6132 miles, 16 countries, Qatar to the UK

[jeepstertim]

Day 35 - 21 May

We left the AirB&B just after 0830hrs and headed to Pula airport for James to catch his flight back to the UK, I was running solo again and within 3 hours had crossed the Slovenian border. The driving now was large highways and Slovenia gave way to Italy quickly without any border checks and on to my night’s stop at a quaint, quiet, campsite in Abbadia.

Day 36 - 22 May

Miles were beginning to fall quickly as I skirted the start of the Italian alps, pausing in a scenic village for some photos and a leg stretch. I started climbing and the Jeep that had started in the sand and heat of Qatar was now surrounded by snow and very alien temperatures. Tunnel after mountain tunnel followed and halfway through one, bypassing Mont Blanc, we crossed into France and shortly afterwards, Switzerland. Winding through old streets that seemed to hug the Jeep I made the night’s stop at 1700hrs, the junction of Friburghaus and Nesslerenstrasse, the house of my wife’s cousin, Henry and his wife Chirina.

Day 37 - 23 May

I made a leisurely start, leaving Henry’s at 1000hrs and crossed again into France, sticking to the more minor D roads. At 1200 I stopped for a roadside lunch and brew from the back of the Jeep. By Dijon I picked up the national A roads and continued north stopping for fuel at Troyes, making the night’s stop at La Bussiere by 1850hrs.

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[jeepstertim]

Day 38 - 24 May

Leaving the hotel at just before 1000 and with a stop to buy champagne and enquire after military surplus French trucks (thinking toward my next overland vehicle), I made the customs at the channel tunnel by midday, leaving French soil and crossing the channel at 1305 hrs. The train was uneventful save a Kings Royal Hussars officer, having seen my 9th/12th Royal Lancers sticker on the tailgate, coming for a chat.

I was back in England, adventure over and just the 3 or so hours home to Dorset – REMEMBER TO DRIVE ON THE LEFT!

Having had a relatively traffic free journey throughout, I eased out of the channel tunnel and onto the M20 into a traffic jam, welcome home. After sitting in traffic for about 3 minutes every warning light on the dashboard suddenly illuminated, over 6000 miles and not a hiccup until now! The problem was solved with a quick switch off switch on and the snail’s pace continued.

The rest of the journey was slow and uneventful and at 1730 I turned into our lane to see my wife and daughter waiting to welcome me, some bunting, a hand written banner and a bottle of champagne – I was home.

Epilogue

2 years ago today I was in Saudi, revelling in the freedoms and awe-inspiring natural beauty of the country and the hospitality of its inhabitants. Saudi was the highlight and should be on any overlander’s bucket list.

6132 miles
16 countries
244 Gallons of petrol
1 run in with the police
A head full of memories.

What did I learn?

• I love my Jeep, what an incredibly capable vehicle and not once did it let me down.
• You don’t need all the expensive accessories. My drawers were home made in ply; the cooker was an amazon $25 double grill. The canopy was locally manufactured and a tarp was sufficient shade as an awning. My shower was a battery powered hose dumped in a bucket and the Chinese fridge had a self-contained battery, so I didn’t need a separate power bank. I don’t think I genuinely wanted for anything.
• The roads in Albania are truly awful and carry cash.
• The roads and countryside in Bosnia are blissful and the country has regenerated so well after the war. It would be a terrific motorcycle destination.
• If you’re going to visit Petra, walk from the Little Petra end.
• Border guards are reluctant to rifle through dirty laundry.
• A paper map of each country would have been useful.
• The driver’s seat doesn’t make a great bed.
• While it's good to be home, I now want to do more overlanding, much more and having bypassed Turkey, that’s now top of the list.
• Earwigs can fly.
• Don’t eat kebabs in Petra.

I hope you have enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed writing it all down.

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[smlobx]

Fantastic journey and write up. I’m truly jealous of your adventure!
Once you start down this path there is no turning back!
Having been to Africa three times I‘m now looking into shipping my Jeep to Iceland next year! Haha!

Safe travels.

 

[Jteakus]

Really enjoyed the writeup, thank you for sharing the adventure.

 

[Bob Alpaca]

Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. While we have camped in southern Africa on five different trips in rented 4WD vehicles, I have wished on every trip that I would have been in my Jeep Gladiator. To explore the world is such a life changing adventure.

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