The last lap on our European trip

As our “Wheels Around Europe” trip reaches it`s conclusion, I am left with the memories of the wonderful places we have been lucky enough to have visited on our journey.

We`ve been away from home for eleven weeks and it has passed so incredibly fast I can barely believe it.

It has been a fantastic experience and I`m so pleased we made it happen.

These are a few of the highlights….

Germany and the River Mosel Valley were a revelation to me. It is a very beautiful area with crisp clean fresh air to fill your lungs with, fabulous rolling countryside and spotlessly clean villages. More vineyards than you can shake a stick at, cycle / walk path galore, lots of culture, interesting places to visit and all within a days drive from Calais.

Looking back I wish we`d spent longer there but I`m sure we`ll be back.

Rhine Falls took your breath away, where the mighty Rhine drops off the Swiss Plateau and into Germany.

You could feel the force of the water in the rumble of the ground standing next to it.

Switzerland, well what can I say, just beautiful lakes, hills, mountains, and rivers, just perfect scenery.

The Italian Lakes did not disappoint, Maggorie, Come, Ieso and Garda all had lovely scenery and interesting towns. Peschiera del Garda is a great place but so busy, I wouldn`t like to be there peak season.

The Monte Baldo Hills were very scenic and welcome relief from the crowds of Peschiera.

Venice, everyone should visit Venice once in their lives if at all possible. It is an unforgettable city.

Croatia gave us plenty of sunshine and beach time and we really enjoyed the Istria Peninsular. But probably not as much as our time on Krk with it`s crystal clear warm waters and friendly people.

The Plitvice National Park was also a definite highlight.

The images of those water falls will stay forever in my mind.

It was a shock leaving the warmth of Croatia and going into Slovenia.

We`d only travelled an hour from Croatia but the climate was completely different. Cool with a tendency for nightime thunderstorms. 

That may not be typical I`m not sure. 

It certainly wasn`t the last of the warmth, we did get good weather but it was a shock at the time after leaving Croatia.

Slovenia did warm up considerably later on.

The scenery in Slovenia made up for the odd bit of rain. It is a beautiful country. The Soca River and Lake Bohinj were amazing and I will always remember their beauty.

Austria was all I had expected from Alpine Scenery, culture and beautiful buildings. Salzburg is a lovely city definitely worth visiting.

So back into Germany and Bavaria is an amazing region with so much to see. The Romantic Route was very picturesque, Nordingden, Dinkesbuhl and Rothenburg ob der Tauber are lovely towns with an interesting history and so much to offer the visitor.

There were disappointments along the way of course, the low cloud and rain in Lauterbrunnen Swizerland, not going to Tuscany to see Florence and Pisa, missing Vienna and the city of Cologne that we found a little bit of a dull city.

The rain and cloud on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road was a real disappointment as I`d been looking forward to the scenery on that pass.

Louis distressed barking at thunderstorms was a definite low point too.

But overall it has been a fantastic trip I am so glad we have been able to make, the trip of a lifetime.

Ed the motorhome performed brilliantly. Sure there were niggles, the bathroom tap, the fridge, the headlight bulb and in recent days the leisure battery playing up

But nothing that can`t be easily fixed or worked around.

An update on the battery : I think the battery is ok now, after a good charge on hook up it seems to be working ok, so I`ll just monitor it and see how it goes.

Ed the motorhome has huffed and puffed his way up and down mountain passes, cruised the Autobhan`s, put up with terrible roads in Italy and Belgium.

Seen Audi and Mercedes fly past at warp factor three.

Been weighed by the police, had a narrow escape from a low bridge and has never missed a beat.

I`ve not even had to top up the engine oil level.

The only battle scars are a large stone chip on the front and a bent cycle rack caused by my careless reverse manouvering in Croatia, entirely my fault.

So I`m delighted by his reliability.

He`s going to be rewarded with a few days rest and an oil and filter change.

We have driven 4668 miles across 10 countries in 76 days.

Ed has drank 810 litres (178 gallons) of diesel. 

So 26 mpg which I`m happy with. 

To be honest it never varies much and the mountain passes don`t seem to have affected it.

We`ve used 47.66 litres of LPG for heating, hot water and cooking.

Including everything we have spent, the trip has cost £4482 or £59 per day which for the sights and experience we have enjoyed is pretty good value for money.

We now face the prospect of a return to a normal life living in a proper brick and tile house.

The home sick feeling began to kick in during the last few days and we were ready for our return.

Of course we have missed family and friends and it will be wonderful to get back to our usual routine.

I have a little time to catch up on the gardening before going back to work, but there`s no doubting it`s going to be a shock to the system.

Thanks for reading, I hope I haven`t bored you.

Time to start planning again maybe ……… ?

Now where`s my map...................................................................