tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26333058309954534202011-10-19T04:35:12.724+01:00Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.comBlogger3051100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-80978960488625256082011-09-08T06:34:00.001+01:002011-09-08T06:36:18.637+01:00

Please join us as we continue our American Adventures.

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-23770729257444465692011-06-16T20:14:00.001+01:002011-06-16T20:15:11.618+01:00

HiIn case you wish to follow our more recent travels, please check out our blog, American Adventures. May you live long and prosper.

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-60028791727614053402010-09-20T21:32:00.010+01:002010-09-21T00:29:52.886+01:00

By ClaireWe’re home!Our first few days were sheer madness. Both of us were waking early, around 4:30 am, but that turned out to be the best time to get cracking on unpacking and get organized. I have to admit, I was completely unprepared (stupidly) for the enormity of getting back to our lives. In the meantime, I’ve been paying attention to my reactions to things and checking out what America

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-82907401596524121162010-08-29T14:47:00.003+01:002010-09-11T19:53:53.733+01:00

By Claire and ChuckOur dream trip is over. It has been the experience of a lifetime and we have learned so much—about history, about ourselves and about each other. We will never be the same. There are memories burned into our brains, like coming around the corner at Abu Simbel and seeing the massive statues of Ramses II and Nefertari for the first time. There were so many connections between

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-45971821057566211512010-08-29T14:28:00.003+01:002010-09-11T20:49:47.633+01:00

By Chuck and ClaireWe averaged this month over 30 days since we’ll be in the air on the 31st and our trip is pretty much over. Our main attraction will be sleeping.Camping, €705.56Eating Out, €470.04Groceries, €218.92Attractions, €92.50Fuel, €341.31Other transportation, €69.32Ferries, €65.00Hotels, €69Misc., €154.03Grand Total €2,185.68Daily average: €72.86In dollars: $2,688.39

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-31677128323966116112010-08-29T14:11:00.006+01:002010-09-11T20:51:25.092+01:00

By ClaireWe arrived at Lianne and Kees' house Thursday afternoon with the plan to spend one night then head to Amsterdam to meet with René, pack up, clean up and go.Lianne convinced us to stay with them, generously offering to drive us to Amsterdam to turn in Homer and bring us back to their house. We thought it over and decided to do it. But, it meant quickly clearing out everything inside

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-82980071272240571912010-08-25T19:52:00.008+01:002010-08-25T21:11:05.762+01:00

By ClaireWe arrived in France by ferry from Dover, England, yesterday morning. Everything was immediately different. Our hearts were beating fast at the idea of driving on the right. It really does take two to do the driving over here—Chuck does the maneuvering and I do the quick intake of breath and then the gasp and then the reminder “DRIVE ON THE RIGHT!” But, we made it. Who would have

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-66592578634392747002010-08-22T14:31:00.005+01:002010-08-23T14:13:27.293+01:00

By Claire and ChuckOur expectation about England and all the rest of it was that now things would be easier. We have a common language, after all and we had been traveling for 9 months. I guess expectations are meant to be dashed. Yes, this "strange" dialect of English and how they use it has been a challenge.Here are just a few we’ve encountered along the way:Vanilla pod ice cream—when we

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-80050344926900582592010-08-22T06:50:00.001+01:002010-08-22T06:55:40.944+01:00

Above the Cathedral GateBy ChuckThis morning was one of those rare English days when the sun was shining from first thing in the morning. We dared to believe that summer was finally with us. Needless to say, this quickly changed. The day has been overcast, with fairly constant light misting and high humidity. At least it is not cold—for the second time in 11 months we switched back from our down

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-73466840693233799642010-08-21T09:01:00.005+01:002010-08-21T09:43:45.790+01:00

By ClaireAnother dream come true took place for me today: visiting the castle gardens at Sissinghurst, another wonderful National Trust site. This internationally renowned garden was created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband, Sir Harold Nicolson around the surviving parts of an Elizabethan mansion. There were three plant themes in the dozen or so gardens: seasonal, type and color. They

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-14949164592569336952010-08-19T13:15:00.012+01:002010-08-19T20:23:02.219+01:00

By ClaireOur plan was to visit the prime meridian—it was only a few train stops from our campground—then split up, each going our own way.I guess I was surprised by the crowds which included a large tour group. But, we managed to enjoy it anyway and it was free! It’s quite a hike up to the Royal Observatory which offered stunning views of London and many exhibits including a camera obscura, the

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-76226064272490224022010-08-18T19:48:00.006+01:002010-08-19T08:09:36.807+01:00

By ClaireYes, we're back in London. We have a few days to spare before departing for France on August 24 so we took advantage and decided to see some things we missed the first time around.We started with the Sir John Soane's Museum, a free trip through a quirky, collector’s paradise. I've never seen so many mirrors in one house. Lots of interesting domed, square and stained-glass skylights

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-28577114553882178592010-08-17T17:06:00.004+01:002010-08-17T18:30:15.773+01:00

By ClaireCambridge, 60 miles north of London, is world-famous for its prestigious university. Wordsworth, Isaac Newton, Tennyson, Darwin, and Prince Charles are a few of its illustrious alumni. We spent two days here after a relaxing couple of days at the Commons Wood Caravan Club site in Hertfordshire, €22.08. We're now in a campsite that is set in an old chalk quarry and a nature reserve,

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-24202180665955985482010-08-13T17:12:00.009+01:002010-08-13T19:59:56.684+01:00

By ClaireThis morning we left our wonderful campground, Hunter’s Moon, €24.24, where we stopped just for the night after visiting Cloud’s Hill. The Caravan Club really does outdo itself, what with ice cream in a cup just the right size for our freezer and shelves full of used books, what could be better?We drove on though, heading for the home of George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Shaw’s Corner,

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-74746575765496706712010-08-13T16:00:00.011+01:002010-08-13T23:53:54.812+01:00

By Claire & ChuckAugust 12For over a year now, I’ve been anxiously waiting to see T. E. Lawrence’s rural retreat, Clouds Hill. We left Dartmoor at 9:30 am to arrive precisely at the opening time of noon. But, we arrived 35 minutes too soon and the small parking lot was closed and there was no place to pull over and wait. So, we drove on down the road, shaded by large atmospheric trees on

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-87130409262561744932010-08-11T18:59:00.009+01:002010-08-11T21:13:58.795+01:00

By ClaireI walked over to the shower block and decided to do what a number of other people have done--use the "elderly and disabled" shower. It's a separate room complete with toilet and sink. The door wouldn't close properly or lock, probably for cases of emergency, but I carried on. It was 6:20 am, no one was around and I figured I wasn't really bumping anyone out. I stripped down, found

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-7428917297725492152010-08-09T19:17:00.006+01:002010-08-09T20:52:37.492+01:00

By ClaireThe great thing about our current campground is that we can walk down the lane and find a public footpath. This morning we set out to find Spinster's Rock. I must say, we were surprised and astonished at what we found. It looks like a mini-Stonehenge.There are competing legends, none of which make much sense. The first one says that the spinsters were not unmarried women but women

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-90827037448479789772010-08-08T14:28:00.005+01:002010-08-08T17:38:37.115+01:00

By ClaireWe left early this morning, arriving at Woodland Springs Touring Park,€24--our first "adults only" campground. I must say, it's very quiet. We weren't allowed to check in until 1 pm and it was only 10:20 so we parked in the guest parking and relaxed. While I was in the office I saw a bookshelf of great books and grabbed three in under a minute. Chuck has been hooked on his first

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-69662237510091097332010-08-07T12:30:00.007+01:002010-08-07T14:02:08.502+01:00

By ClaireWe took the bus into Bath again today--our plan was to split up, Chuck to the Museum of Bath at Work while I went to the Museum of Fashion. I'm sure mine was more interesting.Before parting, we toured the Assembly Rooms, free to anyone. This is where many of Jane Austen's balls would have taken place. Unfortunately, this building was bombed by the Germans in 1942 in retaliation for

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-1124661341118983842010-08-07T09:51:00.005+01:002010-08-07T10:11:28.331+01:00

By Claire August 6Getting an early start has paid off so well on this trip we decided to do it again for our visit to Avebury and Stonehenge. Along the way we spotted one of the famous white horses carved into the chalk hillside. It was an hour’s drive from Bath and we had the place almost to ourselves—Avebury, that is—Chuck’s comments about Stonehenge are below. We ran into a herd of sheep,

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-38892788013299718862010-08-07T09:31:00.007+01:002010-08-07T09:51:28.326+01:00

By ClaireAugust 5I thought nothing could impress me by this time. I was wrong. Bath, located in Somerset, England, is not to be missed. It has the only natural hot springs in Britain. We enjoyed every minute of our first day here. We started out early, a seven minute bus ride from our campground, Newton Mill Holiday Park Camping, €33.60. Much to our delight, we found the city almost empty

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-41603312263558101152010-08-05T13:34:00.003+01:002010-08-05T13:42:32.140+01:00

By ClaireAugust 4It was a test of our fortitude that we finally found our campground, Moorhampton Caravan Club, €20.28. Susan took us through the villages and farmlands of Hereford—square Norman towers with arrow-slits, thatched pubs, tiny Victorian railway stations resting in a countryside of high hedges and a patchwork quilt of fields dotted with sheep.As we bounced down a rabbit warren of

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-86670427469615001442010-08-05T13:12:00.006+01:002010-08-05T13:34:37.570+01:00

By Claire & ChuckAugust 3We really loved Wales and its gorgeous landscapes—from rocky mountain to slate covered trails to lush forests. We would have to say this country has as much beauty as any place we have visited. We left Betws-y-Coed desperate to find a service station with LPG for our fridge and stove. The woman at the local Shell station sent us 15 miles north—the opposite direction from

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-64284921456187906112010-08-02T14:04:00.006+01:002010-08-02T15:42:24.217+01:00

By ClaireWe found the trail Denise had recommended, the Ilyn Elsi, right next to the church, just as she had said. Chuck’s comment when he read the description on the map next to the trailhead was “Naturally, she picked the most difficult one!” But, it was worth it. Steep uphill but then leveling off with beautiful forest, moss and falling down slate walls all around us. Trailhead churchWe

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-76639491088303078392010-08-02T12:49:00.001+01:002010-08-02T12:49:44.995+01:00

By Chuck and ClaireCamping, €550.56Eating Out, €359.15Groceries, €205.41Attractions, €222.70Fuel, €375.24Other transportation, €41.60Ferries, €362.20Hotels, €0Misc., €156.33Grand Total €2273.19Daily average: €78.73In dollars: $2727.83

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-87658429635432120312010-08-02T07:10:00.007+01:002010-08-02T13:29:59.074+01:00

By ChuckAfter reading the Cadfael mysteries—which occur around Shrewsbury, England, just across from the Welsh Border—and having recently read The Reckoning—regarding Llewelyn II, the Prince of Wales’, attempts to keep his country free from domination by Edward III of England, I was delighted to finally set tire in this beautiful land several days ago. This morning, we prepared to leave The

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-69602095425446215612010-07-31T22:30:00.003+01:002010-07-31T22:42:42.897+01:00

By ClaireOur ferry from Dublin arrived right on time, after the smoothest of trips, at 4:30 pm. We were visiting Denise and Gino, who we met way back in Sicily last November. As we pulled out of the ferry terminal, there was Gino, standing by the side of the road waiting for us. He was such a welcome sight and looked so good! He directed us to a parking lot where excited hugging commenced;

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-8822587759186638072010-07-28T07:23:00.002+01:002010-07-28T07:28:10.530+01:00

By Claire and ChuckIreland's Coat of Arms, the Harp of Ireland, is the obverse of the Guinness harp—the brewery owns the copyright. When Ireland tried to adopt the harp, they were taken to court. The legal decision was that Ireland could only use the mirror image of the harp. The harp coat of arms is also found on some of the €1 coins--probably those minted in Ireland.The people, for the most

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-64492797286911676422010-07-27T17:41:00.009+01:002010-07-27T22:27:52.843+01:00

By Claire We had a nice, leisurely day off from sightseeing yesterday; so this morning we were happily up and away by 8:10 am, planning to get to Brú na Bóinne the moment it opened to beat the tour buses that Rick Steves warned about. Not only did we beat them, we were the very first group to the sight and we numbered only 12. The groups after us were twice that size.This famous archaeological

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-62514761938397066102010-07-25T14:16:00.016+01:002010-09-12T00:52:26.798+01:00

By ClaireUp early, as usual, we enjoyed a leisurely morning before hopping on the shuttle bus into Dublin. The bus driver kindly let us off at a corner where we could run the rest of the way and possibly make the 10:15 tour of Trinity College. We made it with seconds to spare.For €10 each, which included the admission price to see the Book of Kells (€9 on its own), we had the time of our lives.

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-49409004735750513102010-07-24T19:37:00.014+01:002010-07-24T22:24:46.466+01:00

By ClaireOur campground had a great deal for getting us into the city. The Hop-on, Hop-off City Sightseeing, Dublin bus would pick us up at the campground and bring us back at 4:15. Door to door service at €4 each, round trip! We were dropped in the city center and with the help of a free map, we found our meeting point for another walking tour with our favorite group, Sandemans New Europe

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-11473776085380250412010-07-23T13:50:00.003+01:002010-07-23T16:54:45.063+01:00

By ClaireWe were sorry to leave our campground with its view of the Rock and St. Mary's Abbey out the window of Homer. We really enjoyed the owner, Sean, who sat and talked with us at length, and the small size of the place. Our only neighbors were a friendly Dutch couple.I wanted to stop in the town of Abbyleix, on the road to Dublin. My mother's family on her father's side came here back in

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-2587903902421587932010-07-22T17:59:00.001+01:002010-07-22T19:19:51.351+01:00

By ChuckWe decided, en route, to go to our campground, Cashel Lodge and Camping Park, €25, before seeing the Rock of Cashel, since there was a parking fee there and we thought we could simply walk from the campground. We were right! Furthermore, the town centre is also walkable—from either the campground or the site. Holly, West Highland Terrier, the Campground Dog—No more cats for awhile, I

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-22800549828130088702010-07-21T17:12:00.011+01:002010-07-21T20:31:22.642+01:00

By ClaireWe really enjoyed the rewards of getting up early today. We left Garrettstown House Holiday Park, €23 plus €1 each for showers, at 8 am in order to have the time to get lost, find parking and meet up with a walking tour by 9:15. Everything was very quiet and we were the only vehicle on the road. Rick Steves, bless the man, recommended a large, free, safe parking lot across from St.

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-58923652585583097702010-07-20T14:14:00.007+01:002010-07-20T15:40:01.905+01:00

By ClaireWe left Killarney this morning under bluish skys. Our journey was towards Ballydehob where our friends on the island of Paros, Karin and Michael, lived and ran a small supermarket. I had emailed Karin about a possible visit there and she sent directions. Even so, we wandered around a bit taking in the sights while we looked for their place. We really enjoyed the beauty of the

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-56043950001826240002010-07-19T14:08:00.006+01:002010-07-19T20:33:38.511+01:00

By ClaireDriving around the Ring of Kerry is one of those “can’t miss” tourist things that we decided we couldn’t miss. We went back and forth about how to do it. Rick Steves highly recommended leaving by 8:30 am and going clockwise. That way you would not be stuck behind the giant tour buses who drive counter clockwise and you wouldn’t even meet one until much later in the drive, if at all.

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-20952872513760257102010-07-18T23:19:00.006+01:002010-07-18T23:36:27.874+01:00

By ClaireWe left John and Helena after a late and relaxing breakfast, with John kindly leading us to the main road. Susan eventually took over and we worked our way to Killarney and on a few more miles to Muckross House, a Victorian house built in 1843, just before the Great Potato Famine of 1845-1849. I’ve just finished reading The Famished Land by Elizabeth Byrd and I have to admit, much as I

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-11069000565038583752010-07-18T22:56:00.007+01:002010-07-18T23:19:25.816+01:00

By ChuckJuly 15-17I tend to be a creature of habit, and introverted; I usually find it difficult to talk to people. But, I have always enjoyed attending my high school reunions: The people are familiar, even if I don't really know them well, and I manage—from the vantage point of time and distance—to filter out most of the negatives from that period of my life. I suspect I have a lot of company

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-49600083503541525422010-07-14T20:09:00.006+01:002010-07-14T21:47:43.642+01:00

By ClaireWe had such a wonderful day yesterday, we decided to put off our visit to the Cliffs of Moher until today. Lucky for us, we woke to bright blue sky. Driving the winding, narrow back roads to the site was an adventure in itself. Am I beginning to repeat myself? We finally found the place where you must pay €8 to park, though the site itself is free. The Visitors Center and exhibit

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-77421049550232823032010-07-13T17:32:00.011+01:002010-07-14T08:14:00.399+01:00

By ClaireAs usual, we looked to Rick Steves for ideas about how to see The Burren, which literally means the "Rocky Place." He recommended Shane Connolly who leads in-depth 3 hour guided walking tours through the Burren, explaining the diverse flora, geology, history and man's role in shaping this landscape. He is a proud farmer who really knows his stuff.The Burren is a 10-square-mile limestone

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-37011468353969170752010-07-11T21:28:00.010+01:002010-07-11T22:10:18.099+01:00

By ClaireThis morning we managed to extricate ourselves from our camping spot with the help of a man in front of us who kindly moved his car so we could escape. It felt good to be on the road and away from the crowds. We decided to drive the loop road around the wild, western Irish fringe known as Connemara, straying into County Mayo.Bumping along the twisty roads with nary a car in sight, we

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-77272896214075197722010-07-11T21:22:00.005+01:002010-07-11T22:04:34.240+01:00

By ClaireWe’re in a refugee camp, or at least that’s what it feels like. My disappointment with Galway is great. I’ve wanted to see it, thinking this university town of 65,000 would feel like Freiburg in Germany; or at least have a good feel. It doesn’t. It is jam packed with tourists. If there are any locals, they are the bartenders and tourist shopkeepers. Our campground is a joke. The

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-29624326846188441552010-07-09T09:11:00.009+01:002010-07-10T14:41:11.953+01:00

By ChuckWe called Martin McCrossen, a tour guide recommended by Rick Steves. He was great. When I told him we had a camper and there are no campgrounds to be found, he told me we could come to the "set down point" for coaches and park all day. It's next to the Tourist Information Center so all we had to do was program Susan and she took us right to the door. We have found that this works very

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-64769708380127834642010-07-08T08:50:00.013+01:002010-07-08T22:32:40.383+01:00

By ClaireWe are in another really great campground, Ballyness Caravan Park, €24. Maybe it's just the brand new, fantastic bathrooms that delights us so much. The owner is friendly and helpful and used the term "wee" a number of times. Where are we? Northern Ireland or Scotland? We've noticed a lot of towns called Bally this and Bally that. Turns out it means place of. Ness is the name of

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-56393597997805598102010-07-07T10:47:00.013+01:002010-07-08T08:30:53.656+01:00

By Claire and ChuckComing to you direct from Internet@Sea on our way to Belfast, Northern Ireland--some thoughts about our time in Scotland:Fewer roads, easier driving.Classic four-seasons-in-one-day weather.More things to see than we ever imagined.Friendly people, charming accents, most of which we could understand.Beautiful and interesting architecture.Mackintosh design over door at Glasgow

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-85517624462231766442010-07-06T19:36:00.013+01:002010-07-06T22:05:33.219+01:00

By ClaireWe took the train into Glasgow today, a very easy 15 minute ride from Craigendmuir Caravan and Camping Park (€21.60), stopping in the center of the city at Queen Street right next to George Square. From there, we started another great Rick Steves self-guided walk, enjoying this very manageable town. But first, a funny story. Last night I walked into the Women's bathroom but couldn't

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By ClaireJuly 3-5We continue to drive through magnificent countryside in the Highlands of Scotland. The mountains are so steep we lost our GPS signal for about 30 minutes. In fact, any mountain over 3,000 feet is called a Munro. The sky is ever-changing and now I know what they mean when they talk about the light in Scotland. It comes and goes: One minute dark and brooding, with clouds so low

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-52616384059795554612010-07-05T19:39:00.005+01:002010-07-05T19:49:11.277+01:00

By ClaireJuly 1-2We woke up to a real Scottish day—rain and overcast and wind. It was kind of fun and about time we experienced the “real” Scotland.Our drive from Dingwall was one of the most beautiful we’ve seen on our trip. It really felt like we were in the Highlands—rain, mist and big, wind-swept mountains. We plan to spend two days here.I’ve been amazed at the abundance of wild

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-60887391961095027352010-07-03T14:00:00.000+01:002010-07-03T14:03:21.070+01:00

By Chuck and ClaireCamping, €619.36Eating Out, €441.25Groceries, €351.53Attractions, €380.73Fuel, €479.63Other transportation, €38.14Ferries, €0Hotels, €0Misc., €248.97Grand Total €2559.61Daily average: €85.32In dollars: $3122.72

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-78399657211934140112010-06-30T22:00:00.008+01:002010-06-30T23:34:21.044+01:00

By ClaireLeaving John o' Groats, we drove 6 miles to the Queen Mother's home, Castle Mey. It is in a beautiful setting, overlooking the North Sea with farm land and stone walls stretching as far as the eye can see.View from Castle MeyThe Queen Mother, who died in 2002 at the age of 101, bought this castle after her husband died in 1952. She was grief stricken and wanted a place out of the public

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-36045995997464039532010-06-30T21:02:00.012+01:002010-07-01T00:09:05.678+01:00

By ClaireBefore we left for our trip, John and Penny encouraged us to see the Orkney Islands in the far north of Scotland. They are at the same latitude as St. Petersburg, Russia and Churchill, Canada—the polar bear capital of the world. They have 8 months of winter and 4 months of summer—no spring and no fall. Our tour guide told us that last year they had a great summer—it was on July 4.This

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-51992933244949183032010-06-28T07:50:00.009+01:002010-09-19T21:32:03.174+01:00

By ClaireYesterday, a Sunday, was supposed to be a lazy, relaxing day at "home" but we spent the better part of the day planning our next 3 weeks. We would not be able to do this without a computer and internet access. For finding campgrounds and making a booking, it is essential. It's difficult, though, figuring out how long to stay in each place, let alone which places we want to see and

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-46652651486780190602010-06-26T15:29:00.005+01:002010-06-26T20:38:04.408+01:00

By ClaireWe're really taking our time during our self-imposed vacation. We generally don't go anywhere until 10 am at the earliest. Today's plan was to go into town to top up our Vodafone dongle for the next month then head to Drumnadrochit, home of the Loch Ness monster. We opted for the Loch Ness Centre, a more academic style of experiencing the TRUE STORY of all the sightings. I went in an

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-38814255734085823752010-06-25T18:12:00.007+01:002010-06-26T07:03:04.761+01:00

By ClaireWe're having a great time here in the Highlands. The scenery is beautiful, the weather is cooperating and shopping is always an adventure. Plus, we're seeing men in kilts. In the campground this morning, a brawny guy in his kilt was doing chin ups from a tree limb. It was quite entertaining.We are staying at Bught Caravan Park (€21.60), just a few miles down the road from Culloden but

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-2986066792657951722010-06-24T11:46:00.005+01:002010-06-24T12:05:23.978+01:00

By ClaireEver since reading Outlander, a novel about Scotland in the mid-18th century, I’ve wanted to see the Culloden Moor battlefield. I was prepared to be quite moved by this devastating defeat—we’ve seen many battle sites and graves from several different wars and battlefronts: The Great War, Gallipoli, and WWII. It is always a shock seeing the reality of the loss and heartbreak that war

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-23168590023767495592010-06-22T16:23:00.008+01:002010-06-22T19:48:03.073+01:00

By ClaireWe took back roads today, winding our way towards Pitlochry and Killicrankie, where the lowlands meet the highlands. We are camping at Faskally Caravan Park, €21.70. We made several stops along the way and enjoyed driving through Scone, Auchterarder, Dumfermline, Aberfeldy and Blairinroar. I loved Bridge Hill Cottage...located on a tiny hill just before a tiny bridge. The weather

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-77059116431227806372010-06-21T19:41:00.011+01:002010-06-23T07:55:07.627+01:00

By ClaireIt's the first day of summer and the longest day of the year so we thought we'd do our best to fit as much into it as we can. After all, the sun rose at 4:12 am and doesn't set until 10:08 pm. It isn't dark until 11. I certainly can't sleep with all this light so what else could we do? On top of that, the radio this morning said there will be at least another six days of this amazing

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-81492384642998200892010-06-20T17:38:00.005+01:002010-06-20T18:47:56.865+01:00

By ClaireWe both woke up at quarter to 4 this morning. It was hard to figure out who that was talking and then I realized it was from the “Moonwalk,” a breast cancer walk that started at midnight. We were warned that there might be some noise as the group made their way past the campground. However, this sounded like a DJ making announcements and cheering people on. We did manage to get back

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-14549808978185444202010-06-19T23:08:00.016+01:002010-06-20T18:21:46.261+01:00

By ClaireWe had another HUGE day in Edinburgh. I'm talking about leaving the campground at 9:30 am and getting home at 9:30 pm. Sometimes even I can't believe how much we can pack into one day. We have become very efficient travelers.We started with the National Museum of Scotland, a must see. I liked it better than the British Museum; it's better laid out and very manageable. Even so, we

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-21620933105739769942010-06-18T19:14:00.010+01:002010-06-18T22:59:03.985+01:00

By Chuck and ClaireChuck:Today was our second day in Edinburgh. We wanted to start with the Castle and then see what energy we had, if any, for further exploration. The bus ride, including the walk to the bus stop, takes about 30 minutes. We planned to be early to beat the crowds; we arrived at 10am. I forgot to bring our Rick Steves' guidebook; so, we decided to spring for the audio guides. We

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-19733559001754331182010-06-17T21:56:00.011+01:002010-06-17T23:49:50.894+01:00

By ClaireThere’s something wrong here. It’s hot! We are struggling with what to wear. Do we bring rain gear just in case? Tank top? Shorts? That’s what everyone else is wearing. We took a 4 hour walking tour today with our usual Free Europe Tours and enjoyed it immensely. We even went on to a pub with our guide, Stephen, who assisted us in our food and drink orders. Chuck was brave and

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-21993029992691123542010-06-16T17:19:00.010+01:002010-06-16T21:31:16.465+01:00

By ChuckWe are in the geographic center of Britain, Haltwhistle, according to the road signs.Haltwhistle, Campground, 8:30pm at nightWe left Cumbria and all the bunnies, squirrels and pheasants this morning; we are now in border country. More precisely, we are now at the Camping and Caravaning site in Burnfort Park Village in Haltwhistle, Northumberland. I guess with all that nomenclature, they

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-89804134141961659142010-06-15T16:00:00.009+01:002010-06-15T16:56:28.373+01:00

By ClaireToday was predicted to be sunny and clear so we jumped at the chance to take a boat ride around Ullswater Lake, a favorite spot of William and Dorothy Wordsworth. I'd seen so many paintings of this lake that I just had to see it. It is a narrow lake, 7-1/2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. This is where he was inspired to write his most famous poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, also known

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-54817249156839239202010-06-15T15:40:00.005+01:002010-06-15T15:59:38.118+01:00

By ClaireJune 14Today was our day to have Homer serviced—yes, that means we’ve gone another 7,000 km. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Finding the place was another matter, but we made it—after deep discussion with the campground Wardens—“You know where Staveley is, right?” No. They did print out a nice Google map for us and, white knuckled, we found the place and even arrived 15 minutes early

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-36835491854592363622010-06-14T16:21:00.009+01:002010-06-14T17:01:05.882+01:00

By ChuckJune 11We awoke bright and early, as is Claire's wont, and I usually follow about 20 minutes later, shamed by my laziness and driven by a mild desire to beat the thousands of other campers to the toilet block—I hate to wait in lines, especially before morning coffee. We had our porridge—in preparation for Scotland, you see—and were on the road by 8:45.Our latest campground, Windermere

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-73179850577959816142010-06-11T11:19:00.005+01:002010-06-11T11:58:55.688+01:00

By ClaireJune 10We took our time leaving York today, deciding to stop to see Sizergh Castle and Gardens, another National Trust site and right on the way to our campground in The Lake District in northwest England, about 3 hours from Edinburgh, Scotland.Sizergh CastleThis is our third National Trust site and we love how well organized they are: good parking, bathrooms, tea room, knowledgeable,

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-34124190819089267832010-06-11T10:49:00.008+01:002010-06-11T11:18:34.393+01:00

By ClaireJune 8-9We found our campground just outside of York with no problem—quite a feat without an address or GPS coordinates that work for us. The showers were the first thing we tried out. After a hasty lunch, we drove off to the Park and Ride to catch the bus into York. Unfortunately, it was not to be. We followed the instructions to pull over to the lay by and wait for the gate for

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-51357562359300415962010-06-09T19:11:00.014+01:002010-06-11T10:48:59.708+01:00

By ClaireJune 7We’re here in the Peaks District, a beautiful, natural area of parkland stretching for miles. We found a campground, Bakewell Camping and Caravanning, Hopping Lane, Youlgreave, Bakewell, Derbyshire. How do you like that for an address? Bakewell is about 10 miles away, by the way. Impossible to find, mind you, but there sure are a lot of names. It’s only £8.40 per night (€9.82)

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-29629686919433075102010-06-05T17:24:00.006+01:002010-06-05T19:02:50.137+01:00

By ChuckToday is Warwick day: We arrived at our camping site at the Racecourse and immediately began walking and winding our way up the hill into Warwick to see Warwick Castle, England’s finest medieval example. Warwick CastleIt took a while for me to realize that this is the castle that the future Richard III grew up in under the tutelage of The Kingmaker, Richard Neville, The 16th Earl of

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-69331731117810941482010-06-05T14:14:00.011+01:002010-06-06T08:05:24.894+01:00

By ClaireJune 4The Cotswolds, a 25 by 90 mile area of Gloucestershire, are a cluster of small, adorable villages; originally the result of a huge wool industry in medieval England where Cotswold sheep grew the best wool. A 12th century saying was “In Europe the best wool is English. In England the best wool is Cotswold.” Wool money built fine towns, houses and cathedrals. Another saying at

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-14509058866268364242010-06-05T13:46:00.005+01:002010-06-05T14:13:50.300+01:00

By ClaireJune 3I wake to the light wondering what time it is. 8:00? I better hurry and get up. Oh, it’s only 5:15 am. I’m having trouble getting used to the VERY long days of light here. The sun rises around 4:45 am and sets about 9:20 pm, staying light out until about 10 pm. We left our Oxford campground this morning heading for Woodstock, a small town 12 miles up the road where Winston

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-78311070436219567132010-06-02T19:14:00.009+01:002010-06-02T21:22:09.308+01:00

By ChuckDetermined to put our technology woes behind us, we had a delightful dinner at the Duke of Monmouth pub in Oxford last night. Starters were two pints of ale—Abbot in this case. My standard request is for the darkest ale on tap. Claire had Swiss Farmer’s Soup with homemade bread and a hearty mixed salad. I had Cordon Bleu with potatoes and carrots. The owner was Swiss: She quit her

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-14264966869715613302010-06-01T16:38:00.004+01:002010-06-01T17:15:31.822+01:00

By ClaireOK, I knew being in a big city like London would have its challenges; but this is getting ridiculous. I am either expanding my mind, blowing my mind, or losing my mind.We left London and spent almost 2 hours on their Orbital Road. We call it a ring road but hey, orbiting around a city sounds kind of fun. Finally getting off, we stopped at our first service station. We thought fuel

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-12698744759148678952010-05-31T22:01:00.002+01:002010-05-31T22:04:21.020+01:00

By Chuck and ClaireWe were surprised we did so well this month with expensive Switzerland and London included. Camping, €703.24Eating Out, €317.41Groceries, €255.16Attractions, €168.14Fuel, €310.79Other transportation, €185.97Ferries, €65Hotels, €0Misc., €309.24Grand Total €2314.95Daily average: €74.68In dollars: $2,801.09

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-66393254068533799742010-05-31T18:15:00.007+01:002010-05-31T22:06:07.980+01:00

By ChuckToday was our last shot at London, after a day of recuperating—Claire's foot and my energy. Our goal was to revisit the British Museum, then to see the Churchill War Rooms and Museum and finally Sir John Soane's Museum. Since it was a Bank Holiday and there was work being done on some of the underground lines, we had to alter our routes. When we surfaced, there were no indications of

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-91015578055147819312010-05-30T13:48:00.007+01:002010-05-30T20:11:56.666+01:00

By Claire and ChuckChuck and I went our separate ways today, he to the Tower of London and I to the Tate Modern. There was an exhibit I wanted to see, Voyeurism, Surveillance & the Camera and I have already seen the Tower.The subject of cameras and voyeurism hits home with me since I sometimes feel that I could be intruding with my camera. In fact, there are some photos I have not put on the

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-89576225453414779862010-05-28T23:55:00.008+01:002010-05-30T20:16:06.243+01:00

By ClaireOur campground here at Abbey Wood is filling up for the Bank Holiday weekend. It’s a beautiful place—very quiet and very well run. We located a T-Mobile shop close by, about two stops away on our overland train connection into London. I even called on our cell phone to ask about USB modem deals—the reason we bought the phone—to make reservations at the now crowded campgrounds with

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-12016340635450813632010-05-28T21:31:00.006+01:002010-05-28T22:44:21.219+01:00

By ClaireMay 27We woke up today excited to be in London, looking forward to another free walking tour but, most of all, to connecting with Chuck’s sister Penny and her husband, John. Penny realized that there would be one day when we would overlap in London, contacted us and through the wonders of email, and we were able to make a date to meet.We started off by going back to the T-Mobile store

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-19337642337187023992010-05-27T23:06:00.018+01:002010-09-18T22:48:25.128+01:00

By ClaireMay 26It was great being in France again, especially when we picked up our fresh croissants and baguette. We had both forgotten just how good this stuff is. The baguette made a great lunch when we stopped at another rest stop for our picnic on the way to Calais.We managed to find the ferry port and the ticket office where I ran in to find out whether or not we needed a physical ticket.

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-33029824003325041702010-05-24T18:41:00.004+01:002010-05-24T19:25:19.521+01:00

By ClaireWe left Freiburg behind this morning, heading into France within an hour as we work our way to Calais to catch the ferry to England. It was fun to be back in the land of the French, trying to translate road signs again; We even saw an IKEA. We stopped at one of the wonderful French picnic areas along the road—a sign alerts you 1,000 meters in advance—hauling our stuff down to a picnic

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-65537532610182699342010-05-23T13:53:00.015+01:002010-05-23T19:21:07.816+01:00

By ClaireWe are feeling so at home here at Camping Hirzberg. Turns out it is not only a 3-day holiday weekend, but also a 2 week break from school. The campground is packed but somehow manages to feel like we are living in a wonderful community of like-minded souls. People are hanging out in the sunshine drinking beer or wine, kids are happily playing, and some are getting their breakfast

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-20014211896380390932010-05-22T15:39:00.008+01:002010-05-22T21:35:01.077+01:00

By ClaireAt 1,284 meters (4,213 feet), Schauinsland is one of the highest points in the Schwarzwald (Black Forest). Today promised to be spectacular, weather wise, so we pumped up our tires and rode 9 km. to the Talstation for a 20 minute cable car ride to the top. We were so hot and sweaty from our ride that we steamed up the inside of the gondola. I hope the other people in the cramped little

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-73159024243990220902010-05-21T16:20:00.008+01:002010-05-21T17:09:42.010+01:00

By ClaireWe are back in Germany in the Black Forest area and you can smell it. I step outside Homer and breathe in the woodsy scent. This is a gorgeous area and we love our latest campground, Camping Freiburg Hirzberg. This “sunniest town in Germany” is a university town, our favorite kind of place. It exudes energy and has an appeal that we really like. It is surrounded by lush forests and

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-91320137540418762872010-05-19T15:25:00.007+01:002010-05-19T16:04:35.382+01:00

By ClaireOne of the things we discovered immediately upon entering Switzerland is that it is expensive. Diesel is about €.10 more per liter than anywhere else (Germany is pretty high too, though). But, they let you pee for free. I suppose it has a psychological effect, making you think, “Gee, what a great country. I don't have to pay to pee!” Fortunately, we were able to knock down the price

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-63183434139166700802010-05-16T18:04:00.007+01:002010-05-16T21:10:47.818+01:00

By ClaireYesterday the rain would not stop so we stayed in and read a book apiece. Today looked a little more promising so we put on our rain gear and headed out for a hike to Stechelberg, about 2 miles away. We visited some friendly folks along the way.I noticed that it was getting brighter and I could see patches of blue sky and the fog was thinner and higher. Why not take the gondola to

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-67712170684642635232010-05-14T18:01:00.008+01:002010-05-15T08:00:19.320+01:00

By ClaireThe fog was worse today—lower and thicker and grayer, if that’s possible. We were really stumped as to what to do about buying a 6 day pass for €140 each (yee gads!). After much discussion, exploring the map of train routes and hiking trails, thinking about what we wanted to do, checking the weather forecast and finally just making a decision, we decided to skip the passes and pay as

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-25008394997577617782010-05-14T06:56:00.003+01:002010-05-14T17:52:54.698+01:00

By ChuckFidelma is a nun and advocate of Brehon law in 7th century Ireland. She is extremely competent at what she does and is the daughter of, and sister to, kings. She is no virgin; and, she is hot—what’s not to like? I previously mentioned an early book in the series by Peter Tremayne, scholar and author of 21 books on the peripatetic sister; he also has written a host of nonfiction on related

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-25812284547473526192010-05-13T14:54:00.007+01:002010-05-13T16:45:05.968+01:00

By ClaireWe are at Camping Jungfrau, an astonishing €33.20 per night, located at the edge of the village Lauterbrunnen, right below the Staubbach waterfall, one of the highest in Europe formed of a single unbroken fall. The height of the cascade is between 800 and 900 feet. We have a perfect view of it from Homer. This photo shows about 1/4 of its length. There are 72 falls among the mountain

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-48337414310437360002010-05-11T17:53:00.011+01:002010-05-13T15:53:08.036+01:00

By ClaireIt's always hard to leave a place you love when the weather turns out to be perfect. But, leave we did. We rolled past Innsbruck and into Tirol and are now in a tiny village called Pettneu staying at Arlberg-panoramacamping, €13--beautiful setting, dull campground. But, nothing can compare to our last spot and this is just an overnight on our journey.We took a stroll into town and

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-74056011692754462862010-05-10T18:07:00.007+01:002010-05-11T05:38:08.096+01:00

By ClaireToday was a lazy day; a bike ride into town for some food shopping, a load of laundry in the washer and dryer and some cleanup in Homer. We planned a hike for later and decided to spend the rest of the morning reading outside in the sunshine.We enjoyed watching the lawn being shorn as the expert mower driver made his rounds throughout the campground but it was sad to see the flowers

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-48127398692949346602010-05-09T14:38:00.011+01:002010-05-09T18:27:12.244+01:00

By ClaireWe've been putting off a planned bike ride to some interesting sights 6 km away. With the rain coming and going we were hoping for a sunny day. Today was clear and sunny and warm. We hurried to get ready, hopped on our bikes and rode into town (across the road to St. Martin bei Lofer) for the start of the Tauernradweg bike trail to our first stop, the Vorderkaser Gorge.Biking out of

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-7479985936970701532010-05-08T13:10:00.014+01:002010-05-08T16:51:42.681+01:00

By ClaireWe woke to some blue sky and the promise of maybe a hike. Sadly, Lianne and Kees were getting ready to depart and they came over with a thermos of coffee to share and to say goodbye. This is the hard part of meeting new friends. It seems so empty now that their spot is vacant. They are such wonderful, genuine people and we already miss them.NeighborsMorning viewThey had us over for a

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-65042389557019848332010-05-06T21:17:00.011+01:002010-05-08T07:25:20.772+01:00

By ClaireFor me, coming to Europe was to see the sights, of course, but it was mostly about people. What makes traveling satisfying and interesting is the people we meet along the way. We have been so fortunate to meet and make new friends and experience the kindness of strangers. It is so exciting to spend time talking to them and learning about their lives.Today, Kees and Lianne invited us

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-60741515570705228472010-05-05T18:22:00.008+01:002010-05-06T07:41:19.434+01:00

By ClaireOur new friends Kees and Lianne very generously invited us to go see Grossglockner, the highest mountain in Austria at 3798 meters (12,460 feet). We jumped at the chance. They have a caravan, instead of a motorhome, which means they have a car to zoom off and see the sights. Lianne mentioned that we would stop for coffee along the way and we would also have a picnic. We brought our

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-36286057158245463972010-05-04T21:46:00.006+01:002010-05-06T07:40:05.570+01:00

By ClaireAfter a day of lounging around, meeting other campers and enjoying an evening visit with new friends, Kees and Lianne from Holland, we decided to ride into the village of Lofer for some grocery shopping today. Did you know we have an onsite castle?Grubhof SchlossDown the path, through the campground and over the bridge we went. There are wonderful walking and biking trails all over

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-24963304172892651642010-05-02T15:49:00.015+01:002010-05-02T19:01:37.627+01:00

By ClaireWe drove off through back country roads in Germany for our next destination: Park Grubhof Camping and Caravan, €16 plus €4.20 in taxes. I camped here almost 21 years ago, never forgot it, and decided I had to bring Chuck. It's a tiny village just south of Salzburg and to me, much, much better. No crowds but everywhere you look, it could be The Sound of Music. Much to our delight, we

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-90619073525021836872010-05-01T18:41:00.003+01:002010-05-01T18:56:37.155+01:00

By Claire and ChuckCamping, €502.93Eating Out, €386.44Groceries, €266.17Attractions, €294.41Fuel, €658.64Other transportation, €144.80Ferries, €216.00Misc., €306.33Grand Total €2775.72Daily average: €92.52In dollars: $3,683.66 @ €1 = $1.32

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-19288762918040710792010-05-01T12:00:00.010+01:002010-05-01T15:58:32.594+01:00

By ChuckCamping Brunnen, 6 km. from the castle.Busy Campground with our tenting friends, rightToday we visited the fairy castle of mad King Ludwig II; as you may know, this is reputed to be the model for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Neuschwanstein itself is apparently modeled on the best elements of other castles of Ludwig’s acquaintance. Its style is that of a

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-80269016564552013162010-04-30T14:45:00.003+01:002010-04-30T16:00:30.436+01:00

By ClaireYou may recall our difficulty finding our campground in Rothenburg due to torn up streets because of on going construction. With plans to drive the Romantic Road all the way to Füssen, we thought it would be a piece of cake since the road marker was just down the street. That was our first mistake. In fact, the day just didn't start out well. Cloudy skies for one--watching my shower

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2633305830995453420.post-52676279891821998752010-04-29T18:06:00.008+01:002010-04-30T16:07:06.027+01:00

By ClaireWe found our campsite by determination and desperation. Following Susannah's instructions, "turn right here," we found ourselves on a road just under the town with huge construction equipment. There was no way we could make it through. Reversing and turning around (very carefully) we tried working our way around the valley to approach the campsite from another direction. Tired and

Chuck and Clairenoreply@blogger.com2