Aussie finished touring UK and Europe - thanks uk.rec.caravanning

Back in January (I think) I posted 2 threads: one asking for info
concerning free camping, and the other asking if anyone wanted to hire
their UK van to us. Well, we didn't get any responses to hiring, so
we hired a car in the UK and stayed at Travelodges, Travel Inns, 3
pubs and a 5-star hotel in Edinburgh. The pubs were the best, and we
met some lovely locals in them.

We hired a motorhome in Italy for the 5 weeks, and they gave us a book
listing all camping areas in Europe, which proved handy, as long we
could decipher Italian into our GPS. As far as free camping in Europe,
we had no problems expect in Italy - they insist on tooting their
horns as they pass to wake you up at all hours (feelings censored).
In Italy we stayed mostly at camper parking areas, or on the side of
the road, but for 2 nights near the end we camped on a beach. One
night, north of Venice we made the mistake of staying in a freeway
service area, and got no sleep at all. In France we travelled mostly
off the freeways, so only stayed in 2 aires. Otherwise we stayed in
little town squares (every town has a bloody church bell), in laybys,
or in Avignon in a large shopping carpark where the security guard
parked near us to look after us (really nice guy, didn't speak a word
of English). In Paris we parked in a local train station carpark. In
Switzerland we stayed in a camper area in Nuechatel and beside lakes
on the side of the road in other areas. In Germany it was in side
streets of towns. In Austria it was in laybys.

We had no hassles at all while camping. We did find it awkward
finding dump points/camper areas, without an English directory, but
the GPS usually accepted our attempts to enter the street names.

Observtaions (not whinges): Italians are lunatics on the road (my 13
yo son said he understood the Italian traffic light system: green=go,
orange=go faster, red=drive on footpath). The French aren't much
better. English park anywhere, regardless of road restrictions ... so
do the French. German autobahns have compulsory roadworks every 50
kms

The friendliest people were (don't take offense, it's our personal
observations on our holiday): The English, especially in the pubs
whether staying the night or just having a meal and pint. Very
helpful and colurful. Next were the French - we only had to stand at
a train station looking confused and someone would ask if we needed
help. The least friendly were the Italians - even if we tried to speak
Italian, if we could not underdstand them they would raise their eyes,
mutter and walk off - and that's when we're trying to buy something
from them.

What we liked the most in Europe: The Swiss and Austrian Alps,
including Hochalpenstrasse and standing at the foot of the Eiger and
looking up (wow); French countryside - Monet paintings in real life;
Rhine between Mainz and Koblenz - Bacharach was amazing; Venice (the
wife got all romatic, ugh).

What we liked most in the UK: Everything, really. You people take it
for granted, I'm sure, but we were agog at the Dartmoor moors (drizzle
and fog, loved it); Scotish highlands (deer, windy, bleak, lovely -
I'm sure I saw Mel Gibson running thru a paddock); Hadrian's wall -
yeah ok, so we only have 200 yo "English" history down under, rub it
in); Cotswolds - you've got to love names like Lower Slaughter and
Tiddlywink; Lakes District, with low flying fighter jets scaring the
crap out of me one day (holy ^%%$); Wales and the canal areas around
Llangollen; dozens of castles via our Heritage Pass (bloody
brilliant); tiny country lanes with side hedges (drove our GPS crazy)
and "public footpaths" everywhere. Just fantastic.

Thanks to those people that offered some great advice. Really
appreciated. See you again in a few years, promise!

Badger / Gerard

.

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