2026

Countries/territories visited: .it

The year begins in Naxos.

Eden Campsite

Not the most celubrious of sites, but all facilities. €7 a night, with lekkie extra.

N037.82193

E015.26725

Then it's off for a few days to Bucoli, the second time.

Brucoli Cliff Parking

Just free Wifi, but a great view.

37.28424

15.18623

Then follows Siracusa, also again and for a few days.

Syracusa Area Von Platen

Really crappy site, but well located.

37.07716

15.28756

We get to hear the massive explosions of a Sicilian marriage, Zoa is most unimpressed. There is rain and storm Harry which does a great deal of damage to some of the seafronts on the east coast.

Then we spend days next to the Eurospar in Marina di Ragusa

Marina di Ragusa - 42 Via Sebastiano Caboto

Just a carpark, with other vans

36.7869

14.5592

Zoa loves the beach here.

at the municiple stop in Marina di Ragusa

Municiple Stop

Cleaned up since the last visit, all services including lekkie. €15

36.78843

14.54680

and up the road from the Nature Park at Punta Braccetto

Road Parking

No services

36.82084

14.45981

The weather is changable and Ruth causes concern with an unreliable starter battery, so we head to Ragusa Techmat and buy a battery booster. Hope we don't need it, although the engine doesn't spring to life with the willingness of a 17-year old.

On the way back to the coast a night at Donnafugata

Donnafugata Parking

No services

36.88060

14.56513

Then back to the Marina and in an around with a stop at the FIAT services in Ragusa for an oil and filter change.

There is sometimes rain

Marina di Ragusa - 42 Via Sebastiano Caboto

Just a carpark, with other vans

36.7869

14.5592

We have coffee here most mornings. Zoa has decided he likes the people here and greets them with great Gusto!

We have days of sunshine and then a few days of wind. Goodness knows how other parts of Europe are coping, where their wind is twice the conditions we are having on Sicily. It's difficult to sleep with the van rocking.

It too passes and we settle back into the daily routine of walks, coffee, food and a few online information channels.

02-MAR and we packup and head for Catania to have Ruth weighed (for free) in a 3380 Kgs. Then on to the Mall near the airport for a less-than quiet night, but I'm OK with it.

Commercial Center Catania

Just a carpark, with the airport just over the road.

36.7869

14.5592

Some absolute idiot started a war and so the price of diesel seems to have lifted off. We do manage to get a decent deal before 2 nights with a view of Etna at another shopping center.

Etnapolis Mall Catania

Just a carpark, but with free lekkie and dog walks.

36.7869

14.5592

When then take the back road to the west of Etna and visit Castello Bronté, only because we used to live in a house called Bronté House at the top of Lympstone, Devon. Not special, but with a long history. Onwards down a spectaculr (and narrow) road to Messina Point for 2 nights

Messina Point Parkup

Just a parking place - but what a view. Some rubbish.

N038.26690

E016.65150

An early morning ferry takes us to the mainland and a long drive on the Autostrade to Paestum

Paestum Parkup

A carpark for a taverna, quiet.

N038.26690

E016.65150

Again and early departure and we take the road to Monte Cassino, but not that interesting, so we drive on to Fiumicino

Fiumicino beach carpark

Just off the port. No services.

N041.76926

E012.22123

I'm getting tired of the Autostrade, but the free roads are do not have the best surface. Anyway we end up in Orbetello for the night, after a walk around the town. Saturday, so nothing happening.

Orbetello municiple camper park

No services.

N042.44586

E011.23138

Some Monday morning shopping at the Coop, then on to a lovely beach. And we have windstill and sunshine.

Pappasole Rest Area

No services. Just a carpark. This time behind a line of pines and a long sandy beach.

N042.94704

E010.69294

We were here in 2011, nothing changed.

Saw diesel at €1.84 again, so grab a tank full.

La Spezia municiple camper park

All services, including toilet and hot shower. Lekky extra, not cheap.

N044.10931

E09.86164

A bit out of the way behind the docks, but we walk to the city. The Post Office, built in 1940 by the fascists.

We head up to the Po plain and spend a quiet night in a typical Italian town. Good coffee.

Vercelli municiple camper park

All the basic services, however none of them are working (no lekkie to the devices). Such a shame.

N045.32790

E08.41290

We do some shopping before we head up the valley into

Switzerland

and the Simplon Pass which has snow, how enjoyable for Zoa.

Then back down and along the Vallais and into

France

Along the lake and up a long, windy drive to Böege for an evening with an ex co-worker at DEC. And a rainy night in their drive before we head down the hill and back into

Switzerland

For breakfast and time with my ex-boss in Coppet before getting some French honey in Divonne and then on to a quiet night beside the SBB rails.

Bavois SBB carpark

Just a parkup

N046.68730

E06.56010

Then to another colleague in Neuchatel before we go to another parkup

Roggwil carpark next to the SBB

Also, just a parkup, but a nice walk alongside a stream

N047.25130

E007.81510

Another friend is on the path before we get to Zürich, my home city. Lovely to be here again, in spite of the cold.

We spend a few quite days at the campsite

Fischer's Fritz Campsite

Full services.

47.33644

08.55054

Then visit friends, family and the new grandchild - we even get to stay with my son Barney and his whole family.

27-MAR and off we go to

France

and we spend the night at the new CCP site in Fessenheim. It's very cold

CCP Fessenheim

Full services. including a toilet and shower.

N047.91940

E007.53220

Then down the Rhein to stay beside the water, nice and quiet.

Marckolsheim parkup

No services, quiet.

N048.14950

E007.59770

Then an up drive to Hoste

Hoste municiple site

Basic services, including lekkie, between two large ponds.

N049.06760

E006.87730

Then into

Luxembourg

for inexpensive (relative) diesel (€ 2.00) before driving on to

Belgium

for a quiet night in

Houyet CCP

Basic services, including lekkie.

N050.19329

E005.00210

Then, with a stop for LNG into

France

and two nights beside the rowing lake...

Saint-Georges-sur-l'Aa Parkup

No services, quiet

N050.96970

E002.13220

The trees have been trimmed, not affecting the early morning walks beside the water.

The usual visit to the friendly vet, some shopping and walks on the sand, watching the ships come in and go out.

Aire de camping-cars | Calais

Convenient and shops near.

N50.9592

E01.8327

We also visit the local war museum which is housed in the former German bunker.

5-APR and we head off on a ferry to

England

We arrive in the afternoon and spend a quiet night drive to the village green in Lydd.

Lydd Village

Overnight allowed on the village Green. A couple of nice pubs which I didn't use.

N50.95022

E0.91022

Then on to Eastbourne and shoreham. Nive walk on the beach and coffee in a local shop.

Shoreham

Small carpark not far from the long pebble beach. Quiet.

N50.8295

W0.2734

With a view of the tower in Brighton way in the distance.

Port Solent

Free once one is registered.

N050.83955

E001.09672

And on to Gosport for a few nights and to have F&C with a cousin.

Exmouth Parking

Behind the beach, huge marked out slots especially for motorhomes.

50.61267

03.39927

This site has gone from £11 to £20 in one giant leap. The plan seems to be to install water and waste, but it does seem to me to be charging at that level before the facilities are available is robbery. (In France, at CCP sites the offer is Wifi, lekkie, pitch, dumping and water for less than £20.)

We then head to Totnes and spend 4 months doing what we usually do - servicing my body, paying tax, insurance and walking a lot beside the river.

At the farm owned by friends who allow us to leave Ruth there.

This year I'm keen to get back to Züri to see family so we leave earlier than usual.

It turns out that Zoa's French Pet Passport is no longer for travel into Europe in spite of his having been born there. Yet another benefit of brexit. So, we have to arrange an AHC (Animal Health Certificate) which under normal circumstances seems to demand a price of circa £300. But, I find a Romanian Vet who charges a lot less. It's only valid for 3 months I think. Not an issue because we don't plan to be back until the Spring of 2027.

So, we packup our shackles and leave the farm taking the road north with the first stop at one of our favourite places, the Environment Agency parkup on the Somerset Flats.

Environment Agency Parking

No services, but quiet

51.05295

W02.892033

Then, there are friends to meet in Brizzle and bath, probably the last time we will ever be there. We have a lovely time with both sets of friends, both of whom we met on campsites.

Bath P&R

Newly discovered, inexpensive way to stay in Bath given the low emission zone.

051.4110

-002.3879

Penn Street Parking

The only dog walking is in a wood on the site

51.656569

-0.666267

Meet a family member - such fun conversation... We also met a dog group with Zoa "playing" with another vizsla - fun times indeed.

Then on to Dover, where we take our usual night crossing

to

France

We spend a few days at a free parking available for the summer and walking on the beach.

We spend a quiet night in Cambrésis.

Cambrésis Parking

An entirely free area including lekkie.

50.10204

-003.55476

Sadly, just one of the many rural French towns which has lost its way, boarded up shops and houses.

Onward as it really heats up

Sedan CCP

Beside the river/canal in the town. The usual services

049.69861

004.93709

We are lucky to find a pitch under the trees, little direct sunshine. A nice walk around the park and along the river in the morning. The park has this "heritage" glasshouse.

Then through Belgium and Luxembourg (where we get cheaper, not cheap, diesel) and back to France for a few days in the heat.

Pfaffenhoffen

A free site with lekkie at €2 for 4 hours.

048.84743

007.61242

What must have been a lively community for many years, very quaint houses, which match the roads. It's really warm now.