daughter. Just before we left we were presented with some amazing cakes packaged in a parcel with “have a nice drive”.

We carried on another 4 kilometers up a steep windey road until we got to the Eagles Nest car park and visitors center at the town of Berchtesgaden . This was approximately 11am and all of the car parks were full so we had to park on the grass verge. We brought tickets an had a short wait before we got on one of the specially adapted buses equipped to climb and descend the steep, narrow road to the Kehlsteinhaus.

The journey was amazing, and one of the most interesting stretches of road I have ever traveled. We were informed over the intercom in the bus that we needed to arrange a departure time with the reception at the top. We the first people off the first bus, but after moving to one side to get a drink out of my ruck sack, we found ourselves at the back of a very long que made up of four busses worth of passengers. Not the best move. Still, we are British and we waited with a stiff upper lip. After all, it’s what we do best.

Once we had arranged our bur return, we made our way into a long tunnel to the base of the lift shaft.

We waited in a que for about ten minutes before we got in the lift. It was larger than anticipated but this was enhanced further by the fact that the entire lift had a mirror effect from the polished brass that formed the walls and ceiling. The distance elevated to the Restaurant / viewpoint at the top was pretty substantial, but it was really quick which surprised us especially considering the amount of people it held.

Once at the top we filtered out onto the patio area where the views were amazing. I had a beer and Mandy a coffee, and we reminded ourselves just how luck we were to have had this opportunity to visit such an amazing place. It’s difficult to convey in words just how interesting this attraction is. The weather was certainly in our favor on that day, and I’m sure the visit would have been subdued somewhat with low cloud cover, but we had struck lucky.

“As symbol of power of the NS regime, decisions were made at the Eagle’s Nest.  It still stands for the insanity of the regime and the world on the Obersalzberg, where plans for war and mass murder were formed.


In defiance, the building stands perched over a sheer rock wall. A road was cut into the mountain through previously impassable terrain. Although it is an architectural master piece, it was still an act of waste on nature and other resources. To reach it, there is a golden brass elevator buried in the heart of the mountain, through which one can reach „the summit of power“ – all this has been created with the sole purpose to impress and dazzle people. “

Quote from official Eagles Nest Website

It’s very thought provoking knowing that many of Hitler’s plans were hatched here. The duration of our stay was approximately four hours. After this we headed for Salzburg.

2019, 2019 Euro Trip, General Posts, Travels & Camping

AUSTRIA (SALZBURG)

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This is one of those few places where the photos do all of the talking. Stayed for three nights just after Trieste and the Eagles Nest. Great cycle network into the city, and explored the fortified castle via the funicular train.

Salzburg is a very popular tourist destination and famous for mainly four things: Its Baroque architecture and general prettiness (the old town is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site); as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; the world-class Salzburg Festival, a series of opera, concerts and theatre performances during the summer; and as the place where the movie “The Sound of Music” was shot.

Camping Nord-Sam

Samstrasse 22a

5023 Salzburg, Austria

+43/662/660494