Category: Travel reports

Sandbox games

3. January 2025
by Thomas Kaiser

>Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
(>Pictures at the bottom!)

….lower the tyre pressure and off we go
No sooner had we arrived at the foot of the Erg Chebbi – a large sand dune landscape east of Merzouga – than all sorts of ‘guides and advisors’ for desert adventures were standing next to the car. They all wanted to make us the ultimate offer; we really were spoilt for choice. But we left ourselves some time for our arrival day. Instead, we had to help a German traveller repair his caravan. A ‘guide’ led him out to the foot of the Erg Chebbi and after a crash half the inner floor was missing from the caravan and the ‘guide’ was nowhere to be found. Read More

It continues……

19. December 2024
by Thomas Kaiser

>Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
(>Pictures at the bottom!)

…a short trip around Almería and a dip into Moroccan life
Our express delivery with the required spare parts arrived almost on time at the campsite in Spain. The rear brake callipers were fitted that same afternoon and the brake system bled accordingly. After the further maintenance work, the work done of course had to be thoroughly tested. We still had time and the nearby sierras were perfect for testing the new brake calipers. Read More

On the road again

30. November 2024
by Thomas Kaiser

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(>Pictures at the bottom!)

…the long way to Morocco
The days were getting shorter, the nights longer and our desire to continue our journey south had increased almost immeasurably. After moving into our new shared flat in Dornach and making many adjustments to our camper van, i.e. the slimming programme (see also under ‘Technology’), we packed our bags. I would have liked to have done this or that, but Chantal was tired of waiting. Read More

The long way home

8. October 2024
by Thomas Kaiser

>Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
(>Pictures at the bottom!)

…via France – Belgium – Luxembourg – Germany to Switzerland
The melancholy on the ferry between Dover and Calais soon evaporated; we had a new goal and our second son was already waiting for us in Antwerp, Belgium. But this time we had miscalculated the distance quite a bit, and the ferry’s hour-long delay also meant that we couldn’t drive the planned route; evening came faster than we had imagined. Despite the time pressure, we tried to drive along the Belgian Riviera and experience the evening hustle and bustle in the many seaside resorts. We skipped the detour to Dutch territory later and took the faster route directly to Antwerp. Read More

On the road to whisky and Scottish kilts…

14. September 2024
by Thomas Kaiser

>Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
(>Pictures at the bottom!)

…and lots of rain, wind and cold temperatures
We owe our latest trip to Scotland to our eldest son, who was planning his wedding in the great outdoors on the Isle of Skye. But as Goethe once said: the journey is the destination! We followed this guiding principle to the letter and first explored the north-eastern counties of the English Empire, where there was already plenty to discover. Read More

Final sprint…

30. June 2024
by Thomas Kaiser

>Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
(>Pictures at the bottom!)

….to Halifax
A long time ago, the province of New Brunswick was the retreat of the noble society of the North American east coast. Those days are long gone and the well-heeled classes have already found new areas for themselves. What remains are marvellous places that are now real gems and attract many visitors. We were also impressed by the once marvellous small towns along the coast, where the upper classes used to be at each other’s doorsteps. Read More

Back in Canada

20. June 2024
by Thomas Kaiser

>Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
(>Pictures at the bottom!)

….and return to the USA
Coming from the USA, entering the great northern country was a piece of cake. The customs officer did ask a few critical questions, but in the end we had a nice chat about our previous journey. With a few tips about Canada, he soon wished us a safe and eventful journey. We probably look really trustworthy! 🙂 Read More

USA – across

27. May 2024
by Thomas Kaiser

>Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
(>Pictures at the bottom!)

From New Mexico northwards through the Great Plains to Detroit

New Mexico: In Alamogordo I received a somewhat devastating doctor’s note, and with a limp we set off northwards. But before we travelled to the vast plains east of the Rocky Mountains, which you should experience at least once in your life, we really wanted to experience some of the indigenous culture of the past. So we drove back into the mountainous hinterland, where the earth played with the elements and created a unique landscape before human settlement. The fires have calmed down in the meantime, but the many craters still bear witness to a fiery past. Where the rock once glowed, you can now descend into the lava caverns and marvel at frozen water. Read More

Worst case

19. April 2024
by Thomas Kaiser

>Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
(>Pictures at the bottom!)

Arizona and New Mexico; back in the USA
We were welcomed into the USA in damp conditions, but we felt a little safer after the paramilitaries on the other side of the border fence had given us directions; rain or no rain. From Organ Pipe Cactus N.M., we were accompanied by low-hanging clouds and lots of raindrops in a northerly direction. This time we followed the well-maintained state roads, as we wanted to visit a Jeep workshop in Tucson. My trusted car mechanic in the Allgäu (Allrad Pauli) recommended replacing the rear wheel bearings, as the many illuminated indicator lights signalled some kind of disaster. So, don’t take any chances! Read More

Baja California Norte

9. April 2024
by Thomas Kaiser

>Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
(>Pictures at the bottom!)

….our final spurt back to the USA
After the impressive drive out into the lagoon of Guerrero Negro and a relaxing night in the sand dunes of Soledad, we continued our journey northwards. Our idea was to reach the southern border of the USA in a week at the latest. But we wanted to, because things usually turn out differently than planned 😉 Read More