Motorhome

Collector

Day 35, 16.08.2019, AB Laval – Orleans – Jargeau, 266 km

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I did not mention in yesterday’s report that I stopped at a highway fuel station for the night. I headed east again towards Germany and Austria.

55 km before Orleans I found Schloss Châteaudun. What a beauty.

In Orleans I parked at the river Loire opposite the city and rode my bike to town.

A bit further up is already an image oft this hotel and court yard. Now, one hour later it was used for a celebration of the French National Holiday. They had representatives from the US Army around in their original uniforms. Also vehicles were on show from 1945.

One of the vehicles was a Dodge troop transporter which I had driven in my military training in 1979. Can you believe that? It was not a question that I could take a seat and get photographed by the US Army.

About 15 km “behind” Orleans was Jargeau, which had a small parking lot for motor homes. Quite quaint views.

Day 34, 15.08.2019, Mont St. Michel – Rennes – AB Laval, 141 km

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Who has not heard of Mont St Michel? I did and it was on my bucket list for a long time. Today was the day.

The camping site was near, so I took the bike once more and left it before the long bridge and mingled with the crowd. Medieval through and through the place moves you back in time automatically. Everything has style and charm and quality.

I was blessed by being able to attend the end of a church service, where the nuns sang as a small choir with a mystical sound in that high cathedral.

Wandering from level to level one has views over the Channel or inland or is drawn into court yards and chambers.

It is such a center of positive energy that I did not want to leave on the same day. On the other hand my time came slowly to an end and I carried on east bound to Rennes.

My blessings did not seize. Rennes offers stylish architectures and splendid restaurants, pubs and cafes.

Day 32, 13.08.2019, Oxford – Stone Henge – Pool, 202 km

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This would be special day. I visited good friends from long long back at their country cottage near Oxford. And later on I drove to Stone Henge in the Salisbury Planes. It should be no secret that I am mad about the Neolithic Sites.

The mystery of this center of energy is still under investigation. Austrian scientists are leading the wider area research from an helicopter using Radar and Sonar technology. They discovered a huge far reaching structure of stones and paths and type of canals. For me the presence of Stone Henge is nothing short of the Pyramids of Egypt or Macchu Picchu in Peru.

After that intense visit where I moved backwards and forwards in time in my imagination (-> time-travel.net), I carried on to Pool to cross over the Channel tomorrow to France.

For France I had in mind the Normandie and Bretagne, but detailed targets. I was lucky enough to get recommendations and hints from friends and neighbors. One would be “Carnac” with many large fields with hundreds of Menhirs. Equally intriguing.

Day 30, 11.08.2019, Fort William – Morecambe, 439 km

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As I parked very near to the ALDI shop, what sounds more attractive than fresh croissants for breakfast? What a treat in the morning.

Moving back south with just a few short stops. Time for better weather all together.

Some roads had unstable shoulders on the side of the road. As I sat in a left hand driven car and had to drive on the left side of the road, judgement to oncoming motor home traffic was tough at times. It resulted in 4 hits on one Sunday. And one to the four broke the right outer mirror. I just could fix it with cable strips not to loose it completely.

I choose Morecambe for the stop over by chance because it got late and I got tired. Found parking quickly in a side road of a shopping complex and walked to the festival at the sea side.

Day 29, 10.08.2019, Portree – Fort Williams, 259 km

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The idea was to cycle to the northern side of Skye and visit some points if interest. One was the “Old Man of Storr“. A look out of the motor home showed some clouds in the background, but all in all it was very promising.

But just after one Kilometer of cycling the background came strongly to the foreground and I had to put on the rain jacket. I only made it to the first attraction, Old Man of Storr. There were about 15 – 20 people on the way up and down. With a group of younger guys I made it to quite close to the stone. But the last bit was very steep and slippery and there was fog and a gail force storm which almost blew us off the socks. The clouds were so dense, we only saw a ghostly image of it. Perseverance is also a virtue.

In rain and storm I cycled back and suffered a bit. But only the tough survive. In the motor home I quickly changed to warm clothing and put the wet ones onto drying ropes.

All set to drive around the island on four wheels.
Found the “Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls Viewpoint” on route.

Duntulm Castle was a bit lost in the distance, but one could imagine it interesting in different weather.

Other travelers persevered on two wheels and I felt a little weak. My excuse was afterwards, I did not have the perfect outfit for these conditions. And it was true. The way to Fort Williams led over the bridge around lochs and lakes. I found parking and a pub for dinner. All well.

Day 28, 09.09.2019, Ullapool – Portree, 259 km

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Today the target was the Isle of Sky with the “capital” Portree. The drive was scenic as every day and I feel, one cannot get tired of it.

If you are lucky you find parking at a fine coffee shop with book shop attached and you meet Italians who are on a long distance cycling trip around the Scottish islands.

Fantastic views of Scotland’s shores and lakes and hills.

As it is called Isle of Sky it needs a connection to the mainland. It could be a ferry, a tunnel or a bridge. They choose an elegant bow.

My parking spot again was an act of bravery: searched down a small road into a little forest and found my niche across the town of Portree. Could not have been any better.

First a stroll to the top of the nearby hill. Found this magic jewel: The Cuillin Hills Hotel.
https://cuillinhills.dbm.guestline.net/

These pics are from the walk to town.

Day 27, 08.08.2019, Durness – Ullapool, 126 km

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I took an extended stroll on the beach far out to the opposite side of my location. It was just peaceful, relaxing, meditative and energizing at the same time.

I love the micro cosmos and miracles of nature along the shores.

The panorama form the far end back.

This are the ruins of Balnakeil Church close to my paring spot.

From the ride to the south west to Ullapool I was again amazed about the beauty of the Scottish Highlands with their winding roads and rivers and waterfalls. You can also meet interesting people on bicycles like Tim from the Netherlands. He had this top special touring bike from Germany for about 8.500 Euros. Respect. I gave him a lift to find a coffee shop. We had to search deep into one of the fjords and found that charming place at the far end…

The camping ground at Broomflield Holiday Park was just outside Ullapool and very well organized.
http://www.broomfieldhp.com/

Day 26, 07.08.2019, John o Groats – Durness, 150 km

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It was a westwards move from John o Groats to Durness along the north coast of Scotland. As one can see the weather was rather dull, driving along the sea side is still peaceful and relaxing. Never mind the narrow and partially one-lane-roads. All motorists play to the rules and wait at the next passing island and traffic really flows and flows …

Could not resist to play nine holes of Golf ad-hoc when I came along the Reay Golf Club. It was a fine links course, as they are only in the motherland of Golf.
https://www.reaygolfclub.co.uk/

Similar to the above images, this was the view from the parking site of the motor home – near Durness – and another Golf Club, by the way.

Finding this ideal location needed the courage to drive past Durness on a narrow winding road. Then I found some parking, but it was full already. So I carried on another one-lane-road to the Golf Club. And found my spot.
http://www.durnessgolfclub.org/

Day 25, 06.08.2019, Orkney – John o Groats, by bike, 30 km

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After a pleasant night in the tent I chatted to neighbors with a motor home. They recommended this beautiful coast line nature reserve.

This “bowling pin rock” was excavated by sea channels over thousands of years.

The young lady and her colleague were extremely helpful that I could get a ride on the bus back to the ferry. They went the extra mile to get the permission and the necessary wrapping material for my bicycle. Very special to me.
I had not eaten much yesterday and today. I was in a state of euphoria to find the archaeological sites and had no appetite at all. But when it hit me, I had some fish and chips, but it did not give me enough energy back to cycle to the harbor.

Day 24, 05.08.2019, John o Groats – Orkney, by bicycle, 50 km

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The first view in the morning was a little wet and not really encouraging a bicycle tour. But it cleared to a cloudy condition which was welcome …

I knew Orkney does have neolithic excavations and museums. Beside its remote geographical location this was the main motivator to go there. I found it just ideal to take the bike with tent and cycle around the island. It was tough, but also extremely rewarding.

The ferry took about one hour and the landing point had NOTHING to offer, not coffee shop, no other shop, no welcome procedures 🙂

First landmark on the road to Kirkwall was the Italian Chapel, which was built by Italian prisoners or war completely from scrap material.

A glimpse of Kirkwall, main town of the island.

Standing Stones of Stenness

Above are images from current excavations Ness of Brodgar and the Ring von Brodgar. To “catch” the Ring onto an image with an smart phone is a challenge, which I did not master.

The clear highlight of that day and one of the most impressive observations of ancient structures was Skara Brae. I was lucky to have a “private” tour with a really engaged expert lady.

My tour guide in Skara Brae recommended an informal camping ground nearby and I found it very well sheltered and even romantic.

Day 23, 04.08.2019, Edinburgh-Inverness-John o Groats, 453 km

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It was a long ride up to John-o-Groats, the most northern town of Scotland. I visited Inverness a couple of times in the past. And despite the poor weather it was again a pleasure to stroll around and enjoy the typical architecture of the area.

John-o-Groats is remote, obviously. But that provides it’s magic and tranquility:
MOST NORTHERN POINT OF SCOTLAND!

Quite late I prepared for next day’s biking trip to Orkney. I do enjoy extreme landmarks :-

Day 22, 03.08.2019, Edinburgh cycling

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Edinburgh is such a fascinating city and has thousands of visitors anyway. They host that multicultural “Edinburgh Festival” with great formal and informal events of classical music, theater plays and the fringe comedians.

The variety of architecture is amazing and the harbor and views to the sea make it very special indeed.

Had a whale of a time in that street market. Chatted to a professional photographer about post production …

I cycled from the camping ground to town and all around. At the Festival area there was a huge crowd and I locked the bike away and enjoyed the thrill of street art and performances.

Day 20, 01.08.2019, Oxford-Stratford-Birmingham-Aston Court, 255 km

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Driving north bound to the Cotswolds and stopping in Moreton-in-Marsh to buy some cheese in “The Cotswold Cheese Company” with charming personnel.

Carry on to Broadway just to visit this legendary hotel again. The Lygon Arms.

  • The Lygon Arms Hotel in Broadway in the Cotswolds

The day only started to become explorative, so I carried on to Stratford-Upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s home town.

Finally driving to Knowle and to Hollywood south of Birmingham, where I also lived in the late 90-ties. Grimshaw Cottage is in Knowle and the current owner, a charming couple showed me around how they extended and improved the building. I was impressed to say the least. Hollywood is the bottom picture of this collection.

During my time in Birmingham I visited the city center often and this time I also looked around to maybe find some parking at a hotel. But all searching was in vain. So I drove northbound again. The goal was Scotland. It became later and later and finally dark night before I by pure luck found that parking lot at Aston Court Care Home and Hospital.

Day 19, 31.07.2019, Oxford

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Oxford in 2019 meant going down “memory lane”. I lived the from 2000 to 2002 and enjoyed the place very much. They have the oldest purposeful built music hall in the world and I went there many Sundays for the “Coffee Concert“. Other highlights were a New Years Concert in the “Sheldonian Theater” built by Sir Christopher Wrenn (who also built Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London), a piano concert in the Apollo Theater with Vladimir Ashkenazy, then one of the top 5 pianists and conductors worldwide and last but not least, many weekend outings to nearby Cotswolds.

  • Approaching city center
  • Christ Church College
  • Christ Church College
  • Christ Church College
  • Christ Church College

Oxford city center scenes

Cycling to the outskirt villages.This one is Radley, where I lived for 2 years.

Around Radley and the River Themse with the typical river boats and locks and inns.

My last item on the agenda of that day was to visit the BMW Oxford Plant where I worked from 2000 to 2002. It was great to see some of the structures I coordinated as project manager are still in place and working well.

Day 17, 29.07.2019, Norddeich-Utrecht-Brügge, 548 km

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When I left Norddeich I suddenly had difficulties with the gear change of the FIAT Ducato motor home. There was quite a resistance to get the lever over the neutral position into the next gear. Immediately I thought about the worst case: clutch or even gearbox faulty and huge cost and lots of time involved. What to do? I found a FIAT dealer not too far away with Google Maps and arrived there soon. I described my observations and asked for a quick check. The manager came out to the vehicle and pumped the clutch pedal – with his hand! He explained, that my model-year had this little misalignment of the clutch pedal from time to time and it can be reset by pulling the pedal upwards a couple of times. How mu8ch do I owe you? Nothing, it was my pleasure. He made my day… and I moved on west bound to the Netherlands.

Joyful Utrecht in the Netherlands

After that relaxing stroll I moved on to Brügge in Belgium. I found a suitable parking near town.
Thanks to the summer season it was still daylight enough to have a look.
Another most delightful town.

Day 11, 23.07.2019,Stralsund-Waren, 123 km

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We spent the morning also in Stralsund and extended the exploration with the bicycle.

Legendary “Gorch Fock” military training vessel.

In the afternoon we traveled to Waren an der Müritz and still put in a round of golf.


Golfclub Fleesensee https://fleesensee-golfclub.de/

Camping- und Wohnmobilpark Kamerun Neumann/Thomä GbR
https://www.campingpark-kamerun.de/

Day 10, 22.07.2019, Rügen-Sassnitz-Stralsund, 61 km

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I believe we drove the motor home to a parking near the Nationalpark Jasmund and walked on foot to the beautiful chalk coast, to Sassnitz and back. What a delight to also climb down to the shore and stay underneath the huge chalk rocks.

Impressions of Sassnitz.

First glimpse of Stralsund.

Caranvanstellplatz “An der Rügenbrücke”
https://www.caravan-center-dahnke.de/

Day 4, 16.07.2019, Wittenberg-Potsdam-Gross Kienitz, 122 km

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Luther’s Wittenberg

  • Martin Luther
  • He changed the world.
  • Philipp Melanchthon
  • Wittenberg

Wittenberg is the place where Martin Luther in 1517 proclaimed his 95 Theses onto the church portal.

  • Friedrich Hundertwasser Haus in Wittenberg

From Wittenberg to Potsdam …

  • Palais de Sanssouci

Palais de Sanssouci near Potsdam south of Berlin

  • Parking over night at Golfanlagen Gross Kienitz

Sunday, 27.09.20, Molinet – Lindau, 607 km

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I left the small village of Molinet early as heavy rain woke me up anyway.

  • Early bird catches the fly?

Quick breakfast.

  • Not the most charming eating set, but the sandwich fromage was superb!

Distance breaker in Mulhouse,still in France.

  • Very helpful staff!

Coffee break at Starbucks before departure to Germany.

Long distance highway and “Bundesstrasse” driving.

  • Near Lindau at the lake of Bodensee

I ended up on the same camping ground as in 2019 when I cycled from Haag to Lindau and around the lake. Fond memories…

Saturday, 26.09.20, La Rochelle – Molinet, 455 km

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I was lucky with my parking again. It was free until 09:00 a.m. I could drive to the free area in the attached sector. Then: Cycling to town.

What a stunning place at the Atlantic Ocean.

I asked in a coffee shop at the harbor for internet. A rather unfriendly male “no”. Next door was restaurant with two charming ladies, and I received a friendly “of course”, you are welcome…
I sat down and updated “time-travel.net” as well as Facebook. This time only “teasers” on FB with cross reference to my website.

Time has come to head east towards home. I found a fuel stations with reasonable prices near La Rochelle and all was set.

Snacks anywhere on route eastwards.

Tremendous weather movements.

Romantic villages.

Evening in the Auvergne.

Searching and finding quite and free parking near a church.

Long distance driving is a different ball game compared to sight seeing on the bike 🙂

Friday, 25.09.20, Nantes – La Rochelle, 174 km

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Cycling in Nantes was easy and the distances manageable. I liked the calm atmosphere and the tidiness all around.

  • Cathedral de Nantes
  • Château des ducs de Bretagne

In town.

Les Machines de l’île

Around town.

On route to the south, towards La Rochelle.

  • Collected 10.000 km in 40 days.

First glimpse of La Rochelle.

Big mistake not to have downloaded the Google Map of the area. It cost me lot of time to find parking. Ups.

Thursday, 24.09.20, Lorient – Carnac – Quiberon – Nantes, 280 km

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I must remind you, that I looked for parking late at night and tried my luck in that area. What a blessing to be safe.

I always was fascinated about Neolithic monuments. Stonehenge in the Salisbury Plains is pulling me again and again like a magnet. I felt quite some excitement again heading for Carnac.

It is difficult to say the least to describe the impression with a few pictures. There are 6 fields of stone rows over 4 km. There is a monument of a scale which can only be absorbed by walking it completely up and down. Which I did not, only two of them. There were always tombs involved, so the thoughts are it represents a message of the transition from life to the after life.

Near Carnac is a the a semi island and at the far end the village of Quiberon. Unfortunately the weather was playing games with me so the no of spectacular pictures was limited 🙂

  • A rock in the storm.

Bad weather, good dining.

After a late lunch I headed for Nantes and found Camping de Nantes. A very recommendable location.