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Bulgaria Fest - Task complete


The Moog

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I am entirely happy to leave this in your hands.

 

Not had much conversation with the Dacia seller this week, though I have confirmed that it has a 12v power outlet. He sounded a bit hurt that I was suggesting it might not have one. I have asked where I should send a deposit but so far have had no answer. So, still an element of danger here. No deposit sent, for a car that has just blown its head gasket. WINNING.

Erm, watch that the 12v power outlet isn't a DIN type. Or just buy an adapter just in case.

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A few tips from a frequent traveller:

 

Border  Romania / Hungaria can have long wait times especially westwards. The actual border crossing is easy, its just that they are slow and don't have enough lanes open. This is especially true for the motorway crossing of the A1 near Arad. There are three nearby  crossings using minor roads  that usually have no queues at all ,certainly worth the little detour.

 

There is a online map showing the current traffic situation:

 

https://www.politiadefrontiera.ro/ro/traficonline/

 

The border from Hungaria into Austria can be hours waiting travelling westwards. Officially this is an open Schengen border, but every so often Austria sets up a checkpoint to show the voters that they are serious about protecting the country from another muslim invasion as in 1529.

You can check the current situation here online:

 

https://www.oeamtc.at/routenplaner/?type=traffic&resource=traffic/OEAMTC_Y_312450

 

The parallel road is no option, they close the border there when they check and force everybody onto the Autobahn.

Way to go is take M15 towards Bratislava and then onto A6 towards Vienna, basically a parallel motorway and never any checks, shows how ridicoulous this is. Beware, exit onto M15 is close to the border and maybe already blocked by cars queueing towards the border. Take previous exit and parallel road "1".

Note: even though only a few miles of motorway in slovakia, you need to pay the road tax (10€). see below, can be avoided by using parallel roads, but takes time.

 

Same nonsense again entering Germany. Bavaria needs to be protected agains the evil east. Here as well "open border" with almost permanent "occasional" checks.

Status here for A1 near Salzburg towards Munich:

https://www.oeamtc.at/routenplaner/?type=traffic&resource=traffic/current/OEAMTC_H_329191

A8 towards Nürnberg:

https://www.oeamtc.at/routenplaner/?type=traffic&resource=traffic/current/OEAMTC_H_309731

 

Just take any side road border crossing, there are plenty options, all open, never any checks.

 

Road fees:

 

Romania, required for all roads, cheap: https://www.roviniete.ro/en . Checked with automated cameras that are many, if they work, who knows...

 

Hungaria:https://www.virpay.hu/index.html?setlang=en_uk . They regularily check at gas stations and exits and with cameras. Make sure you have the cars registration right and keep your receipt, I once had an endless discussion because twisted numbers on receipt and in computer.

 

Austria: you buy a 10 day sticker "pickerl" at the boarder or at gas stations close to the border. Beware, dont wait up to the first gas station in the country, too late! They check frequently right at the border and at exits. Lack of pickerl is 120€! Some tunnels and the Brenner Autobahn cost extra on top.

 

Slovakia: https://www.eznamka.sk/selfcare/home/index check with cameras, have never seen them stopping cars to check as the hungarians do,

 

Germany; free to drive at any speed ....max your Dacia out!

 

Have fun.

 

P.S. in case you come through Munich, sorry i cannot invite / assist / let you try a Tagora. Will be on an long distance dual car reverse collection trip.

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Been reading all this with interest. Just make sure you all take plenty of powerbanks and extra memory so we can enjoy as much of it here on the forum as possible.  :-P

 

Yeah, about that. I'm hoping to do some live video reports at www.youtube.com/hubnut on the way back, as well as recording footage for a more detailed Feature Length version once I'm home. It'll be interesting to see if this happens, but back in 2014, there was a news story that stated Romania had better 4G coverage than the UK, so here's hoping.

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What would 500 quid get me and who wants to drive it back?

 

Very little if that includes fuel

 

If any of you guys go near a motor factors whilst out there could you find a price for 12kg of R134 air con gas. It has gone to stupid money over here, but  a Polish chap I was speaking to yesterday said it's still cheap in Poland. So maybe it will still be cheap in Eastern Europe ?.

 

Will try and remember,  are any of the west country shitters coming to scotland to get it back to you?

 

Many thanks to pshome for the info which will be great for Brodders (who needs to get back within the week).

 

We are taking the scenic route as we have 2 weeks to get back and a fear of German bureaucracy.  This currently looks like this.

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Nice route, if you have time to drop off to Lake Como when you get to Milan, comes recommended!  I note you are going through Grenoble like Moog will be too later this month.

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We are taking the scenic route as we have 2 weeks to get back and a fear of German bureaucracy.  This currently looks like this.

 

This is going to be so epic. I reserve the right to change channel crossing though. Caen to Portsmouth is one option (4hr) that means I might be able to visit my father in law, and would have us on a heading to pass near the South West if we so wished. Dieppe to Newhaven at least chops out the horrible Kent stretch.

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Thats a very nice route. If you can afford an extra day, take the Transfăgărășan all the way across the mountains and come back south via Transalpine (67c), you will not regret.

 

However, as of today Transfăgărășan is still closed. They started to remove up to 7 meters of snow.

http://romaniatourism.com/travel-advisory.html

https://www.transfagarasan.info/zapada-de-7-metrii-pe-transfagarasan/

 

Transalpina also still closed. Ask locally before you head into the mountains.

 

rum2_600.jpg

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Nice route, if you have time to drop off to Lake Como when you get to Milan, comes recommended!  I note you are going through Grenoble like Moog will be too later this month.

Definitely, take the road up the west side of the lake garda northwards, because of this;

https://goo.gl/maps/iVGZUdsm17R2

then take small roads westwards towards lake como.

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Bugger! That really is useful info. Thank you. We may need to find other mountains to play on (I'm very keen to tackle some mountains). 

then dont stay south of the alps, rather choose a route like this;

 

https://goo.gl/maps/CEysW6XdMXr

 

takes a lot more time though, check if mountain roads are open, usually they are this time of the year.

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I went to Mostar about 22 years ago - it was a bit of a hole then but might have been spruced up a bit by now.  The Adriatic coast road is lovely mind,

its very much a tourist place now, but still quite nice and certainly worth a visit. Prices higher than other places in the country, but not really expensive.

Stayed at Hotel "Villa Eden", very nice, about 10 minute walk to old town.

Coming from Sarajevo, take the shortcut via R435/R435a , nice mountain road and no trucks.

Be careful in BH, many mad drivers. Lot of shite on the roads to compensate though ;)

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if you choose the southern route via Grenoble, take a little detour a bit further south because this;

 

https://goo.gl/maps/iTqBv36yAVt

 

attachicon.gif20170526_123618.jpg

Definitely this.  This was one of my favourite roads to drive when I lived in Grenoble.  Incredible scenery, and the water at the bottom of the gorge is emerald green.  Spectacular.

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Hint: if your car papers are not 100% sane, you better avoid Switzerland. Not EU and still a customs check point at every border with an officer eying every car and stopping what looks even slightly suspicious. Also 40 Alpin Francs (~30 GBP ) motorway sticker fee unless you go side roads only.

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