We have been home 3 weeks now and I thought I would like to post our recent trip. For quite a few years now we have been saying we would like to get to Turkey, so this April we bit the bullet and set off, down through France, into Belgium , them Germany, Austria, Slovakia then on to Hungary, now we start getting off our beaten track, into Romania and up to the north then down through Transylvania and on into Bulgaria, then on into European Turkey crossing the Bosporus into the Asian side, up to the Black sea coast, then down through the middle and round to Bursa, then on to the sea of Marmara and the city of Troy, then across to Greece back into Bulgaria, through Serbia then Croatia, Slovenia, north Italy, France and home. a total of 13 weeks, 14 countries 39 campsites, 3 nights wild camping,
1940 photos and 9400 miles. some wonderful places and people. we were met by kindness and help everywhere we went with a special mention to north Romania and central Turkey..
Dave B
------------- money does not buy happiness, but it does get a better class of misery
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I'd love to do this kind of trip. I am interested that you were towing, rather than in a motorhome, as I have always thought that would be impractical.
How did you manage with the changing languages?
Were there any unforseen problems and how did you overcome them?
I'd love to hear more.
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
Yep JoannaLesley, those Eriba Trolls’s are a bit special, no other caravan like them as far as I am aware.
I have had a good number of viewings of the Eriba Troll’s at the NEC shows, and they do seem the perfect solution for long term touring almost as though they were designed more for on the road than at a pitch, compared to a regular caravan which you just wan’t to get it on a pitch and leave it there.
6 days was the longest in a single campsite, [Hungary and Turkey],and 26 in a single country [Turkey].
We didn't check the cost of fuel but it is cheaper in the eastern countries.
We didn't have a set route just a vague idea of the general direction then found campsites as we went, mostly off a site called EU camping.
Yes we were towing our Eriba Troll.
As for Language, its surprising how many people speak English in this world, but when all else fail a sense of humour and a smile gets you a long way, and a bit of mime.
Problems? yes one or two, arriving at campsites that didn't exist, lost a drawbar bolt so the caravan brakes came on, luckily this was as we were leaving a site and the owner found a bolt in his workshop, getting stuck on a very steep gravel road, we had to reverse down a steep hill till we hit tarmac then take a run at it, but all fairly easy to overcome.
As for highlights to many to list, the scenery of eastern Europe is wonderful and the people unfailingly helpful and friendly,
Dave
PS I feel that I should give a special mention to my wife Bunny she does all the driving as I am a non driver [bad eyesight]
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------------- money does not buy happiness, but it does get a better class of misery
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Sounds fantastic, it brings back happy memories of our long-distance towing trips. Are you thinking of doing a blog of your adventures - or at least reviews of the camp sites you stayed at? Re JoannaLesley's comment - it's no problem doing long-distance trips with a caravan, we've spent 12 months on the road touring Europe. Never made it to Turkey though !
------------- Il vaut mieux vivre ses reves que rever sa vie
We did do a blog on the Eribafolk web site as we went along, someone else [Randa] from the site did a similar trip but the other way round we met up with them when we were in Turkey for a couple [several] drinks
Dave
------------- money does not buy happiness, but it does get a better class of misery
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Down to Turkey
