Next stop Munster

Not the one you are thinking of though - this is a very pretty little village on the Romantische Strasse (Romantic Road) not too far from Nuremberg where we are planning to visit tomorrow for our Sunday lunch.

The drive from Pfalzfelt was straightforward and easy - 175 miles in total and we found the campsite easily although it was closed for a long lunchtime when we arrived - oh well we just had to sit in the sun with a beer until they returned to the reception so that we could book in. Very hands on they are here too. Two men asked Steve to drive the car to the pitch, unhooked Essie for us and manhandled her into the space for us. I just hope they were gentle with her thats all!!

As its Sunday tomorrow and all the shops are shut we rode our bikes into the small town of Creglingen which is about 4km away. A very picturesque cycle route took us through fields and woodland until we reached the town and bought a few necessities. Then we took some time to cycle round the town and see what it was like.

Creglingen is set on the River Tauber and there is a weir in the centre of the town where a group of children were splashing about in the water. There were lots of timber framed old houses in all sorts of colours with timber shutters on the windows. Every house and garden was immaculately maintained - some people have geese in the garden and lots of people here grow their own fruit and veg - there are also lots of orchards. Very pretty in all. In common with other places we have visited we have yet to find out where the population hide! the streets are quiet and bare - do you think they knew we were coming?

This camp site has internet in the reception area (that is where I am typing away) but no wi fi hotspot so no ability to load pictures on the blog or to talk on Skype I´m afraid. So Lisa, Louise, Pat, Judith and Colin we won´t be calling you for a few days at least. When we do get wi fi we will put the pics on the blog so you can do a rewind next week to see the pictures if you want to.

Thought some of you might like to know the techy stuff. The car is averaging 35 miles to the gallon, about 10mpg less than normal when towing which we are pleased about. It hasn´t been washed yet except to clean the zillions of insects from the windscreen and front of the car. We have driven about 1000 miles so far towing and touring.
A quick overview of the caravan for you. She is a teenager - only 17 years old. She is fitted out with hot and cold running water, central heating and a gas fire, tinted double glazing, heat reflecting screens on the windows and door panel as well as fly screens to the side windows. She has a 4 ring hob with a gas oven and grill, an undercounter fridge with a freezer compartment. She also has a dresser with a bar area to hold glasses and bottles! very essential. In the back there is a bathing and dressing area with a shower and toilet to one side and fitted wardrobes to the other. In the middle there is a sink with a vanity unit. At night we relax in a 7ft square sprung mattress bed over which there are reading lights. She is our little palace on wheels and we have not felt claustrophobic at all. In fact as we travel along we are thinking of opening her up as a B+B! The most important thing is keeping it tidy and putting things away - there is no room for sloppiness.

To get us through the trip we brought with us 3 large gas cylinders which are stored in the front and we are still on our first one despite cooking daily. We needed to bring 3 because the fittings are totally different throughout Europe and we would have to kit ourselves out all over again - and they are not cheap.

Now you know how we are living our days in Esmerelda - of course we have been lucky with the weather so far this trip and eat outside as much as possible to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. As we progress and the weather gets hotter we have a sunshade that fits on the side of the caravan to give us some respite from the sun.

Hope everyone is doing well in the UK and Cyprus - or where ever else you may be when you read this. Bye for now......