11th September 2009

Paul complained about the internet this morning as sure enough, the time was running out all night so we didn't even get 2 hours access let alone 24.  They gave us our money back. I can't believe we're the only ones that complain, so why do they charge in this way?

We’re moving on to Austria now but before we enter Austria we have to find someone who issues these ‘Go-Boxes’ which is how they charge for tolls in Austria for vehicles over 3.5 tons.  They’re supposed to be available in all fuel stops on the highway but the first one we stopped at didn't sell them, the second did sell them but their system was down so they couldn't issue them and then we finally found a huge service area that did them.

They told us that they would charge €80 for the unit and Paul nearly choked.  He said but we only want to go through Austria to Switzerland and that's about 160 kilometres (Probably about €20 in tolls) but the man said sorry that's the minimum amount you can load on the unit.  We asked what do you do when you leave Austria and want to get the unused part back.  He said you can stop at any service station and they will credit you back the money.  It all sounded a bit chancy to me so we said we'll think about it and drove to the next service station!

Paul was getting a bit worried as we were already in Austria and we could end up being fined if we were stopped for not having paid the tolls.  This place also didn't sell them but a young guy at the petrol pumps said that the next one along the road did and he very helpfully drove ahead of us and asked the people to give us a unit.  They also said ‘minimum amount €80’ and we almost blew up.  We thanked the young guy and had to pay the money and take the unit, we didn't have any other choice.  Finally, after having paid the money the garage had a power failure and the computer system wouldn't work so he had to give Paul the money back and we drove to the next service area where finally, they gave us the bloody Go-Box, ironic name really, it should be, Stop-Box.  What a palaver.

I think my impression of Austria is already diminishing by the minute although I have to say the countryside is beautiful, mountains and castles all along the highway.

Entering Austria

Austrian Schloss

Camping Seehof at Kramsach Austria

We finally arrived at Camping Seehof near Kramsach around 6pm and we had a really nice welcome.  The campsite owner came out to meet our van and shook hands with Paul and then showed us where to pitch.  This was right beside a pretty Tyrolean house where the showers are located.  Everything is very clean and tidy, just like German campsites.

Paul tried to get a TV signal but could only get German and Italian TV down here which was a shame.  We’d bought internet access, but couldn’t get anything either, so all in all, not a great evening. We had something to eat and then went to bed and read for a while.  It seemed to rain all night and only stopped in the morning. 

10th September 2009

The weather is on the turn so we think we'll leave today and press on towards Austria.  Paul really wants me to see some mountains but I'm not that keen if it means going on little roads with massive drops at the side.  He's told me we'll be going on motorways and we will have to buy a special tag to fix in the front of the van which clocks our mileage and charges us the toll.  Not sure how this all works!

We found a Real supermarket so stopped for provisions and bought a couple of rolls for lunch.  We then drove to a campsite near Fussen.  On the way we saw the wonderful castle Hohenschwangau and took some pictures.

Schloss Hohenschwangau in Bavaria

The campsite is the Via Claudia and overlooks a pretty lake and had a few swarms of midges which worried me.  However, the showers and toilets were, as usual, in very good condition so we decided to stop at least for one night.

Camping Via Claudia

We paid €5 for a 24 hour internet access card but we are suspicious that the 24 hours runs from the moment you log in and continues even if you're not using it.  It's such a con this internet access business, but not as much as in France.


We couldn't watch TV as Paul couldn't get a satellite signal, I fear we are too far south now and won't be able to get a signal anymore with the size of dish we have.

9th September 2009

Another hot day, we can't believe how lucky we are with the weather for September.  I sat in the van and did some editing and after a while I went and sat outside with Paul.  It's almost too hot now, I've had to put a sun hat on and some sun block on my nose and chin.  I'll do sandwiches again for lunch although we are sitting here munching pretzels we bought yesterday.  I'll go back inside in a while and play AC or we might walk up to reception and check emails again.  It's so nice not doing very much and enjoying the good weather although I do get a bit bored and restless after a while doing nothing.  It's a good job I have my laptop and my card making stuff.

I finished reading a book yesterday, ‘Twenties Girl’ by Sophie Kinsella.  It was really good and goes to my favourite books list at number three I think.

8th September 2009

Because we’re staying here, we needed some food and things so we disconnected cables from the van and after asking an elderly German couple behind us if they would guard our cables and satellite dish etc, we drove to a nearby Aldi.  The German couple were very puzzled at our attitude about looking after things, they said, ‘nobody will try and take anything from your pitch so don't worry, it's not like that here in Germany.’  We managed to get most of what we wanted except for water where they only had the little bottles and again and you had to pay a deposit on the bottles.

We got back to the van and cooked ourselves hamburgers and then sat out in the sun all afternoon.  We had sandwiches for our dinner and then watched Eastenders and Holby on TV.

7th September 2009

We're going to stay here for a while as it's a nice campsite and the weather is good, the showers are great and they have internet.  We walked up to reception to use the WiFi and collected our email and after some lunch we sat outside.  I made some cards and Paul read.  I heard the noise of an engine in the sky and when I looked up there was an airship floating along.  Paul said it was a Zeppelin and had come from their factory on the lake at Friedrichshafen.  I was fascinated as I've never seen an airship before.  Apparently you can go up on a flight, but looking at the little passenger compartment underneath, there’s no way you’d get me in that!

Zeppelin airship near Salem

Later, in the evening we got ready and walked up to the restaurant where we met some other English people and we all sat together on a large table and had dinner.  I had a Pork Schnitzel with chips and Paul had the same but with noodles. It took a long time to arrive as I think the woman on reception is also the cook.  But although I didn't like it much, Paul said it was very good.  We were invited back to one of the other couple's caravan for coffee, but we declined, and got back to our van a little tipsy after a good few glasses of wine.

6th September 2009

We got up and ate our breakfast outside and then walked up to the reception area where there’s free Wifi. On the way we spotted a free pitch so we shot back to the van, packed up and took it up to the new pitch.  It was much better there and we were within easy walking distance of the showers and reception, and away from the dog walk path too!

We checked emails and did some other computer stuff.

We went back to the van and I vacuumed inside, Paul tried to set up the satellite dish but we were now a long way south and the signal was interrupted by trees on the hillside.  Paul said it's a good thing we bought the signal meter as it's a bit more precise and easier to set up.  He finally managed to get a reasonable signal, so at least we could watch TV.

It was very hot today so we sat outside although I needed to be careful I didn’t burn.  The showers were great, the best we've had so far, so we had a lovely long shower.  The first I've had for three days and I think it's four days for Paul, ugh smelly tramps ha ha!

Just managed to get a satellite signal

5th September 2009

We just want to find somewhere we can stay for a few days and we're not having much luck so far.  Paul has seen an ACSI site near Lake Titisee so we are packing up this morning and heading there.  Thank God the rain stopped so the van is not bogged down in the mud.  We did have spinning wheels for a bit, but sensibly, Paul had parked facing down hill so we got out okay.

We stopped on the way at a supermarket and bought some bits and pieces including some bottled water.  When we got outside I checked the receipt to find we had been charged an extra €1.50 for something so I went back in and the cashier told us that it's a deposit for the bottled water.  I've never heard of being charged a deposit before so I asked for our money back and returned the water.  The lady cashier showed as a large five litre bottle of water, which we bought instead, no deposit!

We drove into Titisee which is very pretty and is obviously a very popular holiday area.  There were a number of campsites around the lake but none of them seemed very nice.  Probably a case of the resort is the draw so the campsites don't need to do much to attract customers. We noticed a nice looking campsite on the other side of the lake, and tried to drive round to it.  It was impossible, we just kept getting lost, so in the end we gave up and drove to another ACSI site Paul had seen in the guide but was was quite a drive away.

Gern-Campinghof Salem

We arrived at Gern-Campinghof Salem, which is very close to Lake Konstanz.  Across the lake is Switzerland.  The site looked good, there was a restaurant and bar at reception but the only problem was that the only pitches they had left were right at the far end of the site, miles from anything and it was next to the dog-walking path, so we had people and their dogs walking past us all the time.  Hopefully, after the weekend people would leave and then we could find a better pitch, so all was not lost.  The weather was good, sunny and hot so we decided we’d try and stay for as long as the weather held.

We met a nice English couple opposite who had a Spanish registered Hymer Motorhome as they live in Spain.  We shared a bottle of wine with them and soaked up what was left of the sun.  Then we both went and had showers, they were great.