The adventures of Bangles in Europe

[Roquefort]

Some pictures of this 100% "french-style" RV:

The brochure


As we bought it, some 8 years ago...:



a true "barnfind", unfortunatelly, the roof of this barn was rotten, so warer dripped 25 years in the pick up...!


The cabin is PERFECT! All original, never restored!




A wonderfull "crazy" construction!
See the other existing one:

[tevake]

Yet another remarkable booth setup Marcus. You really have built an interesting business. This one based on the H-van looks like a smaller set up but oh so nicely done, with the olive wood facia etc.

Thanks for including the afterwork 2 am reality shots. It all seems so romantic, but I'm sure makes for some long days on your feet.

Citroen really went on a tear with the panel bodied vehicles, the 2CV. Then the Charicterful H-van WOW!
The Top Gear show did an episode featuring the boys doing up an H-van. Including installing an upgraded modern engine and transmission. Might be an episode worth watching since you mention this amazing sounding camper unit you have. Got to share some pics of that rig when you can.

And thanks again Marcus for the fun look into what fellow Aluminuminitus sufferers In Europe are up to.

Citroen virus, too funny!

Cheers Richard

[Roquefort]

Second step...!


The blue one is ours:



First time "on tour"!
Not for long, we blew the cylinderhead gasket...! Easy fix, parts are ALL available and cheap!




While i have too many projects, we decided to sell it, or "swop" for something other, we can use without too much time-invest.
Maybe a small Airstream, Argosy or "what ever". I have all documents in hand and will happily ship it to the next port for export. It's a true vintage RV, absolute original and very hard to find. Cutroen HY parts are available and very affordable!
Maybe somebody here in the forum has ab idea about.
Happy Airstreaming!!!!

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by Roquefort

...

While i have too many projects, we decided to sell it, or "swop" for something other, we can use without too much time-invest.
Maybe a small Airstream, Argosy or "what ever".!

I know what you want and really need
And I know where there is one for sale right now....without the truck
Anja will love you forever and you and the boys will have the 345 all to yourselves, haha

[Roquefort]

How cool is this!!!!
Did you know, Jane & Bill own a pick up truck line this!!!! in "baby-blue"! Where did you find it? Expensive...?
If "drivable" without too much invest, i am ready to get it in a timely maner!

[PeterH-350LE]

Just the camper, Marcus. I am on it and see if I can drag it over here...Need more shiny stuff in my yard for the deer to look at..

[PeterH-350LE]

Marcus send me this link of his travel route in the Mosel Valley, known of course for its vineyards and beautiful towns and castles.
Its an RV guide with a list of campgrounds written in german, but the pictures are well worth looking at:
http://www.promobil.de/bilder/mobil-...--6542452.html

[Roquefort]

Hey, we just came back from our "Saar- / Moselvalley" trip!
It was an amazing expirience, me, as the "Hotel-driver", my family as the "sportsteam" with their bicicles!!
While we had "low" conection, i was unable to post from the tour, so i will do now:
We started close to midnight, late as allways...!
Arrived safely in Saarbrücken after a 400km trip.
No parklot...! we "camped" in the middle of Saarbrücken, in front of my cousins house 😃
no "toad" this time, but ; bikes!

first "Campground"!
We started then by bike to visit the "world heritage Monument-Völklinger Hütte", a "retired" steel plant, founded in 1895, was NON STOP in use till 1986.
An impressive tour thru the plant!!!!


These giant steam generators, build in 1905 ran 81 years, 365 days, 24 hours a day! Build by the german DEMAG machine works, they are still able to run today!




There was a well equipped RV park inside the plant, even if the lots are too small...!
We had a nice family gathering at night with fun & barbecue!

This was our first day, we stayed over night, then left to Merzig, allways along the Saar River! What a nice rural tour!!!!
ATTACH]268572[
Breakfast, my job. then my "team" left for their 40km daily trip!
ATTACH]
Will post more!
Next stop Merzig, close to a little Marina at the Saar riverside!

[Roquefort]

The Merzig RV ground, next to a nice swimming pool and fun park! Kids were happy!


Went further to discover the "Saarschleife", what a nice part of Germany!!!! Very narrow roads, allways allong the river!



There was "tree-tour", we could walk in about 70ft height in the crowns of the forest!



End of the "tree walk" was a tower, again 70ft higher than the "catwalk", with an impressive vieuw! Next Stop was Mettlach, where the wellknown "Villeroy & Boch 1732" fine China manufactur is located.


We had to park her next to the tour coaches, ghe visitirs RV park was far too small...!

[Roquefort]

After visiting Mettlach, the "Bike-Team" went further thru the valley, i tried tondo so also...!
I cruised thru the forest, roads became more and more narrow...!


in front if this "bridge", next to the Saar-river, the "road" ended...!
In the middle if "no-where", but in woderfull nature! stopped there dor a coffee brake, then went back 25 mls (!) up mountain, to re-join the river road ob the other side of the hills!


Here the "officical" road, crossing (again) the Saar!



Do you see "Bill", my "Flamingo-Guide"? If this Toy is facing forward, i am on a "good" way! Could not use Google maps there, the cellphone does NOT work in this part of the valley....!
Apropos Flamingo!
Forget to show, what we found at "Villeroy&Boch":

Later more!
From there we went to more "historic" places, soon we arrived in Trier!
A 2100 years (!!!) old town, the oldest in Germany!
Be curious!!!

[PSchw]

Beautiful are to bad I did not explore it before I moved to the US 30 years a go. Oh now I remember could not afford an RV.
Thanks for the nice pictures.

Peter
From Offenbach am Main.

[bolerama]

Your journeys are so interesting and enjoyable. Thanks for "bringing" us along!Lisa

[Roquefort]

Thank you for your replies!!!!
We love to share our "Airstream Expiriences", we haven't seen ANY other Airstream till now here...😢.
But we realized, there is a Europe chapter from WBCCI! We are members now, hopefully we can have once a rally or Meeting here in Germany!
Just to let you know:
Our "Wanda" left today from Wilton IA to the port of Baltimore, she will arrive in Zeebrugge / Belgium by august 29th!!!! (Thank you so much Bill for all your support again!!!)
See Bill & Jane, just before "Wanda" left.
We count the days!

Daryn, the "hauling guy".


Have a safe "last tour" in Amerika, Wanda. Europe & the Pasterkamp family is waiting for you!!!!


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[Roquefort]

After leaving Mettlach (and the fabulous Villeroy&Boch plant!), we "cruised" thru the lovely Saar-Valley.
Wonderfull nature, calm and stressless roads. Everywhere nice spots to rest and enjoy the "Bangles-Mood"!
Changing from "Saarland" to "Rheinland-Pfalz", entering the well known "wine-area" of Germany!!!

as you may see, i enjoy every mile...!

a quite and peacefull spot i found to wait for my "sports-team", the are just a few miles behind me, so i had to hurry up, to prepare lunch!

The first was Frido...!

So, lunchbreak done, cold water "refilled", they check their maps to continue! (Me, "Moses", i had to pack up, clean the pantry and "hurry up" to arrive at the evening stop at "Saarburg RV park"!

Had to realize, THIS road was definitifly too narrow...! Even the bike could not pass!

i crossed the "Saar" by using a "water-energy-plant", continuing in direction of Saarburg.



Saarburg RV park! Fully booked, i forgot to make a reservation...😳!
Anyhow, NO spot was big enough for us, we could not stay due to the fact, the "escape lane" was blocked...!
But, EVERYONE was friendly and exited about Bangles, i was invited for coffee!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻


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[Roquefort]

So i had to cruise further to Saarburg-town.
Hundreds of years old, very historic!!

very nice old town, but also VERY narrow roads...!



very, very narrow...! Was afraid nit to be able to pass the town!

finally i found an -ugly- spot to park Bangles, a few hundred yards outside was a touring coach parking! I left Bangles there and tried to "catch" my family by -BIKE-!

They allready arrived and found a PERFECT italian icecream bar, Frido ordered the "Flamingo-Cup" (what else?)



Saarburg is really nice!!!


While we not wanted to "camp" illegal @ this ugly bus-park, my "Bikers" decided to add a few miles and go further to Trier! On my Way to Trier i passed the town of Konz, where the Saarriver ended and float into the Moselle.
Many things to show there!!!!!
Stay curious, by for now 👍🏻👍🏻😀


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[Roquefort]

OK, we left cozy Saarburg, down the River to TRIER! Frido found a PERFECT spot for the night and the following day! There is a "Tourbook" available, where you can find Places at Farms or wineries etc.




We camped in the middle of a wineyard, a qiet and cozy place, AC hook-up available and we bought some wine direct from their hills.
Mats took care of a nice barbecue, a wonderfull family evening after a 55 km trip BY BICICLE! (not me...&#128540

Early in the morning (to early for somedy...!) we had a sunny breakfast under the awning (the farmer brought fresh rolls!!!) and we left together to discover the fantastic town of TRIER!!!

Never travel without pets!


What a nice place to "camp"!


We started our Tour in the "Basilika" if Trier, founded in 250 after Christ, means this Building is about 1800 (!!!) years old! after all these decades still in use as a protestant church!
Interesting detail, Karl Marx, the "founder" of the komunism (!) is born in Trier, he went to his "Konfirmation" at the age of 14 in EXACT this church!
Next we saw was the katholic Kathedral, an impessive monument founded in 1100 after Christ.




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[Roquefort]

even the boys were DEEPLY impressed by this age old monument.


What you see there is unique in the world, in this sanctuary the seamless robe of our lord is exposed. (behind 50mm thick glass...!)
It's part of the "Cathedral treasure" and shown to the people every few years.

See the cathedral in the back of the street.

and the roman Basilika from outside.



In Trier you find roman culture everywhere! What you see behind Anja & me is the "Porta Nigra", a roman towngate, about 2000 (!) years old.

Mats wanted to be a "roman Centurio" 😃😃😃
A "culture" trip, amazing to do, but also we all were a bit tired, it was 35 Celsius, means VERY hot!
Needed a break and a typical "Trier-lunch"!
You will see it soon!!!!


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[PSchw]

Love your travel report.
Thanks

Peter

[Boom Sounds]

We went past Saarbrucken on our way to the Italian Lakes - UK to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and over the Brenner pass (recommended) to Italy. We are currently at Lake Garda where we will take some trips to Venice and Verona. On the way home, we will go via Switzerland and on to the Black Forest/Freiburg before heading home.


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[Roquefort]

Hey, wonderfull tour! I remember the Lake Garda many years ago with my parents, i was 7 or maybe 8 years old...!
What is the rig you are travellling with? Sent some pics please. I am sure, not only me is curious to see this!!!!!!
Happy Airstreaming!!!!!


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