Event Bulgaria Fest - Task complete

[dollywobbler]

I asked Bogi about the cops, she says its not the Romanian plates its just an old car out of place. She says also says Italy is very expensive to drive on the highways (motorways?) I think they do Austria.

 

 

Sadly, and against our experiences, Romanians are seen as thieves by the Police. They readily admitted that this is why they stopped us today, but decided we were probably ok when they spotted all the camera kit. They followed us for quite a while, waiting for somewhere to park. We just waited for the inevitable...

[TataBobu]

Yes. Incidently, also on the way from Bucuresti to Amsterdam, as I've found out some 18 years ago, when I was a youth with a one month train pass in my pocket, a passport and a Spain visa. I never got to Spain, though.

[Yoss]

 

Bay Emm Vay or Bee Emm Vee depending on regional accent, ja? (BMW)

That first one being a Brummie accent?

[Sloth in a bowl]

Yes, we are in Italy. At one point an hour or so ago, we were heading south east. Now we're back heading west to get below Switzerland. Epic photos to follow once we reach our hotel.

 

Venice is on the way from Bucharest to Wales isn't it?

Just be warned, the traffic is shit slow and you will get a flooded carb.

[Louise2cv]

Sadly, and against our experiences, Romanians are seen as thieves by the Police. They readily admitted that this is why they stopped us today, but decided we were probably ok when they spotted all the camera kit. They followed us for quite a while, waiting for somewhere to park. We just waited for the inevitable...

Yes, she said something more like this this afternoon, I think something got lost in translation this morning.

 

Bit depressing.

[egg]

Well, Italy have just sworn in a new government today, not one keen on immigration!

[chaseracer]

It's Italy, they'll have another one in ten minutes.

[purplebargeken]

^^ That long?

 

Epic epic so far.

[dollywobbler]

We've just stopped for the night. 350km today, but 200km of that was pretty bloody epic. We're both pretty exhausted, but will try and get some pics up. Car is running exactly as it did before, albeit starting is still problematic. Generally takes three or four attempts.

 

Italians seem to like it though!

[skattrd]

Epic stuff chaps, I make it about half way point back to blighty.

 

Have you decided where you're heading for yet? or where you're planning to cross the channel?

[davocano]

I'm not sure what it is about the "face" of that Dacia, but

 

... it reminds me of the T3 from South Africa. Imagining that Dacia should have built them under licence instead.

 

 

Back on topic; what a fascinating and enjoyable adventure this has been from the comfort of my office chair. Will be reading again from the start when it's all over.

[dollywobbler]

Epic stuff chaps, I make it about half way point back to blighty.

 

Have you decided where you're heading for yet? or where you're planning to cross the channel?

Not exactly, no. Hoping to stumble our way into France tomorrow, then aim for a crossing that avoids Dover, just because AWFUL.

 

Currently sweating in the worst hotel in the world. It has a really noisy air con system that is making sod all different to room temperature. The windows are about 12ft in the air and can't be opened.

 

It is apparently three star.

[loserone]

Sounds like you've entered the luxury* of western Europe!

[catsinthewelder]

I can confirm we are in the hottest hotel in Italy.

 

 

Italy appears to be nice, this is the road we arrived on.

 

 

So we branched off onto another that was barely one Dacia wide. Here it is at the point that Ian's shoulders had finally had enough of constant corners for 10km.

 

[Isaac Hunt]

Just be warned, the traffic is shit slow and you will get a flooded carb.

It's gotta be worth a punt

[dave21478]

I suspect I am a little south of your ideal trajectory but you are welcome to stop in chez moi if wanted/needed. Albi / Castres areas.

I have only 1 spare room though so you are either intertwining your beards in the one bed, or someone gets the couch in the lounge.

[catsinthewelder]

It will be hard to beat Slovenia though.

 

 

Edited due to stupidity

[dollywobbler]

Or even Slovenia...

[dollywobbler]

I suspect I am a little south of your ideal trajectory but you are welcome to stop in chez moi if wanted/needed. Albi / Castres areas.

I have only 1 spare room though so you are either intertwining your beards in the one bed, or someone gets the couch in the lounge.

A kind offer, but we really need to stop pissing about with silly detours and actually head home.

[Timewaster]

Sadly, and against our experiences, Romanians are seen as thieves by the Police. They readily admitted that this is why they stopped us today, but decided we were probably ok when they spotted all the camera kit. They followed us for quite a while, waiting for somewhere to park. We just waited for the inevitable...

I had wondered if you would find people coping an attitude with you driving an RO plated car in the UK in our post referendum world.

 

It hadn't occurred to me that it would happen across Europe.

 

I must live in a bubble. A friend of mine used to drive coaches in Europe and his views on brexit, East Europeans and immigration were much stronger than mine. Surprising for such a usually mild mannered man.

[greengartside]

What an epic journey so far! Keep going little Dacia!

 

I had always dreamed of doing something similar back when I was younger. Dad hired a ropey ‘93 Corsa ‘City’ from a rental place in Magaluf - it was only about five years old at the time but that 1.2 sounded like it had been thrashed from the day it left the factory. I just wanted to buy the thing and then drive it back to the UK, just for the hell of it.

[Wack]

Zebrugge to Hull is an easy crossing,casino, bar, entertainment on board,evening sailing, go to bed, wake up and you're in hull

 

P&O, looks to be about £160 one way on thursday , wednesday is £90 ,£98 for a cabin on top of that though that's an extra , they used to have a room full of reclining arm chairs full of farting truck drivers but I don't know if that experience is still available

 

Bruges is nice

[dollywobbler]

This trip is certainly proving a challenge. I thought it would get easier as we headed west. Instead, I'm currently sat outside in the car, as it's so unbearably hot in the room. Getting on for half eleven here, so probably too late to find another hotel. It's muggy as hell before a storm.

[Talbot]

An alternative and quite pleasant crossing is from Ouistriam (near Caen) to Portsmouth, which then means it's relatively easy* to blat round the M27 and up the A34 to get to the M40, thus avoiding a large chunk of northern France, and all of Kent/London, which may be a bit of a blessing. It's an overnight crossing and you get a decent 8ish hours on the boat, docking at 6:30 in the morning. Not the cheapest crossing, but saves a reasonable amount of miles & driving.

 

Same is also true to some extent of the Dieppe to Newhaven crossing. Many miles saved, although I've not experienced that one.

 

If you use either of those crossings, I'll come down to wave a flag for you getting back to the UK!

[Wingz123]

Get yourself back in a nice cold shower, water in the fridge and just try and relax.

 

Reminds me of the 42 degree heat we had in Spain...I drove to the local bar to use their free wifi snd I was able to reach the wifi signal in the car so had the aircon pumping whilst on the laptop....forgot to say....laptop battery was shite...

[dollywobbler]

I've used both crossings in the past. At the moment, my thoughts are to ditch the Dacia in Wales and head north in something else for Shitefest. Depends how the next few days pans out though. What I'd actually like is a few days ago home, but I fear that's some time away...

[Talbot]

ditch the Dacia in Wales and head north in something else for Shitefest.

Why wouldn't you take it to shitefest? Even if you did manage to get a day or two at home before heading back out again?

[loserone]

I think there's still concern that UK residents can't legally drive it in the UK, and more than getting it home might be taking the urine

[Wingz123]

Take it to the local hand car wash when you get back you’ll make em all happy

[Junkman]

I think there's still concern that UK residents can't legally drive it in the UK, and more than getting it home might be taking the urine

 

Ah, bollox.