09/06/08 - 2 weeks until we leave

I never really planned to write a blog of our trip, until someone on Motorhometoday.co.uk suggested it, and I thought it was a pretty good idea, so here we are. (That's Me in the above picture)

Here is a list of the countries we're doing between the end of June to December 2008: France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, Luxembourg and finishing up in The Netherlands. So in total 19 countries, with an average of just over 9 days in each country, not necessarily in the order posted above though...

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It's two weeks today until we head off to Calais from Dover in the first ever motorhome we have had, so I'm starting to write now as there are quite a few things going on, or at least there should be. The motorhome we have is a Mercedes Autotrail Mohican, it's a 6 berth (apparently) and it has a lovely little bathroom thingy-ma-bob on the back... Nice. Oh yeah and the motorhome is called 'Eric', named after Mikes Grandad who died this time last year. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be going on this trip at all, so Cheers Mr Warner. (That's Mike, above).

We drove the motorhome for the first time in about 5 months yesterday, and Mike drove it for the first time ever! He only passed his driving test a month ago, so I was a tiny bit concerned about if he'd be ok driving it - I needn't have worried. I drove it to an empty car park on the outskirts of Winchester, where Mike took over. There were no problems at all, he handled it really well and we promptly took it out onto the open road towards Petersfield, but stopped prior to there, as we were lured towards a pub by it's sign on the side of the road; Had a quick half a pint, and moved on.

We drove it down the M27 a little bit and got some good practice driving in the dark. It was really nice being the passenger actually, everywhere we have driven Eric before has been me in the driving seat, so I really enjoyed just sitting back and thinking about the potentially epic trip we have waiting ahead of us.

It's going to be a hectic 14 days. There are so many things which need doing. The reason we left it so late for Mike to drive the thing was because we have had a nightmare trying to get it taxed. We had to send away for a logbook to prove ownership, and that took longer than expected - we were getting a bit worried to be honest! Why is it such a hassle to give the government money through the form of tax? Sure I could understand it if we were trying to claim money from Mr Brown, that the process would take so long, but simply to give money to him? It's been such an effort. Grrr.

Anyway, here is the list of things we need to do/purchase before we set off on the 24th June:

- Put it through an MOT

- Get a bike rack attached to the rear

- Fix the rear reverse light which is cracked

- Buy and fit a safe

- Buy a clamp/wheel lock

- Buy a set of spare bulbs

- Buy light invertors + reflective jackets

- Get two new wheels for our bicycles

- Buy first aid kit

There are probably more things too. Actually looking at that list it doesn't appear horrendous, but considering that Mike has college exams up until we leave, and I am working full time until the 16th, it gets a little more daunting. It's alright though, in the last week we're going to blitz through everything - it'll be a rush but it'll work out. :)

All day everyday at work I'm just surfing the internet looking at motorhome websites, reading reviews of previous trips that people have done, or just browsing through pictures of some of the places that we're going to. I think I'm just a bit excited.

That's all for now, cheers, James.

hello everyone, this is Mike here, thought i'd put in my 2 cents. so the trip is only next week its about bloody time :D this trip has been in the planning process for so long, but now things are in the 'doing' phase and its great. this trip has been the only thing keeping me sane at college, ive been dying to travel for a few years and its like next week we're going which is abit unreal really.the beauty of this trip is the motorhome, its gives us complete freedom which is gona be a great thing to experience. it will enable us to really experience the countries we are going to. the real character of places are off the beaten track, which are usually inaccessable to many travellers, but to us there are no constraints. for me this trip is more than just travelling. its a spiritual awakening, espeac at 19 its time to look to the future, my views and opinions have changed quite a lot the last 2 years and this trip is further exploring who i really am. being away from familiar things will be nice, just to get away from my town and the streets i have walked for over 10yrs is gona be sweet, ive had enough and its time to leave.i'll leave it there, i'm sure you will hear from me sometime int he future, i wanna use as little familiar things as possible when away so i'll be staying off the interent, off the phone, just cos i'm sick them really, sorry to say. so you wont hear from me for awhile. but take it easy, relax, have a cuppa tea and i'll see you soon. Mike