Departure Campsite: Campeole Le Brabois, Villers-les-Nancy, France (N 48.65735 E 6.13981)
Destination Campsite: Steinibachried, Horw, Switzerland (N 47.01211 E 8.31114)
Distance: 191 miles/308 km (today) 673 miles/1084 km (total)
Our plan today was to drive from Nancy to Lake Luzern (Lucerne) in Switzerland, crossing the French border at Basel. On arrival at the border, we were ushered aside to purchase a vignette allowing us to use the motorways in Switzerland (there are no toll roads as such in Switzerland). This cost us 40 euro and is valid from December 2010 through to the end of January 2012 (so you get around 13 months to use it). The official currency is Swiss Francs, but euros are readily accepted at most places (at an exchange rate favourable to the Swiss!). Apparently, we could have purchased a vignette a little cheaper from a service station a little further back, but we didn't find this out until it was too late.We made ourselves lunch in a parking bay at the border control.
We hadn't booked a campsite in advance, but we wanted to pitch up as close to the lake as possible, and on the Western side, so that it was handy for reaching Mount Pilatus for our climb. Again, we picked a site from the ACSI guide, and on arrival found it was ideal. Reception were very helpful, and allowed us to choose our pitch, also suggesting that we take a large pitch between us instead of two separate pitches. We opted to do this, and think it was a little cheaper as a result. We were within throwing distance of the lake, and there was a swimming area a very short walk away which cost a few euros to use. We got one free pass each on arrival at the campsite.
While I set up the van, the others went down to the swimming area, and I joined them a little later. The grass bank leading down to the lake looked ideal for picnics, and it seemed to be a popular destination. Everyone except me spent a couple of hours playing around in the lake; the kids especially enjoying taking turns jumping of a high platform.
This is a great campsite, with swimming pool, all the facilities you need, and clean. You can also walk in to Horw very easily, which we did. We weren't quite sure which direction the city of Luzern was, so spent much of the time wandering around aimlessly. It was enjoyable nonetheless. It struck us how much into sport the locals were, running, cycling, playing football etc.
I think we got on the wrong side of the site warden this evening, what with Simon leaving his car on the pitch (you are supposed to park outside) and us making too much noise taking photographs of Mount Pilatus in the dark (this surprised us, as we were only whispering).
Destination Campsite: Steinibachried, Horw, Switzerland (N 47.01211 E 8.31114)
Distance: 191 miles/308 km (today) 673 miles/1084 km (total)
We hadn't booked a campsite in advance, but we wanted to pitch up as close to the lake as possible, and on the Western side, so that it was handy for reaching Mount Pilatus for our climb. Again, we picked a site from the ACSI guide, and on arrival found it was ideal. Reception were very helpful, and allowed us to choose our pitch, also suggesting that we take a large pitch between us instead of two separate pitches. We opted to do this, and think it was a little cheaper as a result. We were within throwing distance of the lake, and there was a swimming area a very short walk away which cost a few euros to use. We got one free pass each on arrival at the campsite.
While I set up the van, the others went down to the swimming area, and I joined them a little later. The grass bank leading down to the lake looked ideal for picnics, and it seemed to be a popular destination. Everyone except me spent a couple of hours playing around in the lake; the kids especially enjoying taking turns jumping of a high platform.
This is a great campsite, with swimming pool, all the facilities you need, and clean. You can also walk in to Horw very easily, which we did. We weren't quite sure which direction the city of Luzern was, so spent much of the time wandering around aimlessly. It was enjoyable nonetheless. It struck us how much into sport the locals were, running, cycling, playing football etc.
I think we got on the wrong side of the site warden this evening, what with Simon leaving his car on the pitch (you are supposed to park outside) and us making too much noise taking photographs of Mount Pilatus in the dark (this surprised us, as we were only whispering).
