Retirement Plan - Part 2

kesäkuuta 2017 - heinäkuuta 2025
  • Time For A Road Trip
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  • Jura mountains, France

    28. heinäkuuta 2019, Ranska ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    Decisions, decisions.... With a rendezvous planned in southern Switzerland with friends in 5 days time, we needed to decide whether to enter Switzerland from the north directly from Germany or to go into France and enter in the south via Lake Geneva. We chose to go via France and are so pleased that we did.

    Our destination was the municipal campsite at Vuillafans where we were welcomed by Béatrice, the manager, who had lived in the UK for 25 years and was very happy to have some English guests. The site was located directly on the river Loue, which cut a deep gorge through the valley, with pretty French cottages over-hanging the river where local fishermen were fly fishing for trout.

    During our time there we followed one of the many hiking and walking trails through the woods and along the river, as well as exploring the nearby villages and viewed the deep gorge from high on the motorbike.

    The area is famous for its cheeses and, whilst we didn't have the opportunity to visit a local fromagerie to see how it was made on this occasion, we were able to buy some Tomme, a nutty, semi-hard cheese, and Morbier, a semi-soft cheese with a black vein through its middle. Both were delicious. We shall definitely be coming back.
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  • Cité de l'Automobile - Mulhouse

    24. heinäkuuta 2019, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Just over the border into France, an hour from our base in the Black Forest, was a special car museum that Chris had been keen to visit for some time.

    The Cité de l'Automobile is a striking glass and steel building that is home to over 400 rare and classic vehicles. The origins of the collection goes back to when local wool merchants, the brothers Schlumpf, developed a passion for Bugatti cars. Over many years, this passion became a compulsive obsession, which resulted in the largest collection of classic Bugatti cars, under one roof, in the world. An extraordinary feature of this collection was that it was, despite its size, unknown outside of the family and the full-time mechanics and craftsmen that were employed to maintain and restore all the cars to full running order. It was only after their huge business collapsed in the 1970's, and they fled to Switzerland, that the collection was discovered to the amazement of car enthusiasts worldwide. The collection is now open to the public and has been expanded to include some of the earliest 'cars' dating from 1885 through to the latest Bugatti hypercar.

    We spent all day there listening to our audioguide as we wandered around but it wasn't long enough to take it all in and so we shall have to come back another time.
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  • St. Peter village
    St. Peter monasteryBlack Forest gateauGermany's highest waterfall in TribergBlackwood MaryA proper sized hip flaskThatched dwellingFreiburg centreFreiburg cathedralFreiburg market square building

    The Black Forest

    18. heinäkuuta 2019, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    We all know that the Black Forest is famous for its gateau, cuckoo clocks, thick woodlands, grassy meadows, timber farmhouses and waterfalls. We wanted to see if it is true.

    The area is 160km from top to bottom, and the village of St. Peter, in particular Camping Steingrubenhof, in the south, was our base for some exploring.

    A trip to Triberg ticked off many items on our checklist in one go. The journey there, on sweeping, curving roads, gave us a great introduction to the fantastic scenery for which the area is famous with rolling meadows and lush forest all around. Once in Triberg we visited Germany's highest waterfalls which drop a total of 163m and used the occasion to try out one of the special features on the phone camera to get a romantic photo of the waterfall in action. As a busy tourist destination, there were plenty of shops selling cuckoo clocks but we managed to resist. That wasn't the case however at Café Shäfer, where the original 1915 recipe for Black Forest gateau is still used today. Chocolate sponge cake, layered with cherries, brandy and lots of cream slipped down a treat and got the thumbs up from us both.

    Our visit coincided with the St. Peter Summer Concert where we were treated firstly to orchestral music from the local group of approx. 50 musicians, playing from a repertoire of both classical and modern tunes and then local rock band, Blackwood Mary, who kept us all entertained for 3 hours with their excellent performance of rock and country rock covers. All this together with local wine, beer and food made for a great Saturday night out.

    Nearby Freiburg is a large, sunny, university town with thousands of students whizzing abouts on bicycles trying to avoid the traffic and trams. It is also renowned for its annual 2000 hours of sunshine, which we experienced in temperatures above 30°C! The medieval old town is full of gabled townhouses, cobblestone streets and canal-side cafés. The impressive 11th-century cathedral with its filigree 116m-high spire and numerous gargoyles is located in the market square and surrounded by elegant houses and shops showcasing the towns rich history. We could have spent longer wandering around but the high temperatures and tourists decided us to return back up the hill to our campsite where a cooling breeze was very welcome.

    Our trip only explored the southern part of the area but what we have seen has made us want to return to see more.
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  • View above Bacherach
    Ferry across the RhineBacherach centreReisling grapesToll gate castle in the middle of the Rhine

    Rhine Valley

    12. heinäkuuta 2019, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    With some stormy weather forecast, we decided to head over to Camping Sonnenstrand on the outskirts of pretty Bacherach, on the banks of the Rhine River, to sit it out.

    This area of the Rhine cuts through deep slate mountains, which are covered in rows and rows of vines. In 2002, UNESCO designated this 65km stretch of river as a World Heritage Site. Pretty villages of half-timbered houses are at every bend and medieval castles, most of which were built by local baron robbers who extorted tolls from merchant ships by blocking their passage with iron chains, perch high above.

    Tiny Bacherach is described as one of the prettiest villages and the description fits perfectly. A short walk along the riverbank and then through one of the thick arched gateways and we were inside the medieval half-timbered old town, which is surrounded by a 14th-century wall. From the castle above, which is now a youth hostel, the views of the town and vineyards below, sitting alongside the river, were magnificent, even through the sky had turned grey.

    From our pitch, we could see for ourselves how busy the river is. Everything from rowing boats, to sailing boats, to river cruises and ferries and even enormous barges moving goods and containers up and down were using the river continuously. We were told that due to the direction and strength of the current that it takes 3 days for a barge to get from Rotterdam in Holland to Basel in Switzerland but only 1 1/2 days back. We could see this for ourselves when traffic suddenly seemed to stop dead on the water and then had to push hard with the engines to get going again. It kept us occupied while the stormy weather passed through.

    A bike journey took us along the west bank, through the villages, up to Koblenz after which we got a bit lost before we found our route down the east bank on the opposite side. Unlike the Mosel which has plenty of bridges crossing the river, the Rhine has many less and car ferries are used frequently to get across. We used one ourselves on our journey back to the campsite. It was all very efficient, just like the local trains which we also used to get back having walked to the next village 4 miles away.

    Luckily for us, the Dutch campsite owners were Formula One fans and so the four of us sat and watched the British GP and saw Lewis Hamilton make history becoming the most successful British driver ever by winning six British Grand Prix.

    Although surrounded by vines, we didn't manage to taste a lot as we were often out and about on the bike. A good reason to return.
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  • Statue of Karl Marx
    Port NigraTrier Dom - cathedralRoman bridge

    Trier, Germany's oldest city

    10. heinäkuuta 2019, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Germany's oldest city, Trier, is home to 9 UNESCO World Heritage sites and has the country's finest collection of Roman monuments. Luckily for us, it was just 15 minutes away from where we were based!

    The Porta Nigra is Trier's most famous landmark, a 2nd century Roman city gate, blackened by time hence the name, Latin for 'black gate'. It is held together by nothing but gravity and iron clamps, but it's still standing.

    Trier is also the birthplace of Karl Marx. The early 18th century house in which he was born is now a museum housing exhibits covering his life, work, allies and enemies. There is also a grand statue commemorating the citys famous citizen.

    At the pedestrian centre was the Hauptmarkt, where you will find small market stalls trading there even today. Medieval and Renaissance buildings surround the square with a 1595 fountain dedicated to St. Peter.

    The Mosel drew us yet again as we walked across Germany's oldest bridge, just like legionnaires on chariots before us. The roman bridge uses 2nd century stone pilings from black basalt from the nearby Eifel mountains.

    The Barbara Baths, name after a former monastery on the site, were built in the 2nd century. The information panels were excellent and gave us a good insight into what these Roman baths would have looked like when they were being used.

    The Romans were certainly very industrious here in the 2nd century and we were very grateful for their efforts that have stood the test of time and are well worth the visit.
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  • Triolago motorhome park
    Vines on the hillsideLong barges moving goods around

    Mosel Valley, Germany

    8. heinäkuuta 2019, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    The Mosel River runs from France, through Luxembourg and then winds its way 195km from Trier to Koblenz in Germany. Our stay at the Triolago motorhome park, just 15 minutes from Trier, proved to be a good choice for visiting the 'mittelmosel/middle mosel' area and sampling the famous white wines.

    The river is a working river with long barges moving goods and people around. The barges are so long and narrow that it seems impossible for them to manouvre but they manage it with ease. We sat and watched the boats while sampling some of the local white wines at a Weingut (wine tasting) bar on the waters edge.

    A trip on the bike to the pretty town of Bernkastel-Kues took us along the edge of the river, surrounded by steep hillsides covered in vines, and through small, rural villages, all very tidy and well kept. Bernkastel itself, on the eastern bank, was a feast for the eyes with half-timber, stone and slate buildings at every turn along the cobbled streets. In the market square there still exists the iron handcuffs, to which criminals were attached, on the exterior of the Town Hall dating from 1608. The bridge across the Mosel brings you to Kues and the historic St Nikolaus Hospital complex where you can taste from a list of over 160 local wines in the Vinothek. Unfortunately, as we were on the bike, all we could was admire the bottles!
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  • Luxembourg old city
    Grand Ducal PalaceView from the ramparts

    Luxembourg

    6. heinäkuuta 2019, Luxemburg ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    After Antwerp, we headed south to the Belgian/Luxembourg border and spent the weekend at Camping Hohenbusch, a very well kept site with all amenities and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

    Neither of us had ever visited Luxembourg so we decided to put that right and drove 65 miles through the country to Luxembourg city in the south. As well as being one of the founding members of the EU and one of the three capitals of the EU (Brussels & Strasbourg are the others) and the seat of the European Court of Justice, it is also home to some major companies due to its tax incentives! We enjoyed a taste of this ourselves when buying petrol and diesel that was 30% cheaper than anywhere else. In contrast to the modern, glass and steel corporate centre, the old city was very ornate and declared a UNESCO World Hertitage site in 1994 due to the exceptional preservation of its fortifications. We enjoyed our visit as well as the quality and quietness of the roads which made riding a bike heaven.
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  • Chris outside castle
    Going out for dinner

    On the road again....

    3. heinäkuuta 2019, Belgia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    After spending a great time in the UK visiting family and friends, as well as servicing and MOT's, it was time to hit the road again.

    A quick Dover - Calais crossing on a beautiful sunny day and then along a busy coast road towards Belgium, destination Antwerp. We were surprised at just how busy the traffic was, lorry after lorry transporting goods between the UK, France, Germany and Holland alone. It was slow going around Antwerp and we arrived at the Camperpark to be checked in by a guy who wasn't wearing a shirt (well, it was a hot day) but what he lacked in clothing was made up for by upper-body tattoos and a right nipple piercing! Despite being on the outskirts of the city, right next to the exhibition centre, the site was amazingly quiet and had plenty of greenery and lots of wild rabbits.

    The reason for us heading to Antwerp was so that Chris could meet up with Frederic Konincxx, an old work colleague and Belgium Lotus car dealer, whom he had not seen for 20 years! Not that it made any difference as they chatted away as though they had only seen each other last week, as Frederic showed us around his showroom and cars.

    That evening we had dinner together with Veronique, Frederic's partner, in an Italian restaurant in the grounds of an old castle. The food was amazing and we had a lovely evening together promising to keep in touch.
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  • Roman amphitheatre
    Castellers building a human castleSanta Tecla festivalBig boats in Tarragona portCampsite beachLast dip of the toes for a while

    Final stop on the Spanish coast

    5. huhtikuuta 2019, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    For our final stop on the Spanish coast, we headed to the Costa Dorada (Golden Coast) and checked into Camping Playa Montroig.

    The campsite had just re-opened for the summer season and is located close to the towns of Cambrils and Salou, is 30km south of Tarragona and about 100km south of Barcelona. The site is the largest (1200 pitches) and swishest we have ever stayed at, as well as being the most expensive on the continent at €31 euros per night. But it is right on the beach and has great facilities while further north it is windy and raining. So, we decided to stay down on the coast where the sun is still shining and then do a quick dash up to the north coast to catch our ferry back to the UK next week.

    During our stay here, we took the opportunity to visit the bustling port town of Tarragona, home to Spain's second most important Roman ruins. Chris negotiated the twisty, busy roads of the city centre while I tried to read the road signs over his shoulder. Between us we managed to park up right next to the historic centre with panoramic views down to the port and big container ships moored out to sea waiting their turn to come in to load up.

    We wandered around a corner and came upon a very well-preserved Roman amphitheatre overlooking the beach. Within the arena were the remains of 6th & 12th century churches built to commemorate the martyrdom of a Bishop and two deacons believed to have been burnt alive here in AD259. Not sure which is worse, that or being hacked to death by gladiators or wild animals!

    The small historic centre had plenty of ruins to see with good story boards to go with them so that we could easily picture the chariot racing that took place there.

    In September each year, the city celebrates the Santa Tecla Festival where teams of castellers build human castles by standing on each others shoulders up to 9 levels high. We saw great photos of this event but will have to come back too see the real thing.
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  • With Pepe the chef
    Choosing the gambasDon't forget the beans and tomatoes2kg of small rock fish just for the stockSmoked paprika for meat, sweet paprika for seafoodBusy in the kitchenPouring in the paella riceHow tasty does that lookBusy students

    Paella cooking school

    1. huhtikuuta 2019, Espanja ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Valencia is the birthplace of paella and therefore the best place to learn how to produce this quintessential Spanish dish.

    We signed up to a course at the Escuela de Arroces y Paella Valenciana (Valencia School of Rice & Paella) and had a fabulous and fun time learning the tricks of the trade.

    First off was a trip to the central market to buy the ingredients. Constructed in 1928, the covered market was a foodies delight with over 500 stalls. Valencia is surrounded by huertas, market gardens, which provide the market with the freshest fruit and vegetables. Our guide talked us through the process of choosing the correct paprika (smoked for a Valencian paella which is chicken, rabbit and mountain snails and sweet for a seafood paella). We stopped off to buy 2kg of small rock fish that would be used to make a rich fish stock and smelt the rich aroma of the pure saffron which, at €4500/kilo, we were careful not to drop.

    Back in the kitchen, appropriately attired in our chefs hats and aprons, we listened as our professional, top for the day, Pepe, as he explained and demonstrated each step of the dish. Most students were making the traditional Valencian paella but one had chosen to do the seafood version so we had the chance to learn about both. Tip - a Valencian paella would never mix mountain and sea, so it's either meat or seafood. You would never add chorizo either! Nothing was weighed or measured but Pepe shared his tips on how much oil, water and rice to add to the pan.

    After all our hard work, we then sat down with our fellow students to enjoy the results of our labour, which was served with a tortilla starter that the kitchen had prepared for us and delicious wines.

    We had a great time with fellow students from across Europe, and would recommended this to anyone who has an interest in cooking. We look forward to putting this new experience into practice and are now on the hunt for a small, paella dish!
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