So after 7 months away I am back a week early and occupying my familiar haunts in and around Brecon.
A couple of weeks ago I had found a quiet park up on the Rhine far from the busy Bavarian Alps and enjoyed a couple of rides along the bank with one incorporating one of the substantial locks where I watched two huge barges enter the lock, descend gracefully and continue on their way. A small yacht coming the other way looked very insignificant in the deep chasm.
In France I stopped in the understandably popular town of Colmar with it's traditional houses covered in flowers and a tranquil canal passing numerous restaurants.
Heading on in to the Vosges mountains I parked up at an old station at Vagney on one of two 'voies vertes' that provided me with a couple of memorable rides through wooded valleys.
Fireworks at night to celebrate July 14th were augmented by a thunderstorm but the days returned to dry conditions for two excellent rides on well marked mountain bike routes. The temporary fix to my saddle clamp held up and I started planning my route up towards Nancy and Metz for more rides.
However whilst nosing around on Auto trader I spotted another T4 based Topaz van, two years newer than this and with almost half the mileage. I rang the vendor based outside Gloucester and decided it would be well worth a look. Dunkirk was only a day and a half's drive away so I booked the DFDS ferry (£103) and passed steadily through Northern France, Luxembourg and Belgium before parking up in France again half an hour from Dunkirk.
The ferry crossing was only two hours with the White Cliffs looming unexpectedly out of the mist to the delight of the various Europeans travelling over.
A reasonably quiet M20,25 and 4 brought me to just south of Gloucester where the Pilot House Inn allows overnighting and I settled in with a pint and a pizza.
Round at the motorhome and caravan dealership I parked up and wandered over to inspect the van which was in good condition, had the correct mileage, a very comprehensive service history and a washroom area that looked unused.
Unfortunately though they were very reluctant to let me remove a couple of inspection hatches to check the Eber, water pump, water heater etc or test the batteries or other systems with the gas connected or on hook up. As apparently a test drive was also out of the question I decided to leave it be. They cited insurance cover as the stumbling block and looking at all the paperwork I don't think they had anything to hide but as always caveat emptor.
So with the rest of the day free I trundled across to friends at Sennybridge to collect mail and meds and join them for a pint in the Shoemakers. I had given the engine bay a wash and clean with Muck Off but had obviously been a little heavy as on the way through Sennybridge the following morning the engine lost all power and the glow plug light started flashing. Fortunately after a few repeats of the same symptoms things cleared themselves and I headed up to Lower Chapel to collect an aluminium sheet for a small repair project. Tucked away in Llandefalle Woods gave me the opportunity to ride out over to Erwood for refreshments at the old station craft centre but I got caught out by heavy showers on my return so as always the opportunity of a hot shower in the van was very welcome.
Tuesday saw me completing the stunning circular route over the Beacons, starting at Brecon, heading to Pontsticill via Talybont and returning over the Gap Road in dry conditions. I was joined by Luke who is over visiting Jan with his family from Switzerland and I joined them all for an excellent meal last night before returning to Brecon for an eye test today and badminton tonight.
The next few weeks will see catch ups with more friends, the timing belt on the van being done and then a return to Brecon for much of the second half of August.
Looking back over this trip which began just before Christmas it has been a hugely enjoyable and varied experience with many many highlights. My main pleasure has been meeting people from new countries and cultures and realising yet again how much we all have in common, especially with regard to the essentials of life.
The next few months will be largely UK based as I begin the early stages of planning a significant trip starting in September 2026.
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