Fri 27 May 2016. Bad Kissingen, Germany

Fri 27 May 2016. Bad Kissingen, Germany
GirlRob’s cough has not abated overnight. BoyRob however, was delighted that the powder-plus-glue product he found on a stall yesterday worked to hold our plastic water cylinder together this time - so we now have water! The boys all conferred over our power issue, Lance did a factory reset to re-establish shore power. Throughout the day BoyRob monitored the difference between battery charger we brought with us from Oz with one Andrew brought from Switzerland (Swiss engineering won hands down!)

Same same day as yesterday but a cold rainy start, so crowd was slow. Many more "lookers only" than yesterday, although one serious youngish English couple came back, again with ideas for how to modify to fit in their children. Showed them how the bed went together, cupboards underneath, and idea of what went into every cupboard. A chap came up who had met us in Ulanbataar, he was at show selling travel books he had worked on with a photographer friend - magnificent photos. Girl with Heidi plaits and her partner from the Polish slide-on exhibit two stands behind us came over, interested to upgrade to "our compact vehicle that looks like it can take on narrow 4wD tracks as well as fit in a supermarket carpark". Yep - that’s us, It's becoming a common theme. 

Used new collapsible kettle for afternoon tea - works fine for two cups, although heated up on our Coleman outside the handle was warm to touch/pour. Helpful Andrew paid for an hour’s internet later in afternoon. GirlRob could not see laptop screen in shadows/light at table at back of vehicles and moved inside - but with people coming in and asking questions every few minutes did not progress far on photos or blog stories! 

Had late afternoon shower, again no waiting. Happy Hour commenced, joined by crew from TrayOn campers, young entrepreneur Vernon from Maroochydore Queensland most entertaining, same dry humour as our son Daniel. We'll visit his stand tomorrow, and go see him once home as well (maybe there’s a DMax or even a Fuso solution for an Aussie based camper vehicle??) 

Added our goats cheese from our farmstay to our groups BBQ at front of our stand on side of road. Very pleasant evening, lots of laughs. Have an invitation to come to Geneva to visit Juris, Oli and Andrew in September.

Not quite your Aussie BBQ...

Thurs 26 May 2016. In Bad Kissingen

Thurs 26 May 2016. In Bad Kissingen
Happy Birthday daughter Naomi - sorry there's no internet at the show to FaceTime you! We were snug and warm inside overnight, but nearby campers heard GirlRob’s coughing. Bad Kissingen hosts the ‘biggest A&A show in Europe’, some say the world. We were tickled there was so much interest in our vehicle, which was open and compact compared to the newer, more enclosed high-top EC beside us. One jolly guy said he had seen us before in upper western Germany - he was a cartographer with Garmin and travelled to many interesting places, he's currently developing an app for the highlands of Iceland. GirlRob was chuffed to see one of her Mongolian pictures featured in the EC brochure. We stepped inside the new EC; whilst appreciating that minimal windows would suit harsh cold and snowy conditions, it felt claustrophobic to Wanderoos. We really like the hand basin inside shower cubicle though, and have an invitation from Lance and Michelle to stay with them and have one fitted to Ozzie in Bend Oregon when we ship over to the American continent. Nothing like advance planning!

No, we are not tempted...

Met a lovely Swiss couple Jean-Luc and Catherine, the latter belongs to a women's volunteer group (Noble Planet we think) who work on a humanitarian project in Madagascar each year. They invited us to come spend a night, dinner, washing machine, in Coppet Geneva in September. Also met a nice couple from London with 2 or 3 children who measured our EC house to see if they could adapt dinette with seats facing forward for kids to travel. Made chicken salad lunch - had to lock door to stop people coming inside whilst preparing. 

Jean-Luc and Catherine

Pom complete with tape measure...

Walked around site, purchased cutest silicon collapsible travel kettle (now where will a second one fit!!) So surprised to see the numbers of people walking with dogs far outnumbered children. Lots of people watching muddy 4WD obstacle course and older kids on bike course. And monster trucks with bikes or 4-wheelers on back- who would buy them for 700,000 euros??  Definitely redneck country!! Final interesting visitors were Dominic and Birgit (a doctor) who want an EC just like ours when they retire at 67.  Being half a head taller than BoyRob, Dominic was not convinced he could fit on the bed until he tried it and saw how with a slight diagonal how naturally his feet could stretch out over the centre space (we think we’re pretty good salespeople!!). 

A Rambler? What the....????

Day stayed warm, Michelle and Andrew got sunburnt. Finally had our shower half hour before show closed for day (no waiting, bonus!) Went into Bad Kissingen in back of new EC, very comfortable but no view. Lance shouted everyone dinner in BBQ restaurant. No internet, in desperation sent Naomi a text for her birthday. Funny stories including dangers of sleeping pills, chukar hunting (grouse type bird in US imported from Pakistan). All agreed it was a good first day. Thursday/today was a public holiday, many will "do a bridge" day for an extra long weekend by taking Friday off work. Got back to exhibition centre before curfew, no turning into pumpkin for us....

Wed 25 May 2016. Raab (Austria) to Bad Kissingen (Germany)

Wed 25 May 2016. Raab (Austria) to Bad Kissingen (Germany)
Up early to wash hair in luxury of continual hot water. GirlRob still on antibiotics for cough.
In the soft drizzle packed lockers and top boxes, made bed, filled fridge/ freezer, made hot tea in our travel mugs to go with sandwich for breakfast along way (GirlRob hopes she has now lost that additional kilo…) For security’s sake, we will not put electronics in centre well of truck cabin until after the All-Wheel Drive and Adventure Camping show in Bad Kissingen, our destination for today. We have agreed to participate as part of EarthCruiser exhibition there for four days, and pick up a replacement set of entrance steps for the ‘house’. With magnetic photos of children and grandchildren on fridge, farewelled our basic but roomy farmhouse. Ah, feels so free to be independent and on road at last! Headed on back roads through Passau, avoiding a day's autobahn toll for such a short stretch, and into Germany, joining freeway north. Foggy and light rain - enough to push down grass crops. Flanders poppies bright against emerald green grass. Stopped at McDonald’s for coffee, miffed to find their wifi not working. Wind turbines/solar panels powered traffic signs along highway. In case of boredom there were tourist signs for every small town, zoo, library, canal, or ancient site to tempt you to pause your journey.

Hello Babies....

400kms later arrived Bad Kissingen mid arvo, long lost greetings to EC USA owners Lance and Michelle (who had gifts of shirts for us!) the most amazing carpark so full of expedition vehicles of every shape and size and outlay!! Spectacular event, sightseers with cameras everywhere. Found truck wash - Ozzie looked so bright and shiny after a soapy bath and pressure spray. Moved over to beer tent, and shared itineraries and border-crossing stories. Michelle has seen a version of washing machine being developed that might suit ECs, and will send the link. Met Juris (Yuris) and Oli (Oh-Li) in their brand new fixed-top EC, who have invested in the first EC franchise (?) in Europe, and Andrew travelling with them who manages with them their off-road accessory business in Switzerland. Turns out Juris had met us in Iceland - it's where his interest was first piqued in ECs - such a small world! Decided to shop in supermarket when it became obvious we would need more alcohol supplies... 

Followed Andrew into town to restaurant to book in for tomorrow night, then up through forest to exhibition grounds, registered, received site passes and bracelets as exhibitors. Found and set up on site, great position side by side under new tents on grass. 

Andrew showed us to essential facilities. Busied ourselves preparing dinner, Oli inviting us to share the meat from their BBQ. Pulled apart chicken for tomorrow whilst steaks cooking. Ventured to taste our Malibu and unopened pineapple juice from 18mths ago (hoping we didn't live/ die to regret it). Juris has been on many of Australia's outback tracks. Getting colder and colder, can see our breath (hope we don't regret putting winter gear up in top boxes!). BoyRob tried water system with newly-glued cylinder but after 1 minute the pressure blew it apart again - second flood in locker. Damn, no internal water yet, filled kettle from external tap for tea/dishes/facewashing. The amenities block with showers is on the other side of complex, but portaloos are nearby (albeit with freezing seats!) Can't afford to use our toilet and shower whilst stuck in one place for four days. We’ll also have to manage power whilst our solar panels are under shade. 

Tues 24 May 2016. Around Goldberg

Tues 24 May 2016. Around Goldberg
Rain rain rain (and cold!). Updating and ruthless sorting continued – refusing to keep anything without a place to belong, determined there will be no more moving bags from seat to bed and back, including: documents/maps for console/safe; replacing items for open console (eg sunscreen, Wet Ones); bedside cupboards; shoe crate; large cupboard of “miscellaneous” under bed; non-perishables into newly emptied pantry drawers; heavy winter items (Trangviken/Vancouver) now fit in sausage bags in top boxes rather than on bed - yay! Followed sounds to locate ducklings and geese.

BoyRob discovered that seal on plastic cylinder which prevents water hammer in pipes had perished, so now floods when we turn on water. Fortunately the garage next door to Eric in nearby Raab supplied "window glue" for the cylinder. 

Back at the farmhouse the BnB owner's mother Gerhaud showed us their goat herd all in a huge shed, babies sucking on upended milk bottles, intensive feeding. They make "Gold Cheese" - gave us samples of soft cheese, block of mozzarella, and hard cheese to take on our trip. She did one last load of washing for us, which dried fairly quickly in kitchen with stove on.