European Tour 2019 - Year of the Headwinds!

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RobinS

RobinS

Veteran
Location
Norwich
Campsites and suchlike:
We, well Janet particularly, like to have access to proper toilets at overnight stops, so we use campsites rather than wild camping.
France - there were reasonable sites at sensible intervals most of the way, and costs for the two of us ranged from 8euros to 19euros. Facilities varied from excellent to pretty poor, not necessarily in proportion to price, but showers usually included. Watch out though, as even the smartest often do not provide toilet paper.
Southern Germany - sites less frequent, but many places they allow camping at various boating or canoe clubs along the riversides, usually with really nice facilities. Boat clubs varied from 5 to 12 euros, normal sites from 8 to 22.
Slovakia / Czech Republic - enough sites, variable quality, but usually OK once you got used to the East European scruffiness - everyone very friendly and welcoming with costs of 6 to 14euros.
East / North Germany - enough sites, but often smaller and less good than those in the south with often brusque staff, and again unlike in the south, showers cost extra, despite the fact that the sites themselves cost just as much.
Netherlands - mainly decent sites but away from the coast very small, mainly 12 to 20euros, with showers costing extra - some even charged for hot water for washing up (as did a few in North Germany).
 
OP
OP
RobinS

RobinS

Veteran
Location
Norwich
Food and Drink:
For cooking we have two cheap Chinese folding three-legged stoves which take the coleman/primus cartridges. We also have adaptors to enable them to use the camping gas clickfit cartridges, or the old style pierceable ones. With this flexibility we never had problems sourcing enough gas, in France from supermarkets, elsewhere from outdoor shops. we use two Trangia saucepans and two Trangia non-stick frypans so we can do decent meals (though the newer Trangia non-stick frypans are utter junk, unlike the older 1990s ones).
We try to have a substantial breakfast - bacon eggs, fried potatoes, mushrooms, bread, croissants or whatever we can get. Lunch is usually a picnic, bread, cheese, cold meat etc. When we can we get pastries for elevenses. Evening meal is normally a proper meal, meat, potatoes, pasta, rice, salad - what we like and what we can buy on a daily basis in not too big quantities. We do also like a few beers as we go.
Prices:
France - now very expensive for beer in bars, and supermarket food is at least 50% more expensive than the UK. Wine is cheap.
Southern Germany - Beer in bars is cheaper than at home, and supermarket prices are similar to the UK
Slovakia / Czech Republic - Beer very cheap, as little as £1 per pint sometimes. Supermarket prices pretty reasonable as well, with local meats and other produce very cheap.
East / North Germany - for some reason everything is a bit more expensive than in the south - beer 3.50 4.00 as opposed to 2.90 to 3.40 in the south.
Netherlands - Supermarket food and beer expensive, but not quite as bad as France.
 
OP
OP
RobinS

RobinS

Veteran
Location
Norwich
What comes next?
After 3 long tours in the last 4 summers since I was made redundant we are pretty committed to carrying on as long as we can, but the length of tours will depend on work requirements. This coming winter we are working in the French Alps from December to late April, so allowing for a month at home to sort stuff, prepare, see the grandchildren etc we won't get away until mid-May, and don't want to tour much after mid-July due to crowds, full campsites and increased costs. This will allow us two months or so, and at present we thinking along the lines of Velodysee followed by the Raid Pyrenean.

If anyone has questioned about anything don't hesitate to ask - we have learned a lot about touring with 9 months on the road in the last three and half years.
 
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