One Mk2 Transit, 1400miles, 10 days, 4 countries

[petrolhead]

So as some of you know I bought George the Mk2 Transit Camper after getting over a serious illness last summer. Life with George has been pretty good and I’ve got away with the family nearly once a month on short breaks.

This Easter I decided to push the boat out a bit further and go with the family down to the Black Forest in South Germany. Despite a thorough service on George (cam belt, oil, new tyres and brakes etc) I have to say that I expected to have a breakdown in the 34year old van so I brought tools and spares with me.

I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking, suffice to say we had a great time.

First stop was the petrol station at Dover. George has a small 8 or 9 gallon tank so petrol stations were a common theme. I was quite surprised to see some far older vehicles about to hit the continent:

The kids were quite happy in their bucket seat and harness arrangement I came up with (side facing seats and no seat belts as standard). Loadsa leg room for them now!

We went through Belgium, France and stopped for the night at a hotel in Luxembourg. It was a strange and expensive Canary Wharf type city. Lots of grey glass and steel.

Then onwards, I kept every receipt for fuel and calculated the mpg as exactly 27.9mpg over 1411miles which I thought was quite astonishing for an old Pinto. If I had stuck to 60mph I would have got more!

First campsite was near Freiburg in the Black Forest (apparently Germany’s sunniest city). It had a Gothic feel to it and the dark brooding forest in the hills definitely felt special.

 

 

 

 

 

Even the local secondary school had presence!

 

 

A War memorial to the Fallen of all nations that was carved out of the hillside in a obscure corner

 

 

First campsite

 

 

This Merc Camper was epic

 

 

 

German Grafitti- proper job that transforms featureless concrete. NOT the talentless sh1tty tags we get:

 

 

 

George vs 1800ft mountain (that most cars parked halfway up). Pinto wins!

 

 

 

 

The German Campsites either had a baker on site or delivered fresh bread every morning to order. This made the kids and us very happy

 

 

And to top it all off the only issues I had was an alternator lead popping off a few miles from home. We got lots of smiles and a few people stopping to take pictures of the Transit during the trip. Campervans/mobile homes are BIG over in Germany but surprisingly retro ones are a rare sight at the camp sites.

 

 

2013 we think it will be Norway and Sweden!

[lotusless]

Great pics and an epic journey for you all and the tranny and the best bit in many years to come the kids will remember the good time they had in an osf camper. glad to hear your ilness is behind you now + total respect for your adventure.......

[Posse]

Great post good old transit got to love a road trip hats off to you love it

[over_head_cam]

Epic!

[Vista]

Great road trip!

[marky4]

good old transit they just keep going

 

looks like you had a great time and as said a great memory for you and your family

[mk2 mike]

Sorry to hear you were ill Matt, hope all is well now. Trip looks great with some fantastic pics. Did you gert to see inside that Merc?

[petrolhead]

Thank you all, it was a unforgettable trip. And no Mike, I didn't get to see inside the Merc. I felt enough of a pest taking that photo!