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Roadtrip 2020

January 2020 - February 2021
An old ambulance, a dad and his daughter, a 7 month journey through Europe, North Africa and a slice of Asia. Thats the epic roadtrip of 2020 Read more
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  • 10countries
  • 374days
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  • 17videos
  • 15.2kkilometers
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  • Roadtrip 2020
    Day 368

    Memento mori

    January 26, 2021 in the Netherlands ⋅ 🌧 1 °C

    Post No.100.
    I was always waiting for a good moment to end our trip and have a good use for number hundred. This might be the moment.
    Today, the 26th of January 2020, we left my village of birth in the south of The Netherlands, Simpelveld.
    We did not go there just to say goodbye yo my family, but we went there for a special reason.
    As many of you know, we went there to say goodbye to my brother Jos, who was terminal ill and fighting for his life. The prognosis were very bad. So our goodbye would probably be a final one.
    Jos was my brother, best friend and back-up for almost all my life. Leaving on our trip was a difficult decision. We went with his blessing.

    How our trip went, you might have read this in our post here or on Facebook.

    On the 26th of 2021, my brother died.
    He had to give in and lost this battle. 64 years old.

    Today, Monday the first of February 2021 we had our final goodbye.
    Shed our tears, holded on to our loved ones for comfort.
    All comes to an end. A life. A journey.
    ..
    Salute!

    I want to end with the words of a friend from Algeria, who posted, unknowing of our loss, the following:

    "on te levant le matin, rappelle-toi combien précieux est le privilège de vivre, de respirer, d'être heureux"*

    Marc-Aurèle

    (*When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege  it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.)    Read more

  • Roadtrip 2020
    1
    Day 208

    Home stretch

    August 19, 2020 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Today we will cover the last km to a place called home.
    We will travel slow, as we will avoid the motorway. Again.
    This will be the final part of this roadtrip.
    A bit sad about what we might have missed, but verry happy for the time we had.
    We will leave here around 13.00h and hope to arrive home around 17.00.
    Hopefully Renata is waiting for us!    Read more

  • Roadtrip 2020
    Day 208

    How slow can you go..

    August 19, 2020 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Slow is trending!
    So we join the flow.
    Visited my family and showed Lieske around.
    We drove up to Roermond and visited my oldest brother and his girlfriend.
    Enjoyed a real nice evening with a good meal and even better company.
    We will have a sleep on his couch.    Read more

  • Roadtrip 2020
    Day 207

    Back to my Roots

    August 18, 2020 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Missed us ??
    I can imagine.
    Germany is not really the country you would think about to tell great stories.
    However it is a good country for a long or short break.
    After Stuttgart we did roadtripping Germany. We avoided motorways and took the long way "home"..
    We encountered some beautiful landscapes, however they did resemble the sceneries from my youth, I could enjoy them.
    We started of with a go to the Rhine bank around Mannheim. Camping along the river.
    After this we wanted to see the famous Loreley, and had found a geourges spot on the opposite hillside of this famous rock.
    We camped at a small but beautiful site at Sankt Goar. Reaching it, was quite a struggle for Lieske, as it was engaging first gear and go!
    Our -suppost- last day in Gemany went a bit different.
    As we were heading for a nice spot at the Rursee. We encountered a very, very steep climb. Not to go to the lake, no. That was down.. but going it up the next day!
    So we skipped that site. And looked for another.
    Here is were the trouble started. All sites were full.
    As The Neterlands were only 45km away We decided to go there..
    But also here.. We tried three campsites, and all no vacancies.
    So...
    Only one thing left.
    Back to my roots.
    Simpelveld. It was on our planning. But just a day later.
    As the word was out, my brothers and sisters reached out.
    So we had a nice coffee , a drink, and a really nice diner, all at different places!
    We slept on the parking in front of Jos
    His house. Not, that we were not allowed in, but we want to enjoy Lieske as long as possible.
    Now..

    It's breakfast time!
    On the streets of my birthtown.    Read more

  • Roadtrip 2020
    Day 206

    Seduced by the Siren

    August 17, 2020 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Following the stream down to The Netherlands we were seduced by the beauty of the Rhine valley.
    So we stopped at Sankt Goar and found a great campsite up the hill on the opposite side of the famous Loreley.
    Typical .. always ending up on the wrong side..    Read more

  • Roadtrip 2020
    1
    Day 204

    There is no heaven.

    August 15, 2020 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    ... we did the "heaven for Benz lovers".
    It started a bit lets say.. awkward.
    As, however warned, Nika did not like the fact that I really did drive the old lady up until the main entrance.
    Nika does not like to show of.
    But I do.
    So this "we do this together tour" became a lonely walk in the dark.
    But as things go, in the end....
    So. Now to the museum.
    We really liked it, and I think it's worth a visit.
    Except...
    I missed the cars I came for. Or even hoped.
    .

    It was an exhibition from luxurious and exclusive cars. So I missed the "normal vehicles who made the History of Mercedes Benz .
    I lied if I did not see any W123, but only one 300TD in expo Travel. And a coach an coupe on a trailer in "transport"

    But not any W110, the type as Lieske or even not one!!! W114/W115 the type who saves their ass.
    ..
    Also in the department of "life savers"
    Not one ambulance from the type w110 , w115 or w123. A missed goal.. at least for me.
    ..
    Anyway. We were right in time, going in the morning, as there was quite a row as we looked outside to our Lieske, who got a visit from two Dutch cars.. a range rover and a defender.
    ..
    We stayed for more than 4 hours.
    As we left, we thought it would be nice to go to the Television Tower of Stuttgart..
    (Something like the first concrete tower in the world??)
    Had a coffee and went to the campsite.
    Did not want to go into the city, as the.roads are quite crowdy, many traficlights and... hills !!
    .
    We did a walk into the neighbourhood were we had diner and came home in fear of a thunderstorm. But it just missed us in a mile.
    Now..
    Heading for a place along the Rhine.
    ..    Read more

  • Roadtrip 2020
    Day 203

    Oil stains on Holy Ground.

    August 14, 2020 in Germany ⋅ 🌧 24 °C

    We drove 237km in five hours along German country roads.
    Now we arrived at the walhalla for Mercedes Benz car lovers.
    We are at the doorstep of the museum.
    Tomorrow morning we intend to drive her up until the front entrance...
    Just to show her of.
    She deserves it!
    And for sure...she will mark her spot!
    ..    Read more

  • Roadtrip 2020
    Day 202

    An end to a dream.

    August 13, 2020 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Today, we left the city of Salzburg, and headed for Germany. Especially Munich.
    As we wanted to cross the border, the customs, waved us to stop. As I stopped, the officer said: "You can continue your journey, but I wanted to say you have a nice car!..."
    ..
    Welcome in Germany.
    ..
    The climbs we had to do were far more worse than straight through Austria, but Lieske might be old, but not yet done.
    ..
    We needed to go to Munich and visit the ADAC, this organisation issues the "carnet de Passage" which we would have needed for Iran.
    But as corona F#$@ckt our journey real bad, we will not make it to that destination anymore.
    So by personally delivering back the Carnet, it's a formal end to a dream.
    Lieske will probably never touch Iranian soil.
    ..
    The ADAC was realy friendly, and ensured us that the deposit money will be released within a few days.
    ..
    As this done. And it was a serious day anyway, I decided to visit the concentration camp memorial of Dachau.
    This camp was the bleu print for all camps build by the Nazis during and befor the second World war.
    Impressive and sad.
    We should never forget.
    After this "moment of sadness " we looked for some happy stuff, and found it in a nice piece of "apfelstrudel mit Eis und Sahne"..
    As life goes on...
    Now.. heading for a campsite.
    ...
    Tomorrow.. Stuttgart.    Read more

  • Roadtrip 2020
    Day 201

    Grüß Gott!

    August 12, 2020 in Austria ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Started slow. But early. As we did not have any food stored away, this was going to be a day of spending!!
    So we started of with a nice Austrian breakfast Dutch style.. ;)
    Relaxing start of the day. We booked tickets online for the Festung Hohensalzburg Burcht, were a lift brings you up the mountain were the castle has been build over the more than 1000 years. It's one of the biggest, still remaining castles in Europe... they say....
    Many nice spots and stunning views.
    Also stunning prices for a cup of tea.
    We kept ourselfs to our program, and left around noon, to go down into the city and have lunch.
    As professionals in seeking food, we found a great place with good food. We will not want you to be jealous and spare you the details.
    On with the planning. The "Museum der Moderne".
    Again on a hill. We love panoramas...
    Stroled around the museum, and stayed for almost four hours.
    As we were down to earth, we discovered that we still did not try the MozartKugeln so..
    Quickly bought a few and sat down with a coffee to swallow those things down.
    Now the day was coming to an end, and Nika had seen a nice "Mr Lee, fresh food".. so we closed our tour with a great , and fresh Asian dinner.
    Tomorrow.. (today) we head for München.    Read more

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