The Italian Job

[missfixit70]

As some of you may be aware, I've just got back from a bit of a pootle down to the Italian Lakes with a few other bongoliers. Had an absolutely brilliant time, covered 8 countries & approximately 2,400 miles in just over 2 weeks. We went from Dunquerque through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria to Italy, 4 bongos to 3, back up to 4, then we went our separate ways from Lake Maggiore, with 2 of us coming back up through the French Alps, Luxembourg, Belgium & France back to Dunquerque. Got very lucky with the weather (although it wasn't too bad here either I hear) with temperatures approaching 40 degrees in Italy. We swam in Lake Garda, Maggiore & Jura in France & I span fire on the shores of Lake Garda & in the snow in the Alps after having a snowball fight.
Here's a few piccies for you if you're interested, I'm sure some of the others'll be along with some better ones once they get a chance

4 Bongos in Belgium on the way down, for once the green one was the rare one



At the first campsite in Blankenhiem





Stopping off on the Rhine





Stopping to eat Pot Noodles in Worms (or was it the other way round ?)



Camperstop in Bad Schonborn



Bongo santa?



Heading into Fussen



View from the camperstop in Fussen



Watch out for those singing nuns & lederhosen





Amazing water powered moving stone sculpures in Fussen, the stones on top are in constant random motion due to the water pressure





Silver lining?



Very cool merc



More to follow

[missfixit70]

Through the Mountains from Austria to Italy





















2 Bongos in Italy, leaving me behind in Austria





First night in Italy - Glorenza?





View from the site while eating breakfast





Making friends



Taking a break, nearly 40 degrees

[missfixit70]

Trentino where we met with a certain character who had a Devlin of a time getting there, took a lot of Stanima by all accounts
We also had a cracking storm where the hailstones were like marbles, cleared the air though, & gave me a chance to wash the bongo







Stopped by the north end of Lake Garda





Campsite at the bottom end of lake Garda amongst the olive trees on the shore of the lake











Stormy view of Lake Garda



Campsite on Lake Maggiore





Just before we went our seperate ways

[missfixit70]

Into the Alps from Italy to France











Snow at the border post

[missfixit70]

A night in the mountains - Plan des Fontanettes?









Pot noodles in the Alps

[missfixit70]

My tracks after having succesfully stayed on my feet sliding down the mountain



& the tracks after not staying on my feet





Bob's head in the clouds



Cloudy sunset

[daveblueozzie]

Absolutely stunning photos, fantastic, glad you had a brill time, snowballs and fire what a mixture.

[missfixit70]

A bit colder the next morning - where'd the Lake & Mountains go ?



Cute little furry fella that unfortunately decided Bob's levelling ramp was a good place to sit as we were packing up - RIP











Quiet night on a free Aires in Poncin,



At least some of the neighbours were quiet















Lac Du Jura

[missfixit70]

A night by the canal in Charmes











Now that's what I call a parking solution



NOW we are in Luxembourg





Hope you're not too bored with them all, I'm sure the others will be along with their contributions soon (if you're not careful ).
Wish we'd had longer, but it was a brilliant couple of weeks with some fantastic company, won't forget it for a while, that's for sure

[Nick65]

Excellent piccies - Have you got a route of where you went exactly? I would love to do that next year

[mikeonb4c]

Wow - that looks absolutely stunning. It must have been fantastic driving through so much of Europe in good company and with views like that. Its a tonic for us UK bound peeps to see a convoy of Bongos pulling off a tour like that. No doubt the Bongos were -as ever - a superb drive and viewing platform on those open roads, mountain passes.

How did you handle choosing places to stay (did you make it up as you went along, guide books?) and was navigation handled by a lead Bongo with Satnav?

Did all the mechanicals behave OK?

Boy do I envy you that trip

[missfixit70]

Wow - that looks absolutely stunning. It must have been fantastic driving through so much of Europe in good company and with views like that. Its a tonic for us UK bound peeps to see a convoy of Bongos pulling off a tour like that. No doubt the Bongos were -as ever - a superb drive and viewing platform on those open roads, mountain passes.

How did you handle choosing places to stay (did you make it up as you went along, guide books?) and was navigation handled by a lead Bongo with Satnav?

Did all the mechanicals behave OK?

Boy do I envy you that trip

Navigation was handled by Freewheelers sat nag after group discussions, stops found using a combination of the POI on sat nag, Camping Card ACSI book & Aires & camperstops books & walkie talkie coms between the bongos. All the credit should go to Bob & Lin on this one, no way I'd have done it without their expert guidance, I was just the tail end charlie on the convoy, trying to keep us all together.
It'll be wierd not seeing at least one bongo in front of me all the time, I was thinking of fitting a bongo cut out on the FDB's to help with the withdrawal

All the mechanicals behaved perfectly, other than maybe the nuts behind the steering wheel
2347.3 miles over 18 days & 8 countries (some countries more than once), no more than 2 nights in any one place, some nights free, the most expensive 17.5 Euros. 357 litres of diesel used with an average of nearly 30mpg - the best being 35mpg, the worst just over 24mpg going up & over the Alps, but then I did run the engine for half an hour or so to warm up in the morning as it was a tad chilly

[mikeonb4c]

Lubbly jubbly. Once again, congrats on making such a great trip.

[northerntaff]

Thanks for sharing so many fantastic photos Kirsty, you've really given us all a great flavour of your trip. It looked absolutely fantastic...you'll need a rest to get over it all now !!

There's so many photos that could be used on the front of the BF website...Ian will be spoilt for choice!

Some simply stunning locations that you've captured so well.

That's good going on the MPG...you must be pleased with that.

[Triple/R]

What an adventure Kirsty never had any desire to tour Europe -- can't drive proper on the right side of the road never mind on the wrong anyway looking at you pics---makes me envious absolutely gorgeous scenery--glad you enjoyed the experience & the Bongo's behaved