Tag: Adventure Caravanning

Agricamping Corte Comotto, Verona, Italy

Piazza_Erbe_Verona — Pups in the Piazza – Cooling off in Piazza Erbe, Verona

“IMPOSS-I-BILE!”

We had viewed an apartment for the winter ski season, which had a large parcel of land to the side. “IMPOSS-I-BILE!” was the very Italian reaction to our commitment to pay a deposit straight away if we could leave our caravan parked in a discreet corner of the land over the winter.

I said last time that Italian property rental is very different from the UK. The idea was dismissed out of hand, without consideration. There was not even any attempt to negotiate; to seal the deal and get the money in the bank, months in advance. Two foreigners and a caravan? It was all just way too far out of the ordinary.

Continue reading “Agricamping Corte Comotto, Verona, Italy” →

In Praise of Italian Bureaucracy! Gressoney, Monte Rosa

Castel_Savoie — Cavapoos & Castles – Castel Savoie, Gressoney St Jean

We have seen people arrive on campsites with all manner of vehicles; on motorbikes with tiny tents and with caravans pulled by vintage tractors. Today, I saw my favourite ever – two men rocked up with all of their kit packed in panniers aboard two donkeys! Continue reading “In Praise of Italian Bureaucracy! Gressoney, Monte Rosa” →

“To Boldly Go Where No Van Has Gone Before!” Gran Paradiso – Italy

Kai looks shocked; was it the cold shower or the hairpins?!

My day kicked off with four ten-second bursts of freezing cold water, full in the face. Continue reading ““To Boldly Go Where No Van Has Gone Before!” Gran Paradiso – Italy” →

From Wage Slaves to Living the Dream – Our First Book in Print!

Jacqueline_Lambert_Book_Adventure_Caravanning_with_Dogs

We are delighted to announce that our first book is now available on Amazon, just in time for Christmas! Continue reading “From Wage Slaves to Living the Dream – Our First Book in Print!” →

Paradise Found! Camping La Chassagne, Auvergne, France

Paradise_Found_Camping_La_ Chassagne_ Ronnet (4) — Paradise Found!

I tend to fill the kettle and leave it on the hob the night before. In the compact living space of the caravan, this means that all I need to do is lean out of bed to reach the knob to switch it on for my morning coffee!

The occupants of the tent next door were up early; it was 07:30. The smell of toast wafted into the caravan. I love the morning smells of a campsite. In Britain, the delicious smell of bacon frying…

My reverie was interrupted by the shrill screech of the smoke alarm. I shot out of bed. The kettle was still cold! It seems that half asleep, in semi-darkness and without my glasses, I had turned on the grill rather than the hob. Crumbs in the grill pan explained the smell of toast as they heated up to the point of near combustion… Thank goodness for the smoke alarm. Otherwise maybe WE would have been toast! Continue reading “Paradise Found! Camping La Chassagne, Auvergne, France” →

A Change of Heart – & A Change of Direction!

Caravan_Cavapoos_3 — Ruby gazes wistfully out of the caravan window. “It’s too hot to do anything!”

The temperature in Brittany continued to hover in the mid 30°s. With hardly a breath of wind, I found it too hot to do anything. The poor dogs were expiring.

Then we met a Dutch guy who lived in Portugal, our planned destination. He said that the temperature there was breaking records and pushing an unprecedented 50°C! Continue reading “A Change of Heart – & A Change of Direction!” →

Zen and the Art of Caravan Maintenance – From Garda to Gressoney, Italy

Mark made a sly, nocturnal foray on to the roof of the caravan with a set of clippers.

The following day, we found a note on the caravan requesting our presence at the Campsite Reception. With our history of evictions, we were more than a little worried. Continue reading “Zen and the Art of Caravan Maintenance – From Garda to Gressoney, Italy” →