On the road

zurich

2024

Countries/territories visited: .gr, .al, .me, .hr, .at, .de, .ch, .fr, england,

We begin the year in Stavros.

Stavros Bay Parking

No services, great view.

035.59263

024.09502

There are fireworks - Zoa not too happy.

We walk the winding road and the gorge at Seitan Limania

The walk is in sunshine and takes about an hour, not bad for an old fart.

Marathi Beach Parking

Beach parking near a couple of restaurants (closed) and a toilet (French classic design)

035.50383

024.17425

There is time for swimming, short walks and some impressive views.

We also have one night of wind, forcing us to move, and then move back.

6-JAN is orthodox Xmas day.

Then shopping back to Chania

Chania Beach Parking

Two beaches and a running track. Toilets in the café

035.51331

023.97767

Before expecting rain back in Kalyves.

Kalyves Beach Parking

Beach parking off the main coastal road, with a few shops and good coffee at Fresh & Cool.

035.45170

024.17584

15-JAN - we head south to Paleochoria to the other campsite

Grammeno Campsite

All services, but very scruffy. Run by Chris and not reasonably priced for the winter.

035.23455

023.63580

As we drive, there's this:

There are balmy days and then the wind arrives, rocking the van without the concomitant pleasure. Haha.

The campsite doesn't offer many good walks so we move

Palaochora Beach

Water but not much else. In the village, beside the beach

035.23347

023.68610

We do a couple of walks and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and sunshine.

Then we head north over the snowy mountains and on the beach near Kalyves for a few nights

Beach Parking

Nothing on this beach, but a view of the entrance to Souda Bay.

035.46064

024.16081

then back to the Kalyves carpark to wait out the bad weather.

Kalyves Beach Parking

Beach parking off the main coastal road, with a few shops and good coffee at Fresh & Cool.

035.45170

024.17584

We head off south over the pass with superb views of the White Mountains. And emerge with a panorama of the South Coast.

Vouvas Beach

Quietly lapping waves, no services.

035.20006

024.19039

Lots of background noise from the crashing waves, but a good place.

Onwards to following day to Frangokastello with coffee close to the Venecian Castle. Up to the Killikrati Gorge to walk up, but stymeed by goliath boulders which I can't overcome, so back to the beach for a night.

Vatalos Beach

On the road next to the sandy beach, unusual on the South Coast.

035.19191

024.21658

We then head up and over to Plakias, but after shopping we decide the "No Camping" signs where we usually park are not something we enjoy, so onwards to a small beach for the night.

Amoundi Beach

Cute place with a stream.

035.17106

024.42097

We adventure up to the chapel for a lovely view. There is also a cage with quiet a lot of phesant, maybe a local speciality for the orthodox easter?

Onwards as the sun re-appears to a favourite, quiet port for two nights.

Kikkinos Port Parking

Only water

035.08310

024.73759

A delicious meal at one of the taverna before we head off to wash Ruth and get me a haircut before we head to the hills and the Lake of Zoros.

Zaros Lake

A waste container and a café open during tourist hours.

035.13957

024.91038

We walk to a local monastry and back. One of those magnificent days, sunshine, stillness, majestic mountains and beautiful wild flowers.

A couple of days then spent beside the beach again in Rethymno

River Taverna Parking

Quiet during the night

035.37047

024.52380

Dog walks and coffee in the mornings. And at the café these two doors:

Georgioupolis port

Quiet with fresh water.

035.36413

024.26101

A few chores need to be done in Xania, including an engine wash for Ruth the van.

Back to a local beach as the rain arrives.

Beach Parking

Nothing on this beach, but a view of the entrance to Souda Bay.

035.46064

024.16081

Then back to our favourite haunt to spend time with friends.

Kalyves Beach Parking

Beach parking off the main coastal road, with a few shops and good coffee at Fresh & Cool.

035.45170

024.17584

26-FEB - Another week or so, then it's time to leave on the ferry (Kissimos) from Xania to Piraeus.

We arrive and drive straight to Camper Camp.

Camper Camp

Currently, basically a motorhome sales and repair site. But the infrastructure will soon be upgraded to a full service site.

037.99317

023.89745

The fridge gets fixed by Stasios and we drive on for shopping before we hole up beside the water.

Agean Beach

No services, very quiet

038.33678

023.76354

This area is built on a swamp, and so (even if it's winter still) there are mozzies, so after a quiet night we move on.

Parnithos Beach

No services, dusty, boat starage, a broken swimming pool and some kids playground equipment.

038.3379

023.7224

Did see some processional caterpillars, a bit too late, but Zoa didn't (apparently) sniff them. Just as well.

Drocias Parking

A dusty carpark next to the Med, no services

038.48280

023.51890

We stayed here overnight before. Today 2-MAR is a saturday, very calm water, few people and sunny with 20 degrees. Difficult, but we manage.

Then a lovely drive over the mountains

For a night at Thermopylae.

Thermopylae parking

Any number of stinky pools, no services.

038.7976

022.5342

Sport center parking

Mostly quiet, lots of joggers in the park.

039.54608

021.78764

After a coffee in Trikala we go to the old waterpark for a night.

Waterpark Parking

No services.

039.65567

021.68289

A quiet night with a lovely sunrise. We then drive through the town and on the main road to Kastoria where we settle down in the main carpark. Some shopping and walks along the lake.

Kastoria Parking

A busy town with lots of geese and oher wildfowl on the lake.

040.520199

021.261299

The following day we head into

Albania

I get insurance for Ruth the van - they insist on 15 days and cost €90. Not a good deal if one only really wants to drive through. We take the route up to the lake at Pogradec.

Lake Parking

Scruffy beach, no services.

040.90003

020.68380

Then it's up and over the mountain (beside a disused, single-track railway line) and down into Tirana. Bit of a traffic mess, how unexpected? And we go on to the once-capitol town of Kruje.

Concrete Parking

Restaurant and car wash run by two brothers. Toilets and lekkie.

040.90003

020.68380

We get a lift up to the castle (well actually a bakery called - George W Bush) and then walk back along the road to the campsite.

I bought a Vodafone SIM card as we entered Albania with 10Gb. After 1.5 days it had all gone. Something really wrong with this.

We leave and head up the mainly straight roads to

Montenegro

Ulcinj (Miami) Campsite

Just on the water with a beach for dogs and swimming.

41.90789

19.25091

The campsite is closed, but the boss is there monitoring a gardner, so we get to stay with lekkie and water. Lovely walks on the grey sand much appreciated by Zoa. Unfortunately the Wifi password doesn't work, so I'm still off-net. The next morning we head off northwards and cross the border into

Croatia

We picked up a seaman who had missed his bus at the border and took him to Dubrovnik and the continues on the motorway with a stop to admire the bridge

and then further north to a place we found in the hills on park4night.

Abandoned Road

Nothing here, next to what looks like a gas junction

43.64875

16.20548

After a cold night we head up on the 1 road to near Zagreb

Juraij Church

Just a church carpark, with a view

45.58749

15.58130

Just one night and then fill up with diesel (€1.45) and on into

Slovania

Where we don't stop but get a few things in Maribor and take the back road over some hills into

Austria

We take the main road (not motorway) towards Graz for a night

Kalsdorf Sports Center

Busy with school and sports traffic until the evening. A Billa supermarket.

46.96123

15.47642

Then some shopping and a dog walk.

Achtersee New Wiener Neustadt

Quiet, but this place has been destroyed from the delight it used to be for bathers and dog walkers.

47.81642

16.20524

WWe walk around the fields in Weikerdorf - to the sound of a speckled woodpecker and larks in the fields doing their "lift" flying.

Erlach Healthfarm

A couple of good walks in the woods.

47.73208

16.20772

Nice walks in this location. Then on up the hill to

Semmering Skilift

No services, not even water.

47.73208

16.20772

Then onto Mürzzuschlag for more walks in the woods.

Mürzzuschlag Carpark

No services, not even water. There is an aire here open 1-APR to 30-NOV.

47.73208

16.20772

And up to Krems, awonderful drive up and down the mountain in glorious sunshine to the river.

Mautern an der Donau

Right next to the aire which is €25 per day.

048.3958

015.5860

And to wait for a friend - and drive westwards with stops in Linz and Füssen. He then leaves by train to Geneva from St. Gallen.

Switzerland

A quiet night is spent next to (a still closed) swimming pool near Winterthur.

Wiesendangen parking

Walks in the woods.

047.52860

008.78950

Then time with family, good talks, walks (including beside the Zürisee) and food.

After a few visits to the city we head to a parking spot before

Hüttekon parking

Beside the woods.

047.43980

008.38650

Then for a night at Fischer's Fritz Campsite with a visitor from Crete.

Fischer's Fritz Campsite

Full services.

47.33644

08.55054

Germany

Hohentengen am Hochrhein

On the brow of a hill with views of the Alps and the ocassional airplane floating by.

N047.6006

E08.4332

And a few nights above the river - all quiet, and a view of the Alps. Then back to

Switzerland

Zoa and Asi drag me up the Uetliberg - makes me feel my age.

Hüttekon parking

Beside the stream and the sewage works. Nice dog walks.

047.45050

008.38860

Time then to head off to

Germany

and the van dealer for some spares. The Oyster system also gets a check (some part of the receiver had fallen off) at the best Oyster service center in Europe.

Oyster Service France
Repair service in Breisach, Germany

These guys are simply the best.

France

and then to Fessenheim to relax.

Fessenheim Parking

Water and dumping with good dog walks.

N047.91859

E07.53146

Before visiting a good friend and working our way back to Züri via

Sermamagny Parking

Several good dog walks beside a couple of lakes.

N047.68254

E06.81485

I close the door with the engine running (for the heat) and Zoa inside and the door locks. A local Frenchman helps with a portable drill, we drill out the lock and I can get back in. This is the second time this has happened, silly me.

It turns quite cold in the mornings and wet too, so we go back to

Fessenheim Parking

Water and dumping with good dog walks.

N047.91859

E07.53146

Then to

Switzerland

and time parked at

Rupperswil - Aarauerstrasse Parking

Parking just near a river and canal with good dog walking. (On the lead sadly.)

N047.40920

E008.12190

Then dog walks with Zoa and Asi and visits to friends and family in the Züri area.

Before a few nights

Hüttekon parking

Beside the woods.

047.43980

008.38650

Then into Züri and back to

Germany

for a few nights in Lauchringen

Lauchringen Parking

Quiet for the night and good walks.

N047.6229

E08.3149

and a few more observing the planes approaching Züri airport.

Hohentengen am Hochrhein

On the brow of a hill with views of the Alps and the ocassional airplane floating by.

N047.6006

E08.4332

And back to Züri for a few days for son Barney's wedding to Kim. An overwhealming event for me.

27-May - and off we go to

France

For a night beside the Rhein at Fessenheim

Fessenheim Parking

Water and dumping with good dog walks.

N047.91859

E07.53146

Then up the German motorway towards Strassbourg and then across to Nancy for the night

Richardménil Parking

Water and dumping and free lekkie. Nice walks too.

N048.5949

E06.16120

Not far from Nancy. And a good walk for Zoa.

And after a quiet night on to a favourite overnight stop beside a canal.

Canal Parking

Lovely and quiet.

N049.6243

E03.2557

in Calais we get a new rabies jab for Zoa and the usual (totally unnecessary) de-worming for the UK. and a quiet couple of nights before we take the ferry back to the island.

Aire du Sémaphore

Windy with access to the beach - dog walking seems to be allowed.

N050.95130

E01.77152

At Sangatte, the other parking now has a 2m barrier - they don't want us. But this parkup is actually better, and closer to the beach which seems is OK for dogs.

We also visit the beach in Calais