“Nothing is so difficult but that may be found out by seeking." Terrence [BC 185 - 157] [Roman writer of comedies.]

Part 2 Germany
Part 3 Czech Republic
Part 4 Poland Auschwitz & Birkenau
Part 5 Hungary
Part 6 Austria & Germany
Part 7 France - Along the Canals
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Europe Tour April 2006 Part 1- France Belgium Luxembourg.

Sprinkled with politically incorrect, racist, sexist, anti Semitic, bigoted, offensive, biased and intolerant comments on various aspects of life, so if you can't take the heat, don't come in my kitchen. This travelogue comes at a price, you have to thread your way through my divergent opinions, and described by one American corespondent as "tirades of venomous drivel", and my good self as having a, misaligned sense of right and wrong, and being a "pompous, narcissistic, self-serving, egotistical, condescending sociopath".

If the American press establishment thinks my "sense of right and wrong is misaligned", then perhaps sainthood isn't entirely out of the question, and I am greatly honored. I was so thrilled at his eloquent description that I have used his immortal words as an anthem of praise in my honor ever since. So don't say you ain't been warned!

We arrived in England on Sunday morning and as usual travelled by train to where our campervan is stored. Two tickets cost £29.40 for a hour and a half trip on the subway and train from Victoria. Rail fares are absolutely exorbitant in the UK since all of the "public" transport systems have been "privatized", or stolen from their rightful owners, the British public, by the bloated capitalist oppressors, supporters of the New World Order, who have been promoting "privatization" all over the world for the past twenty or thirty years. Seen in comparison to the low wages of the average British peasant worker, these costs are even more obscenely excessive, and are an indicator of what happens after so called "privatization", a code word for legalized theft, rampant exploitation and profiteering.

We had obtained our MOT test certificate for the campervan for a £40 fee with no problems on Monday, and been able to drive to Maidstone DVLA office to pay the road tax the same afternoon. Tax for six months was £96 and I may get a months fees pro rata back, if I post the tax disk back to them before 1st August with a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notice) form. Tax runs from the 1st of any month so I had to pay from 1st March even though it was the 27th March. If we had been a few days later I could have had the tax start on April 1st and thus got two months back with a SORN declaration. However we wanted to come well before Easter in case we needed any work done on the van, because it can be difficult to get any mechanical repairs done in England at short notice, particularly near holiday times, due to a chronic shortage of skilled staff.

We needed a new rear tire, as a large chunk of tread broke away after driving a hundred kilometer or so. They could have been the original tires and were just old and the rubber was getting brittle. Cost £75 at a Quikfit shop, including balance and fitting. No doubt tires would be cheaper in Europe than in England, as is almost everything, but this really needed doing straight away.

We stopped overnight at Whitstable, cycled into town and bought some Cornish pasties (60P) at Rook's butchers, and checked out the charity shops for some track suit pants for Sharon but didn't find any.

This time the best price for a ferry crossing was from Seafrance £98.00 return with a charge of £7.50 for any changes to dates or times. Saga Holidays who advertised discounted fares would not book ferry tickets by phone only on line so they were useless but if booking in advance try www.driveline.co.uk. P&O wanted £130 and haggled down to £120 so they missed out on our business.

March 30, 2006. Thursday. Calais. After filling with diesel at Carrefour in Calais €1.069 per liter and LPG €0.68 a liter we headed SE along N43. This road is very lacking in good stopping places, having only small roadside parking bays. However off the roads in some of the small towns may be found much better SONPs and some of those we have found or obtained some details of from various sites on the Internet are detailed in the waypoint file of French Aires de Services and SONPS that can be downloaded.

Several kilometers SE of Arras is the only reasonably good stopping place on D 939, on both sides of the road, with some shade, tables bins and grassed areas well off the road. We proceeded on to Catillon where we knew of a good Aire de Services with free canal side parking, water, dumpsite and free electricity.

March 31, 2006 Friday. Catillon. Stopped overnight beside the Sambre canal in one of the free Aires de Services to be found throughout France. Suffering from a flu like virus, and still getting over jet lag.

April 01, 2006 Saturday. Catillon. Raining and cold, not very pleasant weather, and neither of us feel very well with flu like virus. We drove on a short distance to the Lac des Viellies Forges, an area popular for kayaking where there is plenty of free parking beside the lake, and the campground has a dumpsite and water that is free to use.

April 02, 2006 SundayLac Des Viellies Forges Still suffering the Flu we stayed put at the Lac. Cold and raining, but otherwise a pleasant SONP beside the Lac where a kayak competition was in progress all weekend.

April 03, 2006 Monday. Lac Des Viellies Forges We travelled on minor roads through the French Ardennes via Monthereme, and Rochehaut into Belgium following the valley of the Muse and Semos Rivers, There are not many good SONP's in the area, apart from a few view points that could be used. Most roadside parking is in small bays adjacent to the traffic lanes. The area has pleasant river valley and forest scenery, and so is popular with locals, particularly in summer, but is not of outstanding scenic significance to the international tourist.

We stopped early as I am still suffering from the flu at a roadside parking area on N884 north of Herbeaumont which is larger than usual, protected by a guard rail, and beside the river. Bins and table, and the river is easily accessible. There is an adjacent track to the river which is solid enough to drive on even after all the recent rain, which has the rivers running swiftly at full capacity. Parking down the track where there are level solid places may be better in dryer weather as you would not be so visible from the road. Except for one idiot tooting his horn and yahooing at 1 AM we had a very quiet night as there is very little traffic on the road after dark.

April 04, 2006 Tuesday. Herbeaumont. We travelled only a short way to Luxembourg because I am still suffering from the flu and Sharon is also now badly affected by it. We stopped at a rest area along the Route de Arlon for the night. Fuel is as expected much cheaper in Luxembourg and we filled with diesel for €0.936 a liter and found LPG for €0.48 per liter. There is a better place to stay along the E25 motorway which at least in this section near the city is free, at the Aire de Capellan. There is a dumpsite for busses (via the truck entrance) which we were able to use free, and water is available from hose taps.

April 05, 2006 Wednesday. Luxembourg. We moved only a few kilometers to the Aire de Capellan on the E25. Both of us feel too ill to want to do anything more than rest for a few days, and it should be quieter here parked behind the restaurant. Everything is dearer at these motorway aires, even a baguette cost €0.90, instead of the usual 50-60 cents, or even 40 in a big Carrefour supermarket. So we will use the free facilities but not buy much at the overpriced shop.

I don't believe in tollways, all roads should be free to all travellers, part of the public infrastructure vested irremovably in the people of a state, it is just another example if the theft of public infrastructure that goes under the euphemism of "privatization" that plagues the world. I have no doubt that Jew bankers are behind the whole concept, it fits with their philosophy of greed and money making as the ultimate end of all things. Curse their evil arses. Those responsible for these economic crimes against the people of the world should be severely punished, not rewarded by a sheep like acceptance of road tolls. I have never used the tollways of Europe, and never will, the evil bastards will not get my money easily, and as a result I shall see the real countryside as we meander slowly along the free roads of Europe.

If you do not accept evil, evil will wither. If you don't pay tolls, there won't be any.

April 06, 2006 Thursday. Luxembourg. Flu, not much else. I removed the kitchen sink to get at the taps due to the cold water tap's microswitch jamming on and running the pump continually. Found how to remove the tap set and will try to buy a replacement in Germany.

April 07, 2006 Friday. Luxembourg. Flu. Another problem with the kitchen sink taps, now the hot tap microswitch not working at all, so we have to get water from the bath room.

April 08, 2006 Saturday. Luxembourg. Finally I'm feeling a little better, but Sharon is still in the worst of it. This is one of the worst bugs we have ever encountered in travelling.

We began to explore the city, only to find the engine overheating. Coolant was not circulating to the radiator and was leaking from behind the engine, similar to the incident in Spain last year. Coolant level was low and when I topped it up with water the problem was gone, and the leak stopped, just as it did in Spain. It seems that if the coolant level gets only a bit low the pump fails to circulate it and the thermostat fails to open leaving you with a cold radiator but an overheating engine, which is what I found on inspection. Needs watching, there may be a slow leak of coolant and it needs topping up regularly. Buy some antifreeze solution in Germany, maybe at WallMart. In any event Luxembourg city didn't appear to be particularly interesting, and I can understand just why I haven't been tempted to come here before. Best thing is the fuel is cheaper than elsewhere.

We found a very good SONP along the banks of the Moselle River south of Remich on the Luxembourg side. No water or facilities but quiet at night and excellent views of the river. Cycle paths along both sides of the river.

April 09, 2006 Sunday. Remich on Moselle. Parked beside the Moselle, with 4 other campervans. In the morning a mass feeding of the swans by a bakers van full of stale bread, and then a visit from a group of St. Bernard dogs being trained in water rescue, caused so much interest that the Police stopped by to take photos of the proceedings. Coolant leaking slowly overnight, topped up with 1.5L.

Drove to Homburg in Germany and stopped overnight in Wal-Mart carpark. Sharon very ill with flu, we got cough medicine and eyedrops from a pharmacy.

 

 

 

 

"The ignorance of the masses is profound." - DB Philosopher B. 1944.

"Prophesy - To observe that which has passed, and guess it will happen again." Elbert Hubbard American author and publisher [1859 - 1915]