A van named Frank

April - October 2021

“ Road tripping with our campervan Frank, from Zurich, Switzerland to Esposende, Portugal! Later up to Bilbao and over on the Ferry to Ireland! Returning on a ferry to France and slowly back to Switzerland. Let’s see how it plays out.

Follow this trip

A van named Frank
- Apr 12, 2021 · ☀️ 0 °C Altitude: 667 m
  Switzerland Zurich Hittnau Loch Luppmenweiher 47.363403, 8.83118347°21’48” N 8°49’52” E
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
Day 1
Ciao ciao, Hittnau
April 12, 2021 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 0 °C
2
We decided, despite the fresh snow (again!) and the comforts of a warm house it was best to get going! So we left behind the snow of oberland Züri and headed west to Lauterbrunnen.

Right music for the right weather 😉 we’ll probably play jingle bells on arrival to Portugal 😎Read more
Manu Chao!!! [Virginia Daroca]
4/14/21Reply
Traveler Wooo yes V!!! Great roadtrippin music 👏🏻🚌
4/18/21Reply
Traveler ❤️
4/15/21Reply
4 likes
A van named Frank
- Apr 13, 2021 · ⛅ -2 °C Altitude: 793 m
  Switzerland Bern Lauterbrunnen Staubbachfall 46.589002, 7.91085346°35’20” N 7°54’39” E
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
Day 2
Lauterbrunnen life
April 13, 2021 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ -2 °C
Doing some final prep before we drive to the border tomorrow!

Final prep also included a few games of pool at our friends hostel and helping him assemble a trampoline. Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity ?! 😉Read more
Traveler Did you remember a few skills from your trampolining club days Molly?? 🙌🏻
4/15/21Reply
Traveler Hahaha I keep dreaming of whipping out a crash dive... but just a simple bounce is all I can manage hahaha
4/18/21Reply
4 likes
A van named Frank
- Apr 14, 2021, 7:42pm · ⛅ 1 °C Altitude: 1,069 m
  France Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Grande-Rivière 46.52626, 5.9371846°31’35” N 5°56’14” E
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
Day 3
Vive la France 🇨🇵
April 14, 2021 in France ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C
We made it across the border to France!!
and we found Frank (our trusty steed) a lovely spot to park up for the night, nestled in by an old quarry
Nothing to hear but silence and the occassional gust of wind. Blue skies dappled with clouds slowly fading with the setting sun...and did a rabbit just hop by?

The taste for adventure is strong, but this evening we settled on a pot of pasta and zucchini sauce..👩‍🍳

Here's to our 1st night in the camper in a new country!🚐Read more
Save trip and enjoy the adventure! 🦋🐊🦉 [Simone Mara Vontobel]
4/14/21Reply
Traveler Thanks lovely Simi 🌸☺️
4/18/21Reply
Traveler super 🙌❤️
4/15/21Reply
Traveler Looking forward to seeing you guys in Portugal!! 💚
4/18/21Reply
4 more comments
2 likes
A van named Frank
- Apr 15, 2021, 5:46pm · ⛅ 9 °C Altitude: 475 m
  France Nouvelle-Aquitaine Ajain 46.20195, 1.9941146°12’7” N 1°59’39” E
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
Day 4
French highways and byways
April 15, 2021 in France ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Now I know its probably the corona talking but havent we all been hearing way more birds sing-songing and chit-chatting then before,? This morning, holding a hot cuppa coffee we were treated to a private concert of the dawn chorus! And what a tweet it was!

The frosted ground crunched beneath our feet as the sun slowly warmed up, and we packed up and drove onwards...and there the rabbit appeared again hopping across our path.

The day was spent driving across France,
with many a second glance,
over rivers, towns big and small,
Château-d"this&that", petit lacs they have it all.
picnic stops, fields with rocks,
And now a würst-kase-salat, and a disc or two to throw.Read more
Traveler https://www.irishlegal.com/article/and-finally-…
4/15/21Reply
Traveler Brexit escapee following you
4/15/21Reply
Traveler Hahaha! He’s a big fella, wouldn’t miss it hopping across the path...
4/18/21Reply
5 more comments
1 like
A van named Frank
- Apr 16, 2021, 12:29pm · ☀️ 10 °C Altitude: 98 m
  France Nouvelle-Aquitaine Ronsenac 45.474979, 0.2489345°28’30” N 0°14’56” E
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
Day 5
The rusty blackbird
April 16, 2021 in France ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
We headed further south west, destination “le Merle roux” - to the beautiful home / bnb of a friend of the family. Here we were welcomed with a glass of wine under the sun (but sheltering from the wind) overlooking the fields of green, brown and the golden yellow rape (with its ever changing yellow-shades under the passing clouds). We will hang on here a bit, in this idyllic home and garden, lending some hands and muscles to setting up their permaculture garden....and enjoy the homemade tarte-tatin 🤤 and all those other delicious foods - finally!! The air is fresh, the frogs are croaking in the creek below, and a new flock of birds with song surrounds us, and spring is springing all around 🌸🌼
Today we eat and rest and breath it all in, the sights and sounds.... Tomorrow we have our Hay-Day....Read more
Traveler Lovely fields of spring rape !
4/19/21Reply
Traveler Just beautiful. Had me thinking of you Deda!
4/19/21Reply
2 likes
A van named Frank
- Apr 17, 2021, 12:27pm · ⛅ 10 °C Altitude: 115 m
  France Nouvelle-Aquitaine Ronsenac 45.473518, 0.2491345°28’25” N 0°14’57” E
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
Day 6
This is our Hay day
April 17, 2021 in France ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
So today we said we were at the disposal of le Merle roux, two able bodied 30-somethings, ready to do some work! Little did we know what it would take to move 5 x 300kg of hay bales from A to B...that’s about half a Frank-campervan, we’re talking 1.5 ton, that’s a lot of hay (already starting to decompose...so prob heavier in reality?!)

What ensued as a result of tired arms, loads of fresh air and a solid work routine was some ideas for our permaculture rap....which rolled off the tongue...like hay from each wheelbarrow load...

Three tons are too heavy
So take it slow and steady
Because the hays okay
With some days delay
Peel and shove it,
whether dry or in decay
Feel and love it,
just make sure its done before May.

*drops fork.

Fin.Read more
Traveler 💪🏽🐈or rather💪🏽🐅😉
4/18/21Reply
Traveler Schwerstarbeit: Chapeau!
4/18/21Reply
Traveler Silage or hay ?
4/19/21Reply
Traveler it was actually straw, but straw day didn't sound that good :-)
4/19/21Reply
7 likes
A van named Frank
- Apr 18, 2021, 7:29am · ☀️ 2 °C Altitude: 115 m
  France Nouvelle-Aquitaine Ronsenac 45.473553, 0.2492745°28’25” N 0°14’57” E
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
Day 7
Up with the sun
April 18, 2021 in France ⋅ ☀️ 2 °C
It’s rather beautiful, with sleepy heads, to wake up to a blood orange sun rise.
Somehow gives our tired muscles the energy to peal and roll and toss more hay for a day!

Another 1.5 tons later and it’s time to rest in the afternoon sun.

And at the end of the day we could take a dip/wash our clothes off in the river creek at the end of the garden.Read more
1 like
A van named Frank
- Apr 19, 2021, 6:11pm · ⛅ 19 °C Altitude: 113 m
  France Nouvelle-Aquitaine Ronsenac 45.47347, 0.2492645°28’24” N 0°14’57” E
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
Day 8
Brb...PCR & BBQ
April 19, 2021 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
We took our PCR test today so we can cross into Spain in the coming 72hours....awaiting the results our lovely host Ingrid decided to stoke up and smoke up the BBQ and we could enjoy the day and evening dining and chatting al fresco. The breeze even felt a tad warmer than previous days. Summer is on the in.
We’re going to miss this charming home and our unexpected (and wonderfully fortuitous) time here 🌸🏰🌼🌾Read more
0 likes
A van named Frank
- Apr 20, 2021 · ☁️ 15 °C Altitude: 111 m
  France Nouvelle-Aquitaine Ronsenac 45.473557, 0.24934745°28’25” N 0°14’58” E
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
Day 9
All clear
April 20, 2021 in France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Phew, we’re negative! Have our paperwork and 72hours to cross into Spain...should be grand.

We’re gonna spend a last day in this slice of heaven before hitting the road tomorrow morning...

Hard to leave such a charming place, the colourful landscape, the sunrises and yummy meals and our lovely host and her two cats...😻😺

But we already know we will be back again to see the garden in full bloom🌸Read more
1 like
A van named Frank
- Apr 21, 2021, 12:00pm · ⛅ 15 °C Altitude: 81 m
  France Nouvelle-Aquitaine Gironde Dunes du Pilat 44.59565, -1.2090544°35’44” N 1°12’33” W
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
Day 10
Dune du Pilat
April 21, 2021 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
1
So, trivia time.... where is highest sand dune in Europe?

Well, its here. In France. And well, it’s rather brilliant. Lovely sand altogether. And a fine pile of it. Soft on the toes. And a bluetiful view out to sea sea sea. 🌊 they even built a staircase so you can walk up easy. And descending such a steep slope was great craic and over far too quick compared with the ascent...

And how good is it to see the sea?? It has been far far too long between trips!

Oh that Atlantic breeze feels goooood!!Read more
oh, ihr Lieben: das Meer! Mit hoffentlich einem angenehmen Uebernachtungsort. Geniesst und gut Reise. Molly, deine Berichte sind so wunderbar poetisch! Chuss. E. [Elsbeth]
4/21/21Reply
Traveler Wow some view!!
4/22/21Reply
Traveler we’ve been there too!!
4/27/21Reply
Traveler I never knew it existed until that day... wow. Fab!!
4/27/21Reply
Our fav place!!!! 😍❤️ [Romy]
5/11/21Reply
5 likes