2020-03-13 Day 488 Fri

We were not quiet sure if we would get to cross the border to Poland today. Our friends tell us the borders are all closed except those to Slovakia. We think we are still trying to get to Finland although the number of Corona cases there are growing quickly.

On the freeway to the border and nowhere to exit when we saw an outlet for the road toll machine so stopped yes this is where we drop it off. Got the deposit of €50 back and €35 from the cash credit. The road cost us €15 quiet steep really.

Our anxiety levels rose as we are now the only vehicle other than trucks and only a few of them on this free way. However we blinked at the border and were through no checks at all. There was a police car parked just past the border but no interest in us. What a relief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Map tracks come alive once you are on the ground but this route took a while to believe. An amazing entry to a free way

Another new country for the both of us. It is a while since we entered a “new” country.

We would camp early and make our way up to Kracow and our friends early tomorrow.

Lake Zywieckie looked like a likely camp site just 43 km into Poland . The first place we stopped at, and had a late lunch, started to get the feel that it was a place hoons visited. A car with loud music stopped by there were used condoms on the ground amongst the other rubbish so we moved on.

A little track (trench) up the hill about 1m below ground level a bit slippery but we got up some of the way. At a small saddle we turned back down, as it just got narrower and stepper with less rocks. Back down had the feeling of being in a bob sled track!!!

Finally found an old parking place and below it more parking I think it was a tourist site in days gone by. A quiet camp on a concrete pad. Only a few cars came this far from the road.

248km  Camp site  379m alt.

2020-03-11 Day 486 Wed

The corona virus is on our minds. We really don’t think going to a capital city is a very good idea. Also we are thinking to drive to Slovakia and put the heater in for service if it takes 2 or 3 days to fix then we can go back to Hungary and see Budapest.

I emailed our Webasto contact in Slovakia and asked if he could look at heater tomorrow and to please answer quickly as we would drive right through Hungary without stopping.

Will be a first for us in and out of a country in the one day the same day.

We assumed would be a fast transit but not quite to plan. 

 A message back from Webasto saying " you can come tomorrow"

At the border which were both sides in the one spot. We were held up a bit. One official indicated that with corona virus would be hard ot get into EU. They queried our car rego and did not like it. Wanted to see our drivers license and did not like the date on the international one as dated Jan 2020 which had past I tried to explain it is for the next 12 months. One guy was happy to accept the other took the documents and disappeared for 30mins. He came back happy and with a stamp we were into the EU again. They did not want the piece of paper we had received leaving Greece. All crossings of borders are very different.

At the exit gate we needed to go across to a window and pay for road tax. About €20. At least nice and easy.

 

 

A long flat uninteresting drives although lots of buildings mostly churches to photograph and a few interesting signs.

An hour behind time, then this sign. Yep limited to 80 on the free way. It will be a long day. We need to get across the Danube to be within a few hours of Trnava and webasto

The drive went well but when we were near Budapest on freeway there was so much traffic it made us not want to come back and visit.

Finally, late in the day, we crossed the Danube once again but on a bridge this time. We stopped at a gas station to buy a toll for the roads but the system does not have Australia listed so cannot buy. Was informed to go to a bigger place. Will tomorrow.

Found a camp out of town a few km’s and beside a small tributary. Nice and wooded.

As we pulled up I noticed this little headless bird….. He let me walk right up to him and take pictures. He flew off a while later.

407km  Camp site  153m alt.

2020-03-04 Day 479 Wed

I was in contact with Little today. She says WuyiShan is nearly back to normal. Everyone has been in lock down for one month, meaning only one person per household is allowed out to do the shopping once per day. I now understand to what length the Chinese went to to get the infections under control. They went into lock down with only 400 known cases…

Little has been back fro Malaysia for a week so still in isolation.

We left about 10:00 as it will be a long drive to the border with the route that Sam has chosen. We went on some pretty small roads and occasionally ended up on a vignetti road for a short distance.

 We then realised that there was a closer border crossing and ferry so headed for that. Not only closer but the road was in a direct line rather than winding around the country side… We feel the need to exit before we get caught and fined for not having paid the toll for most of these roads.

We filled with fuel and used most of out cash just leaving 50leva for shopping.

John googled the ferry to find cost and times. 63Leva we didn't have that left and it left on the even hour from the Bulgarian side. John then noticed the article was written in 2013 so we disregarded it.

 

In Knezha with only 30km to do we stopped and did a shop. Bought what we needed and paid. Then I went back in and spent the last few leva on chocolate…

Leaving town we noticed a camera so went around the block. A black car followed then stopped and watched us…….

Finally got to the border control. At the Bgtoll office the lady asked If we had a toll I said no, had spent many days trying to buy, web doesn’t work and nor does app even tried two garages.. I think she was expecting this and just waved us on. I crossed to another building to buy the ferry ticket while John started passport control.

Ferry cost 63leva and leaves at 1600. An hour to wait. A fast border crossing exiting Bulgaria.

 I started using internet. Updating phones and computers and downloading some movies. Still had 3GB left. John was chatting to some men outside.

 When I drove onto the ferry I expected to drive to the other end - but now had to turn 180° and park at the other ramp, at the same end we got on. John noticed that it was two ferries tied together. We were on with 2 cars and about 15 large semi’s.

 

  aligning the off ramps up.

We were 4^th off after the 2 cars and one semi. The guys were friendly at customs and just opened the house door and closed it. Passport control asked where were we going and I couldn’t think of Bucharest so said Norway…..

Two officers were fascinated with the holograms in the passport.

All stamped and out. Until at the exit gate we needed to go buy road tax. €15 at the booth and all done.

 

After 100 yrds we turn right onto a track which happened to be the leyi it had a bar across and lots of wheel tracks around so we followed.

We drove along about 5 km then turned off and followed a muddy track through the trees to a perfect little spot. Nice watching the big barges struggle up against the strong current. It is quite amazing how fast the Danube runs.

184km  Camp site  74m alt.

2020-02-29 Day 475 Sat

Stopped to take photos of the flamingos. As we left we saw boat loads of tourists and realised that we were at the Kirini Wetlands.

Arriving at the border we had to wait in line for a while. However when our turn came we held the traffic up a bit. Seemed to take a long time to exit Greece. We received a form with our entry date and exit date on it. And should keep this and show to other Shengen countries.

We were through and stopped to buy a vignetti. But were offered only by the day. I emailed the company not expecting a reply. I checked the website and although they listed by week and month I could not buy. I rang the toll company to be told that tomorrow morning at 5am I can buy a road map but would need to buy a vignetti or today.

We gave EC a much needed wash in a coin washer. Cost 4Bg (AU$3) Not a perfect wash, but good enough for now.

We ended up buying online a vignetti for the day 28BG (AU$24) quiet expensive. 

 

 

Finally got a reply back form the toll company. Everything changes tomorrow and all info is online. I could not find online maybe it will be available tomorrow….

We drove to the village where we will meet Elena tomorrow at the hot springs.

John realised that the little wiggle road he had chosen for a camp was up to ski lifts…. Lots of cars coming down but found a camp near a “Hut” maybe a ski club. Lots of to-ing and fro-ing.

192km  Camp site  1569m alt.

2020-02-24 Day 470 Mon

Heading to Thessaloniki today. Will be a long drive so left relatively early. 

The border to Greece was not far, and is on a small white road. We had a few apprehensions about it being open to foreigners. At Zlatograd there is another road that goes back east to another more major crossing (as a backup).

At the border Zlatograd-Thermes all personal came out to look at us. One guy asked me if we had a vignette and I said no we had had trouble buying it. He said we were lucky there was no photo of us on his system and the last bit of road to the crossing was not a vignetti road so he could not book us…….Lucky again.

The other small problem we had was that the road on the Greek side was limited to 2 tonne and was “very narrow”. The Greek guy said OK and the Bulgarian guy went out and stamped us out of Bulgaria when he came back the Greek guy was concerned about our weight...but “they are already stamped out” says the Bulgarian! All good. we got to go with warnings of pulling over and allowing the other cars to pass.

 

Well what a disappointment the road was wide enough for two cars all the way. Not sure what they were on???

 

Looking back up the narrow 2 tonne limited road

Small back roads that took time to traverse but at Serres we stopped for a coffee and a break.

We would now be on the free way and we only have 1-1.5 hours to go to Thessaloniki.

We arrived at Sophie and Teo’s around 17:00. Their sister in law let us in downstairs and took us to their apartment. Great to see them again.

We went out for a beer in the local Sindos village then went home for a dinner cooked by Teo

Maria and her two sons families live in the 3 story house with her brother out the back. An interesting arrangement. Built in baby sitters… An interesting idea but in many ways challenging.

338km  Camp site  46m alt.