Our Trip To Lake Garda
12th of July left Dumfries about 13.30 stopped of for diesel and gas bottle, double checked with everyone to make sure nothing was forgotten. After about 20 mile Lorraine says we have forgot Toby’s papers for the kennels, phoned kennels said they must have them or a fax of them so quick phone call to sort that out not bad 20 miles down the road and only fell out once. Arrived at kennels just outside penrith and a few tears from Lorraine and Sophie as we leave Toby for the first time in kennels ( I didn’t cry I’m a man). Nice drive down the road with not to bad traffic stop at little chef just outside hull for dinner and takes them 45 mins to serve us. All feeling full and refreshed head for ferry when we arrive at terminal at 19.45 it is mentioned how quiet it is, lady in check in told us we are last on and only kept gate open for another 5 mins that’s would have been second argument lol.
Got on ferry last so hopefully first off, went up to cabin everything seemed ok and we had a nice sailing. Got up and showered in plenty of time for departure but as we where on the fright Lorries) deck due to being last on we followed some lorry driver down the stairs only to find the door at the bottom wasn’t open so a few irate drivers started kicking and banging until someone unlocked it, but not to worry as no one could get off as we had parked sideways across the front of the lorries so a few more irate ones but who cares we’re on holiday lol.
In to Holland and this is where the fun starts Lorriane goes to put post code into sat nav to find it doesn’t have Germany in it only France and Holland, well id just downloaded the whole of Europe on to my Garmin but have now realised the memory card I took out must have some of the download on it. Driving through Holland it has all the major roads but no slip roads and tells me to turn southeast instead of right or left but who cares we have 6 days to get there.
Stopped in venlo for lunch parking by the river in the bus parking told this was ok cost 3euro for 1 hour and 1 euro an hour after this. Stopped at a restaurant for lunch and found it to be both reasonable and nice.(diesel only 1.12) Moved on after about and hour heading in the general direction of Stuggart stopped of at Bruhl or Brule we cant remember how its spelt 3rd argument lol. Stayed at a nice campsite with a lake ok for a stop over but wouldn’t spend more than a couple of night there.
Up early next morning heading for Stuggart to the Mercedes museum but due to really heavy traffic and road works on the A5 I think didn’t get near stuggart till after 2pm so kept going will do on way back. Got to Ulm for about 3.30pm parked at the stellplatz next to stadia (take Ulm sud exit and its sign posted) just a big car park but loads of other mh’s. Jumped on tram into Ulm had a walk round and a nice dinner, would recommend here for a stop over.
Next morning up and raring to go drove to Innsbruck with a few sight seeing stops along the way and for lunch, roasting hot day. Drove to Natters see camp site about 6km from city centre booked in for 2 nights. As always had a look round toilet block make sure they where ok and wow (awesome as Sophie says) thought we had walked into the Hilton, these toilets are something else. In the kids ones they have tv’s above the sinks for them and when the showers go on they have noise of thunder with flashing lights (I got chucked out for being to big lol). The shower cubicle was large with 2 separate parts one the shower the other had wash hand basin mirror and seat with astroturf on the door, I don’t think im doing them justice so if doing Austria try this site.
Up bright and early next morning going to Innsbruck for the day, Sophie wants to go on facebook before we go so tell her she has till 10 am as bus at 10.37. So at 10.15 we walk down to main gate to get bus and Lorraine say is the bus not at 10.17 im sure that’s what you told me, well cant say what I said as jim might ban me from site lol but hey we’re on holiday and another bus comes in 2 hours so call a taxi instead came to 16 euros.
Innsbruck in a lovely city with loads to see and do we went up the cable car cost 65euro for the 3 of us but worth every cent as the views from 3000m up are awesome and that’s me saying it not Sophie. After we come down we have lunch in the old part of the city again I thought it was not overly priced at 36euro. Headed back to campsite on bus this time had a lazy night with couple of magners and even managed to get on to MH fun chat room. Next day was just a day for lounging by the lake.
Decide due to the heat we would take the toll road to Italy as it was 33degs. We paid 8euro in Austria and then 11 in Italy for our 6m motorhome been told we will have saved that in fuel from the non toll road. Really hot day and bad accident on other side involving caravan and lorry with a 10 mile tale back which also affected us due to people slowing down to look took us over an hour to pass accident.
We have now arrived in Lake Garda 2 days early so we decide to try a site in the north for 2 days before we go to ours in the south after 22 sites had no spaces we phoned our one and they had a space to here for 2 extra nights. First pitch we had had a terrible slope on it all seemed the same apart from that site looks nice. An English couple in mh next to us have been here 10days and told us it was 42 deg when we arrived, nearly had a heart attack as my magners was getting cold enough lol. During the first night we had a storm and as Sophie was out in tent I went to check on her and had to bring her in as it was lumps of ice coming out of the sky never seen anything like it before.
So far we are all really liking L/G went to Desenzano today for market and lunch catching bus from outside campsite. Site runs trip to Venice and Lorraine and Sophie are wanting to go but at 64euro each and me being a Scotsman no chance lol. Checked at station today and can get a return on train for 16euro each so trips back on so going on Friday having lazy day tomorrow and going to Gardaland Thursday then on sat we are hiring a speedboat for the day that should be fun.
Well hope ive not bored anyone and if interested will update again soon.
Gerry.
12th of July left Dumfries about 13.30 stopped of for diesel and gas bottle, double checked with everyone to make sure nothing was forgotten. After about 20 mile Lorraine says we have forgot Toby’s papers for the kennels, phoned kennels said they must have them or a fax of them so quick phone call to sort that out not bad 20 miles down the road and only fell out once. Arrived at kennels just outside penrith and a few tears from Lorraine and Sophie as we leave Toby for the first time in kennels ( I didn’t cry I’m a man). Nice drive down the road with not to bad traffic stop at little chef just outside hull for dinner and takes them 45 mins to serve us. All feeling full and refreshed head for ferry when we arrive at terminal at 19.45 it is mentioned how quiet it is, lady in check in told us we are last on and only kept gate open for another 5 mins that’s would have been second argument lol.
Got on ferry last so hopefully first off, went up to cabin everything seemed ok and we had a nice sailing. Got up and showered in plenty of time for departure but as we where on the fright Lorries) deck due to being last on we followed some lorry driver down the stairs only to find the door at the bottom wasn’t open so a few irate drivers started kicking and banging until someone unlocked it, but not to worry as no one could get off as we had parked sideways across the front of the lorries so a few more irate ones but who cares we’re on holiday lol.
In to Holland and this is where the fun starts Lorriane goes to put post code into sat nav to find it doesn’t have Germany in it only France and Holland, well id just downloaded the whole of Europe on to my Garmin but have now realised the memory card I took out must have some of the download on it. Driving through Holland it has all the major roads but no slip roads and tells me to turn southeast instead of right or left but who cares we have 6 days to get there.
Stopped in venlo for lunch parking by the river in the bus parking told this was ok cost 3euro for 1 hour and 1 euro an hour after this. Stopped at a restaurant for lunch and found it to be both reasonable and nice.(diesel only 1.12) Moved on after about and hour heading in the general direction of Stuggart stopped of at Bruhl or Brule we cant remember how its spelt 3rd argument lol. Stayed at a nice campsite with a lake ok for a stop over but wouldn’t spend more than a couple of night there.
Up early next morning heading for Stuggart to the Mercedes museum but due to really heavy traffic and road works on the A5 I think didn’t get near stuggart till after 2pm so kept going will do on way back. Got to Ulm for about 3.30pm parked at the stellplatz next to stadia (take Ulm sud exit and its sign posted) just a big car park but loads of other mh’s. Jumped on tram into Ulm had a walk round and a nice dinner, would recommend here for a stop over.
Next morning up and raring to go drove to Innsbruck with a few sight seeing stops along the way and for lunch, roasting hot day. Drove to Natters see camp site about 6km from city centre booked in for 2 nights. As always had a look round toilet block make sure they where ok and wow (awesome as Sophie says) thought we had walked into the Hilton, these toilets are something else. In the kids ones they have tv’s above the sinks for them and when the showers go on they have noise of thunder with flashing lights (I got chucked out for being to big lol). The shower cubicle was large with 2 separate parts one the shower the other had wash hand basin mirror and seat with astroturf on the door, I don’t think im doing them justice so if doing Austria try this site.
Up bright and early next morning going to Innsbruck for the day, Sophie wants to go on facebook before we go so tell her she has till 10 am as bus at 10.37. So at 10.15 we walk down to main gate to get bus and Lorraine say is the bus not at 10.17 im sure that’s what you told me, well cant say what I said as jim might ban me from site lol but hey we’re on holiday and another bus comes in 2 hours so call a taxi instead came to 16 euros.
Innsbruck in a lovely city with loads to see and do we went up the cable car cost 65euro for the 3 of us but worth every cent as the views from 3000m up are awesome and that’s me saying it not Sophie. After we come down we have lunch in the old part of the city again I thought it was not overly priced at 36euro. Headed back to campsite on bus this time had a lazy night with couple of magners and even managed to get on to MH fun chat room. Next day was just a day for lounging by the lake.
Decide due to the heat we would take the toll road to Italy as it was 33degs. We paid 8euro in Austria and then 11 in Italy for our 6m motorhome been told we will have saved that in fuel from the non toll road. Really hot day and bad accident on other side involving caravan and lorry with a 10 mile tale back which also affected us due to people slowing down to look took us over an hour to pass accident.
We have now arrived in Lake Garda 2 days early so we decide to try a site in the north for 2 days before we go to ours in the south after 22 sites had no spaces we phoned our one and they had a space to here for 2 extra nights. First pitch we had had a terrible slope on it all seemed the same apart from that site looks nice. An English couple in mh next to us have been here 10days and told us it was 42 deg when we arrived, nearly had a heart attack as my magners was getting cold enough lol. During the first night we had a storm and as Sophie was out in tent I went to check on her and had to bring her in as it was lumps of ice coming out of the sky never seen anything like it before.
So far we are all really liking L/G went to Desenzano today for market and lunch catching bus from outside campsite. Site runs trip to Venice and Lorraine and Sophie are wanting to go but at 64euro each and me being a Scotsman no chance lol. Checked at station today and can get a return on train for 16euro each so trips back on so going on Friday having lazy day tomorrow and going to Gardaland Thursday then on sat we are hiring a speedboat for the day that should be fun.
Well hope ive not bored anyone and if interested will update again soon.
Gerry.