We did 3,600 miles in total, taking in the delights of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy & little old Monaco. Once on the continent we avoided motorways if we could, especially if they were toll ones.

The 205 wasn't too happy about doing the length of the Alps, but she didn't complain & despite being heavily laden still managed to return 54.15 mpg overall (yes, it's a diesel).

Anyway, that's enough small talk, on with the trip.......

After a long days drive it was getting dusk as we pitched tent at the camp site next to the Mosel river.

Drove along the valley to Cochem, drove into hills behind & then dropped back into it. Had a lazy day by the river eating, drinking, swimming in river (Bilko), & exploring town.

Called in at Stefan's on way back, his wife informed us he was in the UK for the week! Spoke to him on the phone, he was watching motor racing at Brands Hatch.

Carried on to Koblenz, where the Mosel meets the Rhine. Then headed South to Boppard, spent an hour walking round there, it was very busy as it was market day. Followed the Rhine South & pitched camp at Bacharach. Very noisy night, railway line both sides of the river, boats on the river, camp site next to busy road.

Found a camp site 5 miles East of Freudenstadt near Dornstetten, the best one yet. It had a swimming pool & even a shower for dogs. Bilko wasn't keen on us swimming without her, we took it in turns to swim whilst the other stopped her from barking. Instead of a swim we gave her a shower as she was very smelly from all the rivers she'd been in.

Went down to the Postwirt (hotel) for evening meal & drinks. Met a couple from Manchester, had a pleasant evening. During the frivolities it started to rain, when we got back to the camp the towels & chairs we'd left out were soaked.

As it's still raining we decide to drive around the SkiWelt area, visiting the villages we've seen or skied down to. Past Scheffau, Ellmau & onto Kitzbuhel. Had a rainy walk round Kitzbuhel, as it was Sunday all the expensive shops were shut (insert sigh of relief here). Carried on around past Brixen & called in at Westendorf for some lunch. Had a lovely portion of Tiroler Groestl at a nice restaurant we found. Carried on past Hopfgarten, Itter & finishing up back at Soll.

Called to see Arthur after tea for a couple of drinks, then went to the Salven Stadl (pub) for a few more. Much quieter in there than we're used to. Arthur & a couple of girls came in later & join us for a few Sturms (fermenting grape juice).

Went to Ellmau for a walk round in the evening. Returned to the Postwirt for a few drinks & met up with the couple from Manchester again. By the end of the night, legs feeling a bit more achy.

After sitting in the car most of the day I could hardly walk when I got out, my legs had really stiffened up from the day before. Looked across at Mel, she was hobbling too ; )

In the evening we went for a drive into St. Moritz. Went up & down most of the roads but couldn't see much in the dark & rain.

Headed SW to lake Como (Italy) dropping down from the mountains on some wiggly roads (we'd get used to these over the next few days). Had lunch on West coast at Menaggio then headed for Lugano (Switzerland). Picked this road thinking it'd avoid any traffic, unfortunately it passed through villages that had roads through them that were wide enough for 2 cars max (no pavements). So got held up for 20 mins at one village coz of lorries battling to get through. Headed North through Locarno, got on an extremely wiggly road to Domodossola (Italy). Then back into Switzerland over the Simplon pass. The sun was low by the time we started up the pass, brilliant views, no traffic at all, 2005m high, brill! Getting dark as we dropped back into civilisation, camped at a closed camp site. Spent the evening in the adjoining pub before retiring to the tent.

After lunch in Chamonix we headed South to Mont Blanc tunnel. Nearly had a heart attack when the bloke in the toll booth asked for €30! The tunnel is 7 miles long & emerges in Italy. Dropped back into a valley & then climbed back out up the Col du Petit St. Bernard (2188m). Back into France at the top, long decent finally ending up in Moutiers. Treated ourselves to 4 miles of motorway, ahhhhh, a straight road ; ) Headed off over the Col de la Madeleine (1984m), as this was one of the Col's the Tour De France went over this year there were plenty of names & stuff painted on the road during our descent. God knows how they ride up these mountains at the speed they do?! At the bottom we found a camp site at La Chambre, it was the skankiest site of the holiday.

Had a picnic lunch at the village at the top looking at the village way down below. There were loads of grasshoppers around & Bilko invented a new game called 'catch the jumpy thing' ; )

Once back down we went SE over the Col du Galibier (2645m) heading for Briancon, then South, then up & over the Col de Vars (2109m). At St. Paul we decided to head East into Italy on some main roads avoiding any more Cols (Cols = v.steep & v.wiggly), the road turned out to be another Col anyway. Headed towards Cuneo & then South towards Tende, re-entering France. It was at this point that we finally left the Alps behind us! Most people just go over them, we'd gone along them : ) Found a nice camp site after Tende, Bilko enjoyed the adjacent river.

Found the camp site we planned to stay at (the only bit of forward planning on the trip). We'd been using the small 2 man tent up until this point, which is quick & easy to put up. As this was the hitting the beach & relaxing bit of the trip it was time to erect the big tent, which takes at least 30 minutes when you can see properly, as opposed to using the car headlights & a torch.

The camp had a load of boy racers on it who were attending a local car tuning rally that was taking place in the area that weekend. Cars could be heard doing burn outs with the engines bouncing off the rev limiters until 4am in the distance, our resident camp site boy racers started driving their cars round the camp at 7am. Needless to say, it wasn't the best nights sleep we'd had.

Dog completely worn out by evening, so left her asleep in the car while we walked to the centre/harbour area. The cash machine still wasn't working & we only had €4 left by now, so we eventually finished up going back to the tent & breaking out the emergency warm beers.

Went & did a bit of shopping for food & stuff before returning to camp to do some more relaxing. Took Bilko down to the beach late afternoon to do some modelling. She's a natural 'Pond Girl' the way she poses for the camera in the sea ; ) Put her to bed in the car again whilst we went out for a meal & cold beers. It was a loud windy night, nothing to do with Mel for once I'm glad to report ; )

Carried on North passing Moulins, Nevers, Auxerre, Troyes, Chalons-en-Champagne & Reims. The weather had drawn in & gotten progressively worse as we drove North that day (ie. approached the UK). It had been raining most of the late afternoon & carried on raining until the early hours, the site was very damp.

A Dutch bloke saw Mel playing with the dog & recognised us from the camp site the night before. Quite surprising considering we'd driven so far & were staying at a camp site in the middle of nowhere.

Parked in the centre of Brugge & spent a few hours wandering around. It drizzled now & again, but despite the weather it was obvious that it's a beautiful place & worth a proper visit some time.

Went North to Ostende on the coast, then followed the coast road through De Pann, back in to France to Dunkirk, finally arriving at Calais. Had a drive round Calais then went & got on the 9.30pm ferry.