- Are you sure?
- Yes.
- It will be a long drive.
- Still yes.
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| powernapping |
 |
| still some snow in Alps |
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| the more south, the less cloudy |
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| Scout, Expedition Stout |
Wednesday 29 June 2016
Day 28 - 1135km - Zagreb
Plan for today was to go back to Chiemsee, where we were sleeping on our first night, and to come to Zagreb tomorrow. But as the journey was coming to an end we were both more and more eager to get home. So when we were close to the crossroad and Hrvoje asked - "Chiemsee or home?", I imediatelly said -"Home.".
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
- It will be a long drive.
- Still yes.
Drive was really long, we made few stops for stretching, and just as we
were close to Zagreb we decided to make one last stop and went to
Samobor's Irish pub called Scout. It has more than 500 different kinds of beer and
it was just the perfect way to end our trip - with Bell's Expedition
Stout. After Scout just another 20km and we were home. 1135km today and
altogether almost 9000km of driving.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
- It will be a long drive.
- Still yes.
Tuesday 28 June 2016
Day 27 - 455km - Kinderdijk
Not much to say about today. In the morning we were back to Hoek Van Holland, went to see windmills at Kinderdijk, got to Trier where we slept in a camp.
 |
| Kinderdijk windmills |
 |
| Netherland |
 |
| "Here we purify your wastewater" |
Monday 27 June 2016
Day 26 - 230km - London
It was obvious we were in London suburbs when we started seeing airplanes every minute or so. We stopped in Greenwich, where they have a number of historical time-telling devices and other interesting items. And, ofcourse, where Greenwich Meridian is.
Somewhere along the way to Harwich we had lunch in a restaurant...
And then we got to Harwich, from where the Stena Line ferry would take us back to Hoek van Holland. While waiting, we saw some remarkable oldtimers. Rolls-Royce car from '29 and Honda's motorbikes from '81 and '82.
 |
| London |
 |
| London |
 |
| View from Greenwich |
 |
| Greenwich |
 |
| Greenwich |
Somewhere along the way to Harwich we had lunch in a restaurant...
 |
| In a restaurant |
And then we got to Harwich, from where the Stena Line ferry would take us back to Hoek van Holland. While waiting, we saw some remarkable oldtimers. Rolls-Royce car from '29 and Honda's motorbikes from '81 and '82.
 |
| Rolls-Royce from '29 |
 |
| Rolls-Royce |
 |
| Honda from '81 |
 |
| Honda from '81 and '82 |
 |
| can I drive? :) |
Sunday 26 June 2016
Day 25 - 320km - Cardiff
Cardiff has an interesting park, Bute Park, with lot of sculptures made mostly out of wood.
Close to Cardiff is Newport and its Transporter bridge across River Usk. The transporter bridge is very rare, with only eight out of a total of 20 built, remaining in use worldwide.
We drove trough Oxford, but didn't stop. Slept in a hotel in Stokenchurch.
 |
| Bute Park |
 |
| Bute Park |
Close to Cardiff is Newport and its Transporter bridge across River Usk. The transporter bridge is very rare, with only eight out of a total of 20 built, remaining in use worldwide.
 |
| Transporter bridge |
 |
| Transporter bridge |
 |
| Today was bridge-day, this one was close to Newport |
We drove trough Oxford, but didn't stop. Slept in a hotel in Stokenchurch.
 |
| Oxford |
 |
| Oxford |
Saturday 25 June 2016
Day 24 - 400km - all that jazz
Early in the morning we were already on the road. First we went to St Davids Bishops Palace and Cathedral. It is one of the oldest episcopal sees in Britain, founded by St David in around the middle of the 6th century.
It was just about time for lunch when we stumbled upon one of Surf Beaches in Wales and a restaurant nearby.
Ofcourse, we visited a castle too. Today it was Pembroke Castle, originally built in 11th century, rebuilt in 12th century when most of the structure that you can see today was built. In this castle Henry VII was born. Unfortunatelly it was closed for visitors, probably because of the wedding that was taking place, so we could only see it from the outside.
Later in the evening, after longer search, we (barely) found some camp - in Ystradfellte. It was newly opened, still not completely finished. The owner also has a bar nearby and there we were pleasantly surprised to hear jazz. It was just the perfect thing to end this day.
 |
| St Davids cathedral |
 |
| Inside of St Davids cathedral |
 |
| St Davids Bishops Palace |
It was just about time for lunch when we stumbled upon one of Surf Beaches in Wales and a restaurant nearby.
 |
| Surf Beach |
 |
| Surf Beach |
 |
| ribs for lunch |
Ofcourse, we visited a castle too. Today it was Pembroke Castle, originally built in 11th century, rebuilt in 12th century when most of the structure that you can see today was built. In this castle Henry VII was born. Unfortunatelly it was closed for visitors, probably because of the wedding that was taking place, so we could only see it from the outside.
 |
| Pembroke Castle |
 |
| Pembroke Castle |
Later in the evening, after longer search, we (barely) found some camp - in Ystradfellte. It was newly opened, still not completely finished. The owner also has a bar nearby and there we were pleasantly surprised to hear jazz. It was just the perfect thing to end this day.
 |
| tree foam in the beer, bar in Ystradfellte |
Friday 24 June 2016
Day 23 - 275km - castles everywhere
Yesterday was Brexit referendum and they voted in favour of leaving the European Union.
In the morning we went to the reception and bumped into the old man from yesterday. He was happy to see us and said that he and his wife were trying to find us yesterday later in the evening, to see if we settled in, but couldn't find us. People are really nice in UK. We talked a little, he asked us about the bike, said he always liked them but never had the courage to drive them. With him wishing us the safe journey, we continued our trip.
We drove by Penrhyn Castle.
Our first stop was Conwy Castle - a medieval fortification built between 1283 and 1289. It is really massive and was constructed as part of a wider project to create the walled town of Conwy.
Next stop, red-stone Powis Castle with huge deer garden. There are no dogs allowed, even on leads.
We stopped at Glangwy Farm Camp and were surprised by the price - only 5£ for both of us (in other camps so far it was 10£-20£).
In the morning we went to the reception and bumped into the old man from yesterday. He was happy to see us and said that he and his wife were trying to find us yesterday later in the evening, to see if we settled in, but couldn't find us. People are really nice in UK. We talked a little, he asked us about the bike, said he always liked them but never had the courage to drive them. With him wishing us the safe journey, we continued our trip.
We drove by Penrhyn Castle.
 |
| Penrhyn Castle |
Our first stop was Conwy Castle - a medieval fortification built between 1283 and 1289. It is really massive and was constructed as part of a wider project to create the walled town of Conwy.
 |
| Conwy towers |
 |
| Conwy Castle |
Next stop, red-stone Powis Castle with huge deer garden. There are no dogs allowed, even on leads.
 |
| Powis Castle |
 |
| many deer around the castle |
 |
| peacock in the garden entrance |
We stopped at Glangwy Farm Camp and were surprised by the price - only 5£ for both of us (in other camps so far it was 10£-20£).
 |
| Glangwy Farm Caravan Camp |
Thursday 23 June 2016
Day 22 - 20km - Wales
Today we went to Wales. While we were waiting for our Dublin-Holyhead ferry, few bikers also came. An older couple from England, just as they arrived, said it was hard for them to drive in Ireland and were happy to leave. In a way, we felt the same.
In Hollyhead we decided to go camping again. We found a camp but no one was on the reception. We started looking around and a car, that was leaving the camp site, stopped beside us. In it there were an old man and his wife, asking us if we needed any help. They told us they are regulars in this camp and that we can just put a tent anywhere and tomorrow go to reception, that the owner won't mind. So we found a place and put out a tent.
In Hollyhead we decided to go camping again. We found a camp but no one was on the reception. We started looking around and a car, that was leaving the camp site, stopped beside us. In it there were an old man and his wife, asking us if we needed any help. They told us they are regulars in this camp and that we can just put a tent anywhere and tomorrow go to reception, that the owner won't mind. So we found a place and put out a tent.
Wednesday 22 June 2016
Day 21 - 150km - Dublin
Today's destination is Dublin. This time we are staying in a hostel with a secured parking, just outside the city center. We heard there is a lot of theft, and it's better to be safe than sorry.
But first - a castle.
It must admit, I didn't like Dublin at all. Sure, there is an old centre with nice buildings, but even their view was often spoilled by some new building or painted facade. When passing Dublin's main street, where you can find the Temple Bar pub and Hard Rock Cafe, somebody was offering us drugs - and it was the middle of the day. Hard Rock Cafe was also disappointing. Just one street away from the centre I was feeling like in a ghetto - fences with barbed wire or painted with slippery paint. Guinness storehouse was the only beer store on this entire trip where we couldn't get a beer - for that you have to go on a tour. So instead we went to the Arthur's Pub and drank Guinness there (we heard that it is the only pub with "original" Guinness, straight from the factory).
After few hours of walking around the city, we went back to the hostel just in time for Galway bay brewery beer tasting.
But first - a castle.
 |
| Tullamore Castle |
 |
| some sculptures by the road |
It must admit, I didn't like Dublin at all. Sure, there is an old centre with nice buildings, but even their view was often spoilled by some new building or painted facade. When passing Dublin's main street, where you can find the Temple Bar pub and Hard Rock Cafe, somebody was offering us drugs - and it was the middle of the day. Hard Rock Cafe was also disappointing. Just one street away from the centre I was feeling like in a ghetto - fences with barbed wire or painted with slippery paint. Guinness storehouse was the only beer store on this entire trip where we couldn't get a beer - for that you have to go on a tour. So instead we went to the Arthur's Pub and drank Guinness there (we heard that it is the only pub with "original" Guinness, straight from the factory).
After few hours of walking around the city, we went back to the hostel just in time for Galway bay brewery beer tasting.
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| Dublin Castle |
 |
| Dublin Castle and buildings behind |
 |
| Arnaldo Pomodoro's Sphere Within Sphere, outside the Berkeley Library, Trinity college |
 |
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| inside Hard Rock Cafe |
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| Guinness, no beer if you don't go on a tour |
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| Arthur's Pub |
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| beer tasting back in hostel |
 |
| barbed wire fences |
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| just outside city centre |
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| barbed wire fences all over Dublin |
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| spikes |
 |
| slippery paint and spikes |
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