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From Calais via Munich to Dornach
The welcome in France was somewhat more pleasant than the many rainy days on the island. The sun was shining and the temperatures were considerably higher. However, the first clouds were gathering in the west, and soon moisture was falling from above on the European mainland too. We wondered whether the bad weather would follow us.
But the next day it was bright blue and summery warm again; almost too warm. After the last few weeks, we enjoyed the warmth and it was like a trip to the south to the sea. We enjoyed our return journey through the south-western foothills of the Ardennes, where many graveyards reminded us of the atrocities of the last century. It’s crazy what humanity has done and continues to do for some leader who thinks he knows better.
Apart from a few large cities we drove through, we couldn’t miss Reims. Despite the many offers in the surrounding area and in the city itself, we decided to skip the champagne tasting, even though it was very tempting. The police were omnipresent in the streets and we didn’t feel like blowing into the ‘tube’ (breathalyser).
Very high temperatures were forecast for the coming weekend; for us, it suddenly felt more than just warm. A very warm air mass was hanging over Europe and you immediately had the feeling that the world would melt in the next few days. But at the Étang de la Chaussée, we had to hurry to put up our rain cover; a heavy thunderstorm brought a lot of rain and it cooled down so much that we had to wrap ourselves in warm blankets again at night.
It was only a short distance to Metz and the German border, and I (Tom) already had a new wish, as it fitted in perfectly with our itinerary and the timing. So I persuaded Chantal to visit the trade fair for long-distance travel and four-wheel drive vehicles in Bad Kissingen and get some inspiration. To my surprise, Chantal was soon enthusiastic about this new plan, and the accompanying camp turned out to offer even more than the trade fair itself.
It was certainly a great experience for us; in addition to the mega camp, where thousands of off-roaders and globetrotters set up camp, the exhibition was also very informative. Everything that is available for travellers and their vehicles worldwide could be seen at this trade fair, and it was amazing to see that even the vehicles are getting bigger and bigger. Despite the sheer abundance of roof tents and special equipment for smaller and larger vehicles, the extreme trend towards superlatives was unmistakable; today, you need at least a three-axle or even a four-axle vehicle with 550 hp for a trip around the world. Crazy world!
Personally, I (Tom) was almost more impressed by the camp than by the many equipment suppliers. People had travelled from almost all over Europe with their travel vehicles, and some great ideas had been realised, mainly in the area of self-conversion. If you had any questions, there was of course plenty of advice on offer and suggestions on how things could be improved. In addition to the many great vehicles that I or we considered to be proper travel vehicles, there were of course also mega trucks on the fields that had probably never been properly driven in mud. Somehow understandable; who would put their million-pound vehicle in the swamp and wallow through the mud until there was no trace of the beautiful paintwork left?
In the evening, the special thing about these camps is that you sit with someone and chat through half the night. We also sat late into the night with our neighbours, drinking wine and talking about cars. To our surprise, we met a couple travelling from South America; the following night was also extremely short.
From Bad Kissingen, we drove to Munich for the coming weekend, where we were already expected. There, too, we were greeted with a friendly hello and a warm welcome. At the same time, I (Tom) committed myself to installing a sunshade on the balcony. What I didn’t take into account, however, was that such sunshades cannot be bought immediately in any DIY store, but have to be ordered in advance. But a promise is a promise, and I wanted to keep my word.
So we took an extra trip to the Bavarian Oberland and nearby Tyrol. We were lucky with the weather again on this alpine tour, and a trip to the Zugspitze initially appealed to us immensely. However, the desire quickly evaporated when we saw the price of the train ride to the highest mountain peak in Germany. Instead, we enjoyed a few wonderful Alpine passes and a visit to our Jeep workshop in the Allgäu region before heading back to Munich. In the meantime, the parts we needed for the awning had arrived and were soon attached to the ceiling. Wow, I could go on the road as a shade awning fitter (Tom). 🙂
Our days in Munich were numbered and time was pressing for our next plans. Heading west, we made our way to the Black Forest and through it to our base in Dornach.
In about four weeks, we will embark on our next big leap to distant Oceania, and we still have a lot to do before then. There’s certainly no chance of boredom setting in. 🙂
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