Meeting the tour group

We trundle down from Budapest to a large site at Siófok on Lake Balaton, still in Hungary, which is the largest European lake apparently. It certainly seems to have lots of water in it in any event. It's really nice here when we arrive and the lake is like a mill pond..

..but before we get into that, we meet our tour leaders from ACSI, the Dutch camping organisation. They're really nice people and clearly intend to run a tight ship. The thing is, organising Brits in motorhomes and caravans is like herding cats; let's see how it goes. We chat to fellow travellers who, as always, seem like a good bunch of people and we enjoy a nice welcome meal with wine and All looks good.

We walk to Siófok (5km away) and enjoy the sites and feel of this small lakeside town. We also find time to explore Balatonfűred on the opposite side of the lake which, although clearly a tourist town, has it's own charm. Any thoughts of relaxing by the lakeside are literally blown away by the constant high wind that springs up on the second day - the lake is decidedly choppy, as a stark contrast to the first day.

We now know why the trees lean to the left...

Anyway, enough of that; Serbia tomorrow!

Beautiful Budapest

Beautiful - that's certainly our first impression; so much history, culture, architecture in a thriving city with an outstanding mass transit system.

We arrive mid afternoon after a drive through the city centre - but the roads are multi-lane and it's ok with the 'van on the back. The small ACSI site is fine, too. We get a really helpful reception with explanations galore. Transport into and around the city is easy and, for EU citizens of a certain age, it's completely free. Brilliant!

We need to shop and sort so we finish the day with a BBQ and chat with fellow explorers before spending our second day in and around the castle district in Buda. Remarkable and not to be missed. We're particularly impressed by the history museum in the royal palace, which puts the research in perspective.

We end the next two days seeing the plethora of wonderful sights in this historic city, travelling by metro, tram and bus as a European citizen (although not for much longer, of course......).
There are are many highlights, including a tour of the opera house complete with a mini performance. It's easiest to say what we haven't done; that will be a spa, a traditional folk performance and a night trip on the river and others that we don't yet know about probably.

We'll have to come back, then - and we don't often say that as a matter of principle. There are always exceptions.

Fountain at the Royal Palace

St Matthias Church in Pest

Inside it...

Over the Danube from the Castle in Pest

Pest from Buda

The seat of power

A memorial at the synagogue.. the Nazi snake being consumed by fire...
.....unfortunately, the fire turned out to be Stalin.

Joining the the group on Friday in Siófok on lake Balaton.... so that's all for a while... apart from a few more images when WiFi permits.

and so it begins....

The first leg (heading to Budapest)

A short drive through the Tunnel to a stop just over the Belgium border near Dunkirk so that we can make sure everything is working.... and we remember where we put the important bits.

Tunnel parking next to latest Discovery towing a Caterham

Arriving in Belgium.....shorts and sunshine weather rapidly turns into thunderstorms so we snuggle in front of the TV to watch Channel 4 news and Joanna Lumley's Postcards.

Important bits

It's all working...

We'll probably have a short drive to Maastricht tomorrow....

........
The Netherlands...

...Maastricht, where it all began, before it ended, that is, if you get the drift.

We stop near Valkenburg some 8km or so from Maastricht - and what a great little town it is, best appreciated while sitting in the square with a nice beer.

A long grind through Germany tomorrow: great autobahnen  though....should I have said that??

.........

Another day, another country, this time we're at the fascinating little town of Ochsenfurt. The centrepiece is a, frankly, wierd building with a performing clock. Must do some research....
Best appreciated while sitting with a Bier in the 'square'.

That clock is odd, you know

Austria tomorrow, hopefully.

........

Austria...

.....and here we are, right on the bank of the Danube near a little town called Marbach an der Donau after a very swift but weird journey. 

It's Sunday, so no lorries, but lorries pack every conceivable slot in the rest stops on the motorways, so we drive for around four hours before finally stopping. After a number of abortive trips into various motorway service areas, I eventually squeeze the outfit up against a lorry on an iffy corner while we eat. Repleat with eggs and bratwurst, we wave thanks to the HGV mob and head off for the remainder of the journey. A running average of around 90km/hr for 530km when the max is 100km/hr says it all really. Brilliant outfit.

Very chilly but interesting church in Marbach

We're off to Hungary and Budapest tomorrow for a few days before starting the Camping & Caravanning Club tour bit of the adventure. Since starting, we've passed through a country per day apart from the first day when we managed three...

UK> France> Belgium> Netherlands> Germany> Austria> (tomorrow) Hungary.

So that's the end of this post. Budapest tomorrow, all being well. Just imagine all those pent up HGV's on the road again...

the planning list

Almost done.

If you're thinking of doing this, or something similar, this list of the more important things we've done might be helpful; on the other hand....

...anyway, here's the list:

(why do I always feel there's something REALLY important missing...)

• Plan (flexible) itinerary and buy guides needed
• sort the guided part with C&CC
• book Eurotunnel and provide advanced passenger info
• insure the car and get green card for non-euro countries [obvious but the most difficult - beware false information from insurance agents about coverage - this nearly cost us the trip]
• check car and caravan servicing window - service early if required
• sort personal and recovery insurance
• check caravan insurance for areas to be visited
• sort sat nav coverage
• get International Driving Permit
• order German emission sticker
• buy Hungarian motorway e-vignette
• buy Austrian vignettes
• make note to remember to buy Slovenian vignette at first fuel station after border
• buy currencies required
• check other country requirements - eg tow rope, hi viz jackets, breathalysers, spare bulbs
• change number plates on new(ish) car to Europlates
• download ACSI app for campsites
• sort communication strategy - phone coverage etc
• buy top-up synthetic oil for car
• check operation of all gadgets - caravan reversing camera, tyre monitoring, sat dish, house security equipment etc etc
• let bank know about trip itinerary

..and the usual - enough gas for the 'van, electrical connectors and extension leads, chargers, loo stuff, spare tyres, tools, check temperatures for clothes etc etc etc


Yup! Remembered REALLY important job...

• get haircut