Thursday, August 23, 2007

Donjoy - Defiance Buy

travel literature

have to read a lot of paper used when the trip is to run successfully and with relative ease:




who has studied this trip report, the many references to the Wolfgang Brugger Publisher (http://BruggerVerlag. com) released Guide Normandy / Brittany - travel guide for Motorhome and Caravan , the here (http://bruggerverlag.de/html/normandie.html) to be had for little money.


click to enlarge!





France: ADAC travel atlas 1:400,000 scale
, with 10 City Plans
This ring binder, the 3rd is already in the Edition was published, we were important planning and management tool during the trip.
more of it here: (LINK )






Hartmut Wilhelm: Brittany and Loire Valley

"Brittany and Castles of the Loire "contains over 300 photos, a list of 346 free parking spaces (prima!) Descriptions of 14-day trips and lots of tips on shopping, markets, super packing list with weights, a thousand dates, addresses, about 20 cards.
on the part of "Loire Valley": Funny, witty background information in the form of stories about the history of the supposedly great country with some of the confusing, sometimes raise a smile, sentence structures. A smart book!
more of it here: click !


click to enlarge!


Who plans to to travel to Normandy with a caravan or mobile home attacks, for travel and parking guides from the same author, by Hartmut Wilhelm. Twelve days before sailing for the reader to Normandy. Over twenty maps, over a hundred pictures, many useful information, an answer precisely planning calendar, a perfect packing list, the package with 300 spaces, entertainment and background, the southern beech-band over to Normandy.
More Info: Click




Jüzi list: RV parking
RV friendly campgrounds
France - Netherlands - Belgium - Luxembourg

Useful Compendium A4 format. Lives of the cooperation of the reader, can not therefore be all the spaces on the current status. Especially because - as elsewhere in the motor home country - all too well the communities visited mobile home park sites with anti-beam (eg, limiting passage to 2,20 m) shut off.

Good Order related to light from one department (= 1st and 2nd digit of the postcode). On top of the list there is also a gazetteer.


More information: There click





JüZi The list is also available for Germany . edition 2007/2008, 4200 parking spaces. A strong piece !




RV International: Bordatlas
many as 3800 RV spaces throughout Europe interested can find here some 700 pages, with all the major waste disposal stations, and many geo-data. On page 541 begins the France section, followed by a six-page map of France 44 pages and place-description, where the locations are sorted alphabetically. It is clear that the Brittany occupies only a small part of this comprehensive book. But when a U-space is included, then it is described in detail, even with a phone number and address of the contact person.
more of it here: click






Schmid, Marcus X. / Grass houses, Jochen: Brittany

A book that provides entertaining by the country at the end of the world . Locker prepared, clearly designed and packed with practical information proves to be a travel guide by Marcus X. Jochen Schmid and grass houses as profound companion on trip through the northwest corner of France.

of 700 inspiring pages that encourage curiosity about the country in which the Druids used to brew their magic potions, prepare the campers each day and browses through his journey in the comprehensive book when he is away. Sometimes one wonders and marvels were collected, with what effort and what use all the (often very fast) data available in this guide.
more of it here: click


Who
little more time than we will spend a few days in Alsace , was in a travel book from the same publisher as above (Michael Müller Verlag) described in detail on 384 pages. Antje and Günther Schwab report on landscapes and landmarks information, background, make suggestions for the holidays with children and present 15 exactly prepared hiking tours. There are also cycling tips, detailed information about accommodation and, of course, numerous proposals for gourmet evenings in the finest gourmet restaurants and cozy mountain inns.
more of it here: click

Elsass. 15 Wanderungen und Touren

As I have written: Our tour was to lead us to Bordeaux, but due to time constraints, this plan had changed and go the route shorter. If someone is already in Brittany, and enough time allowed, should be previously Guide southwest of France Marcus X. Schmid get the necessary information.

Marcus X. Schmid ? The name is yet familiar! Certainly, he is the co-author of the Brittany-book that was presented above. The travel guide of the Swiss author Marcus X. Schmid is a competent and reliable companion in the southwest of France - with information on history, culture and everyday life and with many practical travel guide for a customized vacation.

More like this: click





Speaking of Southwest France: On board was also this book, but unfortunately we were the great places that are described there in no time to visit. Not yet!

South West France - Aquitaine and Atlantic coasts, from Andreas Drouve
From the press release of this handy guide the well-known travel "travel know-how":

sandy beaches without end, the bright blue of the Atlantic, the great Dune of Pilat, green pine forests, caves and picturesque villages in the hinterland and in the south the huge mountains of the Pyrenees, a strong case not only for nature lovers. This alternate castles with fishing ports and the vineyards of the world-famous Bordeaux wines. There is also the city museum and city of Bordeaux.

The Travel Guide provides varied from region with all its cultural and natural facets. With a colorful digressions of topics: to dream of the people of the Basques to thalassotherapy and traditional recipes to the Campsites. In the information section real estate buyers alike get valuable tips on how sports fans, low-budget-accommodation-seekers and travelers with children.

More like this: Click






also for the extension of a route towards Biscay thought was the
Frommer plus "French Atlantic coast "
Ursula Pagenstecher,
of even a map at a scale 1:650.000 map of Bordeaux has on board.

in the press release reads: A variety of holiday pleasures and promises a lot of peace the French Atlantic coast, it offers beach fun, city scenes and cultural highlights of the Landes region with its pine forests to the majestic cliffs of the Basque country. In between are such different

landscapes invite the Marais Poitevin, the sleepy canals on a romantic boat lot, or the sun-drenched vineyards of Bordeaux to the cosmopolitan port and university city of Bordeaux, with its neoclassical town. The enchanting Côte d'Argent, the Silver Coast, attracts more than 200 km of continuous sandy beach.

Glamorous, with Belle Époque villas Casino and the beach is, the Basque seaside resort of Biarritz at the foot of the Pyrenees, whereas it slightly inland in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims walk and can see Roman treasures such as the church St-Pierre in Aulnay.

More Info: click






ADAC Camping-Caravaning Guide 2007 Southern
Those who sleep not only free and by the communities installed Wohnmobilstellplätze will seek the information they need before the trip and go camping caravanning in the comprehensive guide from the ADAC, which Camping is in question. The book contains not only France but also Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Montenegro, Austria, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Switzerland. If I have overlooked?

A huge amount of information that comes with together. The necessary data collection in the summer season 30 highly qualified inspectors (... says the advertising, I have not yet met a), see the year about 2,000 campsites in Europe.

More info about this: click





not only the heart is through his stomach, but also the food culture of each country's holidays. Accordingly, we have 2 travel books taken as a daily companion to our form of expression should improve when eating Get:

gibberish Volume 134: French culinary - goes word for word
Our puny schoolboy French is not sufficient to the menu in restaurant understand . Therefore, it is not possible without help, to look outside the box. The French are known to be experts, when it comes to the question of the composition of the menu.

No other European cuisine is equally culinary delight known. want to eat French born - word for word. Also in this gibberish ribbon is no lack of grammar portion that is closer to be related to culinary vocabulary. At the end of the book will "eat French," the reader a useful compilation of the basic vocabulary of terms.
More like this: Click



Those who prefer to get what you want on the ears, runs the Audio CD (pure gibberish pronunciation trainer) . More Info: Click


Ideal for restaurant meals is the
Langenscheidt International practice dictionary Fritz Kerndt
Almost every traveler has experienced it before: You sit in a beautiful restaurant, it smells wonderful and what serves the top at the next table, can beat the gourmet's heart. But the menu is often even for linguists a book with seven seals dar. Order at random or can be explained in a makeshift court for court from the top, is no longer necessary.

because the new practice Langenscheidt dictionary international cuisine in the practical paperback format interprets a total of 7,000 terms from the European-Latin. But in particular it brings together all what is the translation and explanation of the English, French, English or Italian menus needed.

Whether 5-course dinner, lunch, supermarket shopping, or just a snack, with the Langenscheidt practice dictionary International, which came in July 2007 on the market, the experiment be lived without sacrificing their own taste preferences.
more of it here: click




Brittany. The wild beauty (Hardcover) - Photobook

At one time it was called Armorica to Brittany - the land by the sea. Armorica, the name is in the roar of the surf, the roar of the sea that unloads his massive anger at the Pointe du Raz and the Cap Frehel. But it can also have a lovely sea gentleness. In soft blue sky in the sandy bays, it unfolds its beauty and splendor. Only the sound of the bagpipes is heard Breton in silence, and some people believe it to hear the bells of the sunken city of Ys.

under "Bibliography" on page 132 of my book is Guide Normandy / Brittany - travel guide for Motorhome and Caravan mentioned.




... and on the Internet?

Googling always helps! There is also an excellent site for people who are not foreign to the French:
I-camper information on V / E-courses (http://www.i-campingcar.fr/accueil.htm). As with all information available on the Internet, the reader must be aware that the ravages of time, not simply passing on information. These sites thrive on the interaction. Just as the above-mentioned JüZi list.

So: Not necessarily rely on the statements, especially when it comes to free parking goes. (! With photo) For many of the specified places we came across signs forbidding: So no chance in the peak season for campers. Anyone who thinks he can get during the French summer holidays still have a place somewhere in the fishing port, when this is recorded as a parking lot on that list will probably look into the tube - or have been canned opportunity and look forward allowed!

The tide in France experiences, those interested here: http://tide.frbateaux.net/

When it comes to the toll highway in France: http://www.autoroutes.fr/index. php? id = 147

Some of us do in Mobile home to Internet access. The hotspots in France are increasing. Here is info: http://hotspot-locations.de - http://free-hotspot.com/ - http://wlan.lycos.de/hotspot/search

RV spaces are also available from http: / / www.womobi.com , although here too the currency is not always present.

Those without GPS or navigation device is the prints themselves before the route (s) from a map and detailed description. Often the permanent flash-equipment on the highways already stated, should also insert the break, the driver from and to (!):
http://mappy.com






Wednesday, August 22, 2007

How Long Does Cat Dewormer Last?

15: last leg to home

control After a restful night in Lunéville we headed for home.

seen retrospectively, we had the fuel stop in Saverne but miss and prefer to take a small piece of highway at around Saverne in purchasing. If the small streets close to the Col de Saverne is blocked down to the valley by a fairly slow-moving heavy vehicles and almost all Saverne must be crossed, it costs a lot of time. This one ought to some euros for the bypass on the highway be worth.

At the junction Brumath North you can use free again yes the highway. A good had the fuel stop at a supermarket in Saverne yes: Here, as always, was the fuel much cheaper than in Germany. Anyone who does not want refuel in Saverne, should think about where he wants to find the nearest supermarket and gas station before the border to Germany. A glance at the map: Maybe in Haguenau, where we passed the evening on the way there very quickly?

The highways in Germany, I think after the couple of thousand miles on French roads, with a maximum of 110 km / h (sometimes 130 km / h) is very stressful. Three tracks, most "creative " traveling road users sometimes completely unexpected with speed, we let the French transport system to value and love. If the speed is sealed off towards the top, already falling off a hazard, you drive more relaxed, making it less vulnerable and less vulnerable to another.

between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart is built much. Thus we get acquainted with a new awareness of our own Garmin navigation device. Located in the traffic jam reports, the spokeswoman suddenly, pointing to the display: "Please turn around here." Great! Surrounded by hundreds of cars wedged, I will suddenly turn around! Well thanks!

But even that will pass, to Stuttgart, the traffic flow more smoothly, and our Hymermobil cheerfully draws us towards Ulm and the homeland.

Finally, we will be driven by release of the Hymer motorhome the other day about 3400 km.

balance: For this tour you should make something more than just 2 weeks to not have to miss too many attractions. Originally planned to travel to Bordeaux, but this was impossible to meet with the best will, for now and we would like to say a 2nd Night stay in a place and not looking after breakfast again a new pitch need.

Another conclusion: The Brittany is in the French summer holidays ( Link: European vacation dates or here ) by local campers crowded. Where a beach is, there is hardly a parking space. There must be something to be tricky and in the morning, possibly when a place becomes available, appear in the right place and occupy the square. Or you can take a few more miles, waived crowded parking and jostling tourists, and then finds tranquility at a different point of land as described in detail in this report. In the interior is less going on then, as the basis of the "Enclosed parishes" and the landscape "Briere" is shown. There you can choose his parking lot on good places OB.

The vehicle :
The used Hymermobil B 675 Star Line with large rear garage, automatic transmission and cruise control is a great, large recreational vehicle that has exceeded our high expectations. I can well imagine, this mobile home in Spain or Portugal to winter. If time will tell!

I wish all readers a good ride, many wonderful experiences and a healthy home!

Who has read this trip report, the many References to the Wolfgang Brugger Publisher published Guide Normandy / Brittany - travel guide for Motorhome and Caravan , the here can be had for little money.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Do You Need A Licence For A Bow Ireland

14, until Lunéville

The clouds and the rains have abated. This pleases us, because today is riding day. As we proposed the Navi, we take the high dam located north of the Loire



direction Orleans,



we pass through stunning speed. make



Behind Sens We break for lunch. Instead of the highway from Troyes north and then take the east, we drive, how many of the big trucks also the abbreviation of Brienne-le-Chateau after St-Dizier r.

In Brienne-le-Chateau we find at the station a well-marked V / E station, just outside the town towards St-Dizier . beds to

Instead our head as on the way in Saverne dinner, we go after Nancy location Lunéville . There we find a nice place OB in a river, right on the castle, renovated at the time is.



The paved square is separated by a gate from the street. The door is open, even though "closed from 22 clock" on a sign says. Should this place be crowded or even closed, it is advisable to drive a few hundred meters further, where (now with chips in the campsite management) between the campsite and Leclerc supermarket Ü Square with 4 parking spaces and V / E is found.

migrate to represent the legs we between the buildings of the surprisingly large castle in the park:



evening then, just behind the motor home, a color combination:

Monday, August 20, 2007

Russian Bare Free Immage

13: to Chenonceaux

leave at 4 / 8 cloud cover we pretty castle and come to an hour in Chenonceaux ( book page 26 ) that puts us first in shock: Here, mass tourism is announced.
Chenonceau - Wikipedia - (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Chenonceau)
http://www.br-online.de/freizeit/querbeet/gaerten/chenonceaux.html




close together are the mobile homes on the free-space Ü (*) at the castle, with only a small alley is released. If a parking lot here for us have become free, but by the length of Hymermobil it would not be possible to park. We drive to the end of the large parking lot that is designated for mobile homes, and actually find a nice place, but not on asphalt:



Here the campers (most in the higher price range) not so closely as close to the castle entrance:



is now waiting announced, since before the ticket booth has a huge queue formed:



Finally we have our tickets. After the entrance to the castle to run the many tourists. The avenue



opens to a magnificent view of the castle and one of the two gardens.


panoramic image


long ago, that I have a plate of this kind have seen:



maximum interest: The lawn must indeed be protected from the massive influx of tourists,



but the castle itself, the crowd snaps, with or without flash, not that anyone from the supervisory staff caring.

TIP: The best view in the morning at the castle over the River Cher, if you go left at the castle along the river until the end of the garden of Diane de Poitiers leave, then a Zugbrücklein the garden. At the corner of the garden outside, we have a view of the river, the castle and boats you can rent near the castle.







seen from the castle looks like the garden of Diane de Poitiers this:



on the panoramic image from the balcony of the palace can be seen even 2 of the gardens, next to the garden of Catherine de Medici:



panoramic views of the garden of Diane de Poitiers:





anyone who respects great numbers has: In the spring and summer, the flower decoration renewed. In this case 130.000 plants are used again, which are grown in the vegetable garden (next paragraph).

Behind the medieval farm a big surprise to gardeners: it is not just ornamental gardens on the castle grounds, the taste of the time accordingly, but also a large kitchen garden with unusual plants, many of which are also visually hermachen something



The flower and vegetable garden is located behind the old farm from the 16th Century. get



To all the plants in good condition, well, a number of full-time gardeners are employed employing:



Next to the kitchen garden a lonely donkey. According to the brochure enclosed grounds of the "dog park" is. With "park" the meadow is well known, because I've never seen so much space for a single donkey seen.

four hours we have used for the lock, and so we retreat into our Hymer Mobil, in order to draw strength for the also held sound and light show (son-et-lumière). But the rain makes us a spanner in the works:



this attraction, we move to the next time

*) Not to place OB: There are no V / E .
pushes in the rain in a camper next to us. After some time, we noted that the RV is not responsible for the engine makes. We mean it, that we - are threatening to suffocate slowly - after half an hour directly in the exhaust smell because the smoke penetrates gradually into the interior of our Hymer motorhome. He switched off the engine. After some time it disappears, not without leaving a pool of hot water. Although not really clear whether this is from him or was already there and now because of the heavy rain once again emerging from the ground. Benefit of the doubt, as the French say.

With a wistful glance, I see my large CD collection that I've taken to bridge such a rainy hours with pleasant music. Sorry, no CD can be played because of the radios built-in CD player's record is not "eat" will. After a while I realize that a CD inserted in the device that does not remove is. Well, again I have a new tip for people who rent a mobile home: people see, you not only the possible damage to the motorhome outside, but also tests the consumer electronics, which is also the possibly existing satellite system included. Our TV reception is excellent, the bowl automatically positioned and 1001 TV channels at our disposal, except for the much-needed weather channel. Did I say TV? This is possible, unfortunately not in this far corner of the OB course, since we are under trees, which are preventing the satellite. Sure, if we would focus on television, we would only need to change the place. But here is one flat and the night is quiet. Since we do not just on the telly ...

... and deal with the Navi. It suggests different routes to get home from 912 miles in 13 hours (highway, Route fast, no toll) to 881 km in 13 hours ( optimal route, highway, no tolls ). Funny, is that the setting "optimal route, highway permit, toll" 3 kilometers longer and just as long. As we whistle but to pay the toll and take the shorter route!

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Rom Pokémon Sur La Desmume

Day 12: to Azay-le-Rideau

After a quiet night and a hearty breakfast, we drive a few miles east, Breca ( book page 57). Again, we could spend a quiet night in the parking lot, like many others, who are already here early in the morning '.

The OB course at Breca , yet no signs, important as ever: Stop The Woodhnmobil so that you have enough freedom of movement, if it means breaking up, because car drivers do not recognize always that especially larger Motorhomes, as ours, a lot of space need to leave a parking space (keyword turning radius, overhang behind the rear axle, bike rack ...):



Here are some pictures to complement my essay in the book:



is still resting on the horse. But soon it will attract tourists in a covered wagon through the bog:



parking currently not required lighters:



Transportation in the Park Naturel Régional de Brière "


Plenty of weathered stone
explain in French the history and other aspects of the marsh area:







Ah, the first tourists have booked a boat tour, and now it goes out into the channels of the marshes:



As you can see, is to see a paragraph in English on the ancient stone tablets (in blue):



A panoramic photo of the area:



Keep my monocular, binoculars (strength 10) from the digital camera and can be regarded as a high bridge and the loading facilities of the port of St. Nazaire background present grazing horses in the Brière:



The weather is not so great, but some will be grateful to the clouds, is still blazing sunshine in a marsh area to endure not easy



We say goodbye to the last sight that we take for this time of Brittany, and program the "optimal" route in our navigation system, towards the Loire castles, more precisely Azay-le-Rideau and Chenonceaux .

Now it is quickly, very quickly towards Nantes . We used to have the road along the Loire taken (see book), but the Navi us via the toll-free highway to Cholet and from there expanded direction Saumur , probably a little detour, but for a long time with 110 km / h all to drive. The cruise control set, the Mercedes Sprinter purring engine and can enjoy the area. Almost like a journey by train, only individual!

bear to entertain while driving in place names such as "Toutlemonde" (the world) and "Le Petit Cabaret". Funny, the French countryside on the boards!

Witzig also the large-sized ring roads (between Cholet and Saumur) for some small communities. Very good expanded in a wide arc around the village. The "fun" has determined a significant budget devoured.

finally break! At a very nice place on the river, where several picnic benches are lined up, we are in (exit after the bridge on the left) Concourson-sur-Layon break:



this place could I well as Ü Square imagine if there is time later in the day and the driver wants to rest before the next stage.

As we drive out of the Navi Saumur on the Loire on the north side of the causeway to the east, we decide, yet in Chinon to pass.

In Avoine should be a place OB. With some difficulty, and after some time we find him. Located very nice and quiet at a fish pond in a forest. Two drawbacks: As it were in the shade of a large nuclear power plant and second, lonely. Recommended only for campers who have nothing against nuclear power and on the go with other campers.

In Chinon we seek in vain a parking lot, also found no OB place, just an full camping on the other side of the river Vienne.

The castle high up on the mountain is partially wrapped, not Artists, but by craftsmen who are well-repair after a few centuries back something (larger):



We decided spontaneously to escape the narrowness and crowded nature of the place, with the thought that next time out the main holiday season to come back. Just a few miles almost dead straight line on the road 751, and already we are on the river Indre. That's the famous castle Azay-le-Rideau (without the "x" at the end!) With the same locality. More in book, page 28 or Castle Azay-le-Rideau - Wikipedia (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Azay-le-Rideau)




the OB place to find bad. Miserable signs. At best, you drive towards the campsite. And lo and behold: a very pleasing, Free OB place waiting for us here - (buy 5 €-chips in the camp) right at the campsite, with V / E, just on asphalt.



showers can be a few meters on the grounds of the camp with coins, which are collected in the reception. In addition to the OB course There are parking spaces for cars. There is also possible to stay overnight if he presented here OB place is full. But be careful! In the morning, it is advisable to make early on the fly, because if the cars come, maneuvering is virtually impossible. Another tip : Do not drive into the center. There are only small and compact campers feel at home. Camping and OB place to get well, without having to cross through the center's.

From OB place is about 10 minute walk through the village



a lock: is



It is state owned, so I as a disabled person with ID (translation not forget!) can be visited free parking and a lock. Reschpekt! Such generosity is looking closer to home, they will not!

A small selection of what the visitor can see here. For example, the ceiling in the stairwell:



course, a number of areas to visit, and we should take a free folding brochure for info on the tour.

now follow more photos of this surge, because here we take a lot of time and the ever changing weather offers us many interesting view:



panoramic photo of the palace and park:











Already at the entrance to the park we noticed this poster:



course we want the light-and- experience audio drama in the evening. After a trip to dinner in the camper (of course the town has many restaurants), we point 21 clock are back at the castle and enjoy a fantastically conceived show in Castle and Park, said the park different light and sound effects are presented and a castle with a strong slide projectors with scenes from the history of the area is illuminated.

There are tracks with lighted artificial fog and strange giant red-colored drop-like structures. But what I write here, you should have seen yourself. Some pictures: