Europe in a Motor Home ' Bring it on!

Europe in a Motor Home ' Bring it on!
Recently retired, Jim and Barbara are looking forward to
the adventure of a lifetime. Ever since they were first
engaged to be married, years ago, they've longed to 'do'
Europe ' to experience at first hand the sights and
cultures of places they've only ever heard of and have
yearned to see. But their young dream never came to
fruition; as the years went on there were other
considerations ' children, commitments at work ' and the
opportunity never seemed to present itself.

Now, though, their time is their own, to spend exactly as
they want to. All those years ago, had they fulfilled
their aim, they'd have been hitch-hiking, back-packing,
camping around the continent. Nowadays, however, hale and
hearty as they both are, such options don't seem quite so
attractive. Whilst neither of them lacks moral fibre,
these activities that would once have seemed exciting would
take them well out of their comfort zone. They need
familiar things around them, all the modern conveniences
they've become so used to and dependent upon ' and, if
possible, a roof to keep the rain from them at night.

It's taken Jim and Barbara hardly any time at all to
recognise that a self-contained motor home (or recreational
vehicle) is exactly the way to realise their ambition and
will give them the freedom and opportunity to explore
virtually any location they wish, whilst providing the
luxury of more facilities than many people enjoy at home!
Jim and Barbara are delighted with their RV; it's smart,
comfortable and practical. There's a fully equipped
functional kitchen complete with oven, stove, microwave and
fridge, a well-appointed lounge and dining area, and a
remarkably spacious bedroom. Preparation for the trip is
incredibly straightforward. There's very little packing to
be done, and they don't need to take many provisions;
they'll shop for everything they need along the way, fresh
from the countryside. That's the beauty of a house on
wheels ' no need to search for a place to eat, to relax, to
sleep, to change your clothes... it's all laid on for you.
And most campsites offer a full hook-up, meaning that you
can connect your motor home to fresh water, gas,
electricity, sewer, cable TV and all other amenities that
you need.

As the excited couple set off on their trip of a lifetime,
any reservations Jim may have had about being at the helm
of a very large vehicle with automatic transmission are
dissipated, as he finds it almost as effortless to drive
the 27 foot long RV as a van or a car. And contrary to the
popular misconception that these are sluggish vehicles, the
powerful engine renders the RV surprisingly agile. He just
has to watch his left foot. If he should forget about the
absence of a clutch, he could end up performing an
unexpected and very unwelcome emergency stop!

Another big plus of an RV is that you are at liberty to
create your own itinerary, or even to change it daily to
suit your mood, whilst enjoying the comfort and convenience
that a motor home affords. Each day is an adventure, and
there truly is no better way to experience the wild and
natural beauty of the countryside.

As they progress on their journey, Jim and Barbara see
countless amazing sights. On the border between France and
Italy, they stop to marvel at Mont Blanc, the highest peak
of the Alps, and at its foot, the breathtaking scenery of
Chamonix, a popular haunt for expert skiers. In
Switzerland, the overwhelmingly clean air, panoramic views
and beautiful architecture are an absolute delight, with
cows ambling gently along the road with their cowbells,
just as in a fairytale. Off the south coast of France,
they admire, with just a touch of envy, the millionaire
yachts and the sheer decadence of the area. The very
vibrant and cosmopolitan Holland with its quaint windmills
and tulips and leafy country lanes is a joy to behold.
They enjoy a sumptuous lunch at a villa on Lake Como and
each day of their journey, they are able to stock up on the
freshest, most delicious produce they have ever tasted, all
savoured in the comfort of their RV.

It's difficult to cite a highlight of this unbelievable
journey, but if pushed, Jim and Barbara would probably say
that it would have to be Austria's wonderful Salzburg, the
setting of 'The Sound of Music'; the very first film they
went to see together more than forty years ago. The
scenery is even more spectacular than portrayed in the
film, and it conjures up a host of very special memories
for the pair.

As they head back for home, Jim and Barbara agree that this
has been a very special trip, and it's something they will
definitely do again in the not-too-distant future ' in an
RV, of course.

And Jim's happy that his left foot behaved itself the whole
time ' not an emergency stop in sight... a piece of cake
(or gateau), really.

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Travel is one of life's great pleasures, especially when
you can do it in style. Some people however like to be in
their own space, and for many the motorhome has become the
answer to their prayers. A home from home with all the
creature comforts you can ask for. Graham Baylis has been
lucky enough to experience the true luxury they offer,
through a company called TravelworldRV in Telford in the
UK. See their site at http://www.travelworldrv.co.uk