Travel journal 2015
8 Sep 2015
After almost half a century of coveting Morgans, we (more particularly John) finally made it to the factory at Malvern Link.
The factory has done a great job of compressing over 100 years of history into a compact but fascinating museum. Here, we're standing behind a three wheeler like the one once owned (we think) by Rosemarie's Dad.
And here is the start of a factory tour, looking at one of the newly reintroduced three wheelers (see below).
8 Sep 2015
(From above). Still truly hand made as they have been for over a century.
Gorgeous light weight English Ash frame with unchanged classic lines on the way to becoming someone's pride and joy...
...just like this one, waiting for the delivery transporter.
6 Sep 2015
A long night-time drive helped us get to the Silk Route Motorcaravan Network annual meeting near Worcester.
Check out the SRMN site to see just where on the planet these two vehicles have been.
And met Rick & Kathy who've been roaming Europe and the Americas for the last 15 years.
3 Sep 2015
Stayed near Chaam, in the south of the Netherlands, near the site selected for the 2016 International Rally of the Tandem Club of the UK.
Enjoyed again the cycling friendliness of Holland, where you don't even need to take a map with you...
...and headed back to the Hoek Van Holland once more for the six hour crossing on the ferry to Harwich.
31 Aug 2015
The Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf is the world's largest motorhome and caravan show. Two days here was barely enough for us to check out all the motorhome and accessory stands in which we were interested. We put a deposit on a Carthago Highliner 59LE, with final details to be sorted on our return to the UK.
29 Aug 2015
Köln (Cologne) was massively damaged during the war, 70 year old memories of which were on display outside the cathedral. Amazingly, as the photos show, the imposing Cathedral, while taking 14 hits from Allied bombing during WWII escaped
complete destruction, unlike the rest of the city. The RAF's first 1,000 bomber raid was on Koln in May 1942.
29 Aug 2015
This impressive view greets you as you emerge from the railway station.
The tourist hub of Köln, the Cathedral draws 20,000 visitors daily, making it Germany's most visited location.
Stunning interior architecture. Started in the thirteenth century, it was 632 years until completion in 1880. It is Germany's most visited landmark.
27 Aug 2015
Sighted from the autobahn, the maritime themed Hilton Frankfurt Airport.
Variable weather heading north to Dusseldorf.
With some tight manouevering through small villages...
23 Aug 2015
Medieval gate to the Southern German town of Ravensburg.
Surprisingly, Rugby has a foothold here, deep in Europe.
Modern fountain, medieval tower; we spent a pleasant weekend here.
21 Aug 2015
We visited the Carthago factory today at Aulendorf in southern Germany and took their guided tour. We were suitably impressed - as we expected to be - by their state of the art manufacturing techniques. One of their models is on our shopping list as an upgrade for our longer term lifestyle plans.
Typical of German motorhome manufacturers (as we are discovering) they provide a complimentary stopover site for as long as you like.
21 Aug 2015
We're not missing lawn mowing in the slightest, but we still got excited by this example of their understated but clever use of technology. Here is Rosemarie checking that the little robot was fully docked in for the night.
Next morning he (she?) was up bright and early checking out the grass around the fountain.
Still hard at work as we said our goodbyes to Aulendorf.
19 Aug 2015
Rosemarie, dressed for a typical English August day, watching the Port of Harwich fade into the distance as we depart for the Hook of Holland again.
Typical sight during our early morning pedal around the small and picturesque Dutch town of Gorinchem.
Coffee in the square at Dordrecht with John's cousin Sue and her partner Wilfred.
19 Aug 2015
Interesting canal bridge in the background and, on the right, Rosemarie and Sue doing a spot of window shopping.
Then to Breda for dinner and watching the canal reflections in the evening light.
10 Aug 2015
Dropped in to the Imperial War Museum at Lambeth...
...to see the "Fashion on the Ration" exhibition of how Britons coped during WWII.
