Back in France

We are back at La Source for a few weeks. Just time to get some serious climbing and Via ferrattas in before our return to England. Tracey, Heather, William and Thomas have been here a week on holday. A couple of days at the local lake ensured that Ian and I were dunked several times by Will and Thomas. We got them back mind when we dangled them on a rockface and took Will on his first Via ferratta.
Boy it's hot here but after getting soaked for the whole of August we're loving it.

Ayla and Tim

We managed to get the van stuck today well and truely. The most embarrasing bit though after all the travels through pot holed muddy roads was that we were in the camp site about to leave. It took a while and snow chains to get us out. People in little tents around us were probably having a good laugh at us. During all this we got talking to a Ayla and Tim fellow full time travellers so we ended stopping another couple of nights for a few bevvies. Well a lot actually but it was an early night at 2.30am impressive for us light weights.

Slovenia Tatras Mountains

We are parked up in a campsite looking at the Tatras mountains, well the bits we can see inbetween the rain clouds that is. Weather here is grim as has most of August. We are surrounded by forest much of which was flattened in a storm in 2004, great for good views bad for the ecology. Holly and Belle enjoy our bike rides around the forest, particularly the first day where they ended up in a mudbath. Holly is determined to keep up with Belle and is doing really well considering her dodgy back.
We have a camp fire by our pitch and cooked dinner the other night, well what we had left after Belle managed to grab half the sausages off the counter top, she left us the skewers! You should have seen Ian’s face, it was a picture. He had ridden into town especially for the sausages. As we sat later on in the dark a chilled out fox walked past a couple of feet away from us. Later he came back found Belles tug mutt toy, tried to kill it then ran off into the forest with it. Ian reckons he’s running round the forest now showing off to his mates.

Do you think they'll be mad
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Am getting too old for this
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I got it
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Holly made me do it
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What!
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Vlad the Impaler

Aka Dracula is nowhere to be seen. In fact his castle in Transylvania was too pretty and he never actually stopped there. Ian spent the afternoon pretending he was Dracula but a dig in the ribs sorted that out.The weather here has been awful with severe flooding, we had some tricky driving at times and the satellite dish had a close encounter with a steal girder and the dish came off worse. Well it's knackered basically but was never much use to us anyway as we don't watch telly. No time for that.
Travelling across Transylvania we picked up a couple of sodden back packers who turned out to be English and Austrian. We all visited a communist prison together rather moving and then checked into a lovely quaint campsite with tiny log cabins and open fire where all the cooking was done. The vegetables were washed in the stream and the meat chopped on a log outside the kitchen. The food here is plain but very good and cheaper than buying in the supermarket. The village is famous for its Merry Cemetry where the graves have carved wooden crosses brightly painted depicting the deceased and how they died. With a humourous story attached about their death, just wished we could have read that bit but managed to understand some of the gruesome endings by the carvings.
Now we are heading further up the valley, we are right by the Ukrainian border in an area that is like stepping back in time a couple of hundred years. Everbody is out working in the fields or washing wool in the streams or trying to flog a woven rug to the odd tourist.
After today we are off to Hungary for a goulash!

Happy Birthday Lilly

Andrew-&-Lilly-Walking
Originally uploaded by jacqui.jsb.

How cute and Lilly too!!!

Chilling at Mamia beach Romania

Should I shave my hair darling
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Jac & Ian
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Buhusi Romania

We are currently stopping with friends we met while on the coast. Their home is in northern Romania at Buhusi. Gabi and her daughter Sara curently live in London and are taking a couple of months visiting family back at their hometown. Adrian, Anna and Bianca are neighbours. They were all camping at Mamia when we met. It's been non stop eating and drinking for four days. In return for their hospitality we cooked some traditional English cuisine, chicken korma and bread and butter pudding which they seemed to like. We had a great time meeting everyone including all the neighbours!
Photos of all will follow.

Cowgirl Gabi
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Now this is a good chip
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Your chips do taste good
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Sara
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Adrian,Anna,Bianca and Che Che
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Romanian delicacy Smoked fat
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Albena Bulgaria

We are in the most bizarre camp site at one of Bulgarias upmarket resorts. It's like a concentration camp, camping enough for two tents the rest are wood shacks. Very strange. Just been for an english breakfast our first in 7 months. It consisted of a large hotdog and onions, pickled mushrooms, large dried out beans no sauce. Ian to blame for the idea of breakfast, will stick to yoghurt.
Heading off to Romania now and hoping for a luxury camp site after 4 weeks wild camping.

Sozopol Bulgaria

Finally we have left Sofia. We walked away from the apartment we liked as there were too many things to do. It had just been renovated and was very good quality but no heating no kitchen no boiler etc, would have meant us hanging around Sofia another month sorting things out and going to Macedonia to extend our visas. As we are now heading back to the Uk sept/oct we want the rest of our time to explore Europe not sitting around waiting for a plumber to turn up.
So now we are on the coast heading up to Romania. If we see a new build we like we might go for it but otherwise it's not to be.
Just off for some lunch now, prices here are soooo cheap. Cheaper to eat out than do it ourselves, plus it's too hot to bother with cooking.

Sofia Bulgaria

We are in Sofia looking at property in the center of the city, we think it's a better option than Bansko there's so much new build going on there that we imagine the slopes would be a nightmare.
The city is nice once you look past the scruffy bits and it's very lively. Last Sunday they had a grafitti festival near where we were parked, after been to the cinema we returned to the van. While we were sat there a really stupid probably out of his head idiot(am being polite) busted the passenger door lock. We have deadlocks on all doors so he got no further. Our ever alert guard dogs were busy having a sunday afternoon snooze as we jumped over them to get to the door.In a second the idiot had gone.
We have spent the past week parked in Bulgaria's most expensive secure car park at ten pounds for 24hrs a bargain by UK city prices, just by the main park so Holl and Belle are happy. Ian and I are going stir crazy and desperate to get to the mountains now but we have a few more properties to look at on Mon then it's time to decide.
Our travel plans are changing now. Ian has a job as a ski intructor at Copper Mountain Denver Colorado starting in Nov, so after Sofia we are now on our way back across Europe and back to the UK for Sept/Oct. The one slight problem is Belle, we cannot bring her into the UK before the 19th Oct due to her passport. So we have to work our way around that problem. Ian will head out and we'll follow if necessary.
My planned brief trip back to the UK is now cancelled and we'll all come back together soon.

Bansko Bulgaria

We have eventually made it to Bulgaria and are currently in the ski resort of Bansko. Two different worlds in one town. New 5 star ski hotels and apartment blocks at one end, old ladies washing rugs in a pit at the other with horse and cart for transport. We get our water from the same trough as the horses, good fresh mountain spring. If it doesn’t kill the horses it should be alright for us. Emptying the van loo has been a bit tuffer around here but where there’s a will and a bold front your in. We thought customs were going to dismantle the van at the boarder crossing, but they only had two screwdrivers in their toolbox and gave up when they couldn’t budge the first screw. Tonight we are putting on the glad rags again and I’m taking Jac to the 5 Star hotel to post the Blog and collect the E-mails, lucky girl. Keep you posted.

Quick note from Jac, Ian's glad rag's were his usual scruff's!! Men.
Hi to Lilly!

Greece

Ian and Belle Vikos Gorge
Originally uploaded by jacqui.jsb.

Spot the Ancient Ruin
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What a couple of babes
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Needs A Bit Of Work Love
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Greek Mobile Home
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Happy Father's Day

Sorry we couldnot phone and no we did not forget but you don't get mobile reception in the middle of the Greek mountains. Tried to phone from the top of Mount Olympus but battery went flat :-( Oops. So hope you both had a good day.
Speak soon. J&I x

Mount Olympus Greece 3000m

Yesterday we climbed the mythical mountain of the Gods, Ian said he was the only God I needed. It was the toughest trek of our lives, 6 hours straight up on very steep,rocky, loose paths. We really did not think pooches would be up for this one but no problems there. Another 6 hours back down was agony on the knees. Most people do the trek over two to three days as it's such a slog and stop at the refuges. Having dogs we did not think they were allowed in the refuges so we went for it. We managed to acquire the local stray dog of the mountain, a bit of a BOB!!Tag's onto friendly folk. Usually hangs around one of the refuges. He followed us for 3 hours down the mountain and spent last night asleep by the van. He seems to have the hots for Belle. He was still following us in the van as we headed back down to the main village. Hopefully he gave up and headed back up the mountain.
While in Greece we have been to Athens (awful), Olympia to see the ruins of the Olympic games 750BC, Vikos Gorge and a few days rest on the beach after our Albania escapade. Next we are off to the north to find some quiet beaches and then onto either Turkey or Bulgaria.
Sorry no pictures but technology over here is a bit behind so can't hook up with the laptop.

Durres Albania

We are now in Albania after spending a couple of weeks in Croatia and the last 4 days in Montenegro.The border crossing here was interesting, had to wait while the guards all had their morning brew. Two guards came into the van to marvel at the interior and the push button catches on the doors!! Oh they loved Holl and Belle too. In fact every where we go all these tough looking officials all go soft when they see them.
The roads here are like those in Romancing the Stone, dirt and gravel tracks with more pot holes than roads and these are the main roads. We had one lovely smooth drive on one tarmac road it was a real treat!! We are now heading along the coast road to Greece its about two hundred miles away but will take 8 to 10 hours to do, we hope there will be the odd decent bit of road.

Ian's First Blog

This is your first blogg update from Ian, Jac’s working on her photos tonight so I have hit the town, having a few beers and checking out the talent oops web. After leaving Omis we caught the ferry to the island of Hvar to find more climbing areas. A small fishing village provided a beautiful backdrop to some small crags for Jac and I. Not long climbs, only 8 meters but testing never the less. 40° in the shade and the only bar in the village was not selling drinks yet as it wasn’t summer!!! How hot does it have to get for summer to be declared in Croatia? But, we still had a good time. After parting with Tony and Carol on their wedding anniversary we spent the night again on the dockside waiting for the first ferry off the island next morning. A lovely drive brought us to Dubrovnik and Auto camp Solitude. The solitude didn’t last too long when the Hotel Disco down the road started to blast out YMCA and “Agadoo doo doo push pineapple shake the tree” and then it gets stuck in you head. Last night we joined the culture vultures for a concert by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra and it was fantastic. Hitting the road again tomorrow and heading for Greece, will keep you posted, get it!
Last minute update, I'm sat in a private party with a bunch of journalists flown in from Zagreb to promote T.com. Free booze and food and Jac don't know about it. Anybody who is anybody in Croatia is here including the National Football Coach. Its a hard life

Congratulations Nicola and Frank

Frank and Nicola had a baby girl yesterday, no name yet all doing well.

We are at a place called Omis on the Croation coast. Red hot it is. Sorry
After climbing yesterday we went to an outdoor restaurant for food done in trad way over open fire, big plate of mixed meat roasted and chips. Ian thought he had died and gone to heaven not a sniff of a salad. Cost 5 quid each and was divine, pint of lager a pound so had a few then when temperature cooled from 39 degrees to 30 we tried to do some climbing again, I gave up after two minutes my fingers are shot after 5 days climbing. Carol and Tony are with us from the charity trip
for a few days climbing.
On Wed to cool down in the afternoon we hired a little boat with a lawn mower for an engine and went up a gorge with cliffs towering either side. Holly tried drinking the entire river and Belle unexpectedly jumped off the boat into the river as we sped down it. She was suddenly a long way back before I new it half my kit was off and was about to dive in. Our captain Tony managed to get the boat round and I grabbed little un who looked terrified by now. Think she will have learnt her lesson from that one.
Am sat in a well funky apple mac internet cafe tucked away in a little medieval town. We are about to move further down the coast to Brela a quaint town with lots more climbing. I might sneak off and find a sun lounger instead! Bruised battered knees and hands from sharp rock will look really attractive on the beach.

Zdravo from Croatia

Carol and Tony
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We never got to the casino so Ians still stuck with me for now. Instead we spent an evening with an English couple Carol and Tony en-route to Croatia and Serbia with a charity group taking computers and supplies to local orphanages. It was quite a novelty to sit with company all evening and chat again, we don’t get much chat back from Holly and Belle though they do try.
The following morning Sun 15 May we say our goodbyes and hope to meet up again in Croatia. The campsite has been a treat for us but we are now desperate to getting back to finding remote spots with stunning views and go exploring again. We call in at Ljubljana the capital of Slovenia, just as the rain starts which resulted in all the tourists disappearing for cover so we walked deserted streets for 3 hours. A little old woman sat by the Triple bridge making small flower poseys, she looked like Micheal Palins mum. I wondered what her story was and what she had seen in the years of communist rule.
The next day we call into some caves at Divaca and walk deep underground to a cavern 100m deep & 300m long with a raging river flowing 50 metres below the little dimly lit walkway. Incredible, like something out of Lord of the Rings where Gandolf falls into the underground gorge. Luckily the bridge stayed intact.
Later we head to the coast to Piran, walk for a few hours in the sun and park up for the night.

Yesterday we crossed into Croatia and now we are in Porec. This was my first foreign destination twenty odd years ago back then it was Yugoslavia. Now it’s a very busy tourist resort so after a quick internet stop and walk round we are heading off down the coast to find a remote beach.
Dovidenja for now.

Divaca Caves
Originally uploaded by jacqui.jsb.

Slovenia Julian Alps and Lake Bled

After spending a few days in the Dolomites hiking and getting snowed in we headed to Slovenia.The drive here up and down the mountains was fantastic. Yesterday we snowshoed(very slowly, very hard work)up to a summit of 1911m not the highest round here as they are all still covered in thick snow from the top we could see Italy, Austria and Slovenia. An 800m drop either side meant dogs were on their leads much to their disgust.
Today we are at Lake Bled at a campground by the lake. The site is luxury after wild camping for a month, there is even a dog shower! Had a gentle stroll around the lake and taking it easy for the day before we head back into the mountains. We have heard the first English voices in a month too, seems very strange suddenly being able to listen and understand off to find some English papers and books now. May try the Casino later with twenty quid to double our money!!If we loose Ian,s going to flog me for a million and run off with the cash.

Bolzano Italy

We called in here to get access onto the internet with my mac so I can update my website. We are about to put our best clobber on and go for a few drinks at the Sheraton and hopefully use their wireless access point.

Next we head over to the Dolomites.
Chow.