4 day weekend so good time to get some hiking, make progress with the HW1 Albstieg and test out some upgrades to Hubi.
Let’s go to the Sauna
The island of Rab
Finished our Croatian tour with a nice long relaxed stay on the island of Rab with a few lessons learned and some already known. Don’t go to huge campgrounds nor family friendly, look for small and dog friendly.
Slap Waterfallsvic
The lakes of Plitvicka are recommended by all from all, so we left the coast to go inland. Some fun windy and windy (free beer if you know the difference!) roads through mountains and we made it to very green and wet Lake Plitvicka area. We made it here early afternoon, so we decided to do half the park today and half to tomorrow. We went to entrance two for day one.
I’m used to everything itching
Leaving Trogir and Split without seeing Trogir nor Split and we make our way down South (as the blog is named). We pass by Makarska and it’s steep mountains on our way to Drvenik, where another short little ferry to the island of Hvar.
Lovely Day!
Our Bill Withers Lovely Day actually started off with a bang. Neighbor had a combo of chainsaw, blower, lawnmower and woodchipper all in one device at 7am. That thing was loud. It became hilarious when he stepped it up in high gear.
The first stop of the day was National Park Krka. We love our waterfalls and this place has them!
I put the wrong man in the grave…
After a lovely breakfast of bacon, beans and eggs at house Pandza, we start making our way south on the mainland with Senj as our goal.
Istria and House of Pandza
I probably spelled his name wrong… shout out to Danijel and many thanks!
The second day of our tour had us already in Ljubljana and on our way to Croatia. After crossing the border I wanted to hug the Istrian coast from Umag all the way to Pula, but by Porec I gave up and made a straight shot for Rovinj, our first Croatian town. I wish I had known to stop in Kringa, home of Jure Grando, worlds first vampire! Rumor has it he also tried out as Power Forward for the Sacramento Kings.
To Croatia! And Ljubajjanajanajanaaaaa
Experimental Yugo trip for future living, balling, sailing and campervaning.
Tradition
A special request blog post!
The Albstieg: Llamas!
Day 2 of “wild” camping in Germany brought us to the first stage of the Albstieg in Donauwörth.
The Albsteig: Castles and Beergardens
It’s German, so the Albstieg hiking path has to get its 3-character abbreviation, the HW1.
Campervan in Winter?
Yes we can! For a winter test, we went with the brother in law (his camper shown) up on the Swabian alb over Xmas for some hiking and winter camping!
Back in Action!
Looks like going back to South America is still not an option for a while, and with camper vans in Germany being worth their weight in gold…
We reimported Hubi! Couldn’t sell it, it’s worth a lot, has original german papers… easy stuff! Transport and shipping was relatively easy (€€€) and getting German Obermacht acceptance (TÜV) was a bit challenging… plates and insurance, boom!
Actually did this all last summer 21, but who reads this stuff anyways! Let’s take her out for a test!
I’m back!
We’re back actually. No complaints about spending our quarantine at a campsite with bbq, bonfires, movie nights etc, but it was time to go. Luckily the Turkish embassy organized us an 18 hour comfy bus ride to Lima (we thought it would be 24+ hour), 2 days at a hotel and a flight back. Flight was delayed, last was giving birth on the plane. Explain that one.
To be continued…
Cusco
Nice town! Lots of tourists as it is obviously the portal to Machu Picchu, but that also means Irish pubs and nachos!
Rainbow Mountain
I still think it’s a Mario Kart course.
Cusco Campervan Quarantine
- NOTE: This blog post is going to have a ton of text and very little pictures!
- NOTE: As the scenario changes everyday etc., and even the people in power making the decisions have no idea, I am only going to make this one post and update it, not multiple posts. Would prefer not to mention this part of the trip at all 🙂
Colca Canyon
2nd deepest canyon in the world. Or once again, so they say.
Peru
Our adventure continues in our 4th country, Peru! We hug lake titicaca around the corners and go to our first stop at Puno where there are some man made reed islands and some other fun things to do.
Continue reading “Peru”Lake Titicaca
Spending some time in Copacabana Bolivia at Lake Titicaca. Still at 3800m, this sunshine lake, home of the sun god, was a pretty place to relax.
Continue reading “Lake Titicaca”Sucre, Samaipata and Cochabamba!
Took few pix in these towns, so it’ll be a quick post.
Continue reading “Sucre, Samaipata and Cochabamba!”La Paz / El Alto
Awesome towns at around 4000m above see level and insanely steep streets. They have gondolas for their public transport.
Flooded Salt Plain and High Altitude
Welcome to Bolivia! Was here for less than a day and already loving it. Gonna be a lot of photos in this post!
Northwest Argentina
Mendoza and Bodega Buddies
We continue our voyage further north into the wine region of Mendoza. Gonna be some good times, but got some you know what to hit up first 🙂
Continue reading “Mendoza and Bodega Buddies”Bariloche and the Volcanic Stops
We make a cut from East to West across the region, country and continent. Back on the Patagonian West side, should be mountainous, green, most likely only the wind will stay the same.
Continue reading “Bariloche and the Volcanic Stops”Route 3
Route 3 is pretty cool. It runs up the east coast of Argentina and has mostly nothing for 3000km. We managed to find a few surprises along the way!
The End of the World
Ever wonder where the end is on a sphere? I know!
Pengüinos and Seagulls
After leaving Torres de Paine, we made our way to Punta Arenas. Not really too flashy for most people, but for us an important stop. Most exciting part is that the road is called The Road to End of the World!
Continue reading “Pengüinos and Seagulls”Torres de Paine
Route 40
Route 40 is the next big haul of the trip. After the Patagonian National Park by Chile Chico, we started the 1000km drive to El Chaltén. After an easy border crossing and being utterly confused by the border Argentinian town, stopping in the next for supplies and more confusion, we began the Route 40.
Nothing, absolutely nothing for around 800km. A gas station in a small town in between, about 5 cars over 8 hours, no bikes, a lot of Guanaco’s (so many stuck on the fence dead) and an incredible amount of wind. The wind was just smacking Hubi on all sides with such force I was swerving all over the road with little control for hours. From the 2 motorcycles we saw, they had a 30 degree plus lean to go straight. Insane. Luckily, the road was paved, well, most of it.
El Chaltén
In between Carretera Austral and Route 40
We left the Carretera Austral en route to Chile Chico, and this gravel road was by far the worse one yet. Had some amazing views though and insanely curvy streets next to drops that went a good 50m straight down with no guard rail. Fun times.
Pictures do not do Justice
With all the things I’ve seen, most of them brain numbing drooling landscapes that are seriously just too much, I feel I must point out that pictures do not do any of these places justice. Even if you can fit it all in on the picture, it isn’t anywhere even close to the same. Most of the times we just stop the car at a Mirador, get out, get our brains wiped by the amazing views, and then just grab a picture as a reminder. No way whatsoever are they even close to the real view. Not just the entire emotion and sounds and feel, but alone the look, not even half of it.
Carretera Austral
This thing is awesome. The Chilean route 7 that runs from Puerto Montt down the coast through the mountains down through Patagonia until Villa O’Higgins, Chile Chico for us.
To Pucón and Beyond!
Day 3: Dec 19th. Pounding headache, stressed in santiago, just wanted to get out. Couldn’t buy booze “todos los dias”, so when then? Ha ha. After several minutes trying to solve this question, we left without booze. Did a quick shop, got out of town, made it down to San Fernando? A little more shopping (this time with booze). Made it to our campsite near Linaro / San Antonio, Camping and Hospedaje “Sin ir mas lejos”. Chatted enough, got a spot, got to swim, got to drink a beer, got to unpack, got to get seriously nervous about my jacket and fleece being gone, found them. All I need now is sim card to work. Laptop wouldn’t work either but now it is going. Looking forward to dinner and the next drive. The town of Linaro had a big old fest I wanted to stop in for lunch, couldn’t find a place to park, also still have the beginners nervousness. About 1km before campground I found a lunch place, good stuff. Baby chickens EVERYWHERE.
The Hand-Off
Day 2: Dec 18th. Martin and I hop in Hubi at around 7. Instead of going to the close boarder, we go to go to one about 450km away. Really beautiful drive into the mountains. Chile boarder 1 no problem. 60Km of no mans land, really beautiful, have a pano picture.
The Journey Begins
Bought a camper van and a plane ticket to South America. That’s all you need…
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
