Kategorie: tinatortuga
Latvia – Riga
I played tourist in Riga.
Just strolling trough the old town, looked at historical building, visited churches and parks and learned a bit from its history.
Not going to bore you with many details about Riga, what you could find in a better way online, but post some impressions on my walk trough the city, before i found a quite place for the night just at the bank of the river Daugava.
Along The Coast From Lithuania to Latvia
Just cruising trough the beautiful countryside on minor roads, stopping by some unknown landmarks, watching the local sunbather at the crowded beach or listen to their nightly party music on a picnic spot next to a lake on a weekend.
The Baltic people love the outdoors. They spend the weekends out camping, enjoying fishing at the lake or just chilling at the sea. That’s why there are easily to find picnic spots in beautiful surrounding for a overnight stay including a refreshing dip in the lake after a day driving.
A Rough Start To A New Road Trip
Time for traveling was limited this summer, but at least an extended road trip should bring me to a few interesting places. Going north, so was the plan!
In my mirrors i saw the sunset when i hit the road. I like night drives to cover long distances. Especially those long stretches on German Autobahn. Just filling up my diesel tank, get some strong coffee and driving into the night.
Then finally reached Poland. Not long until i crossed the bridge of Wroclaw, what felt like to enter a new section of my trip.
That new phase of my road trip wasn’t going as smooth as expected. After a break, my Land Rover, called #TinaTortuga , won’t start anymore. Not even a sound when i turned the key, just nothing.
It took five hours until a guy from the road assistance turned in. Meanwhile i found the issue. A main fuse was broken. Unfortunately i didn’t bring these kind of fuses with me, but at least i could send a message to the road assistant. So, i just had to wait and prepared myself for another night drive as the sunlight faded.
What a lovely sound to my ears, when the diesel engine of #TinaTortuga started again. I thanked the nice man who brought me the fuse, and hit the road again. There was another night on the highway with just a few hours sleep. But at the next day i crossed the border to Lithuania. Here, so i felt, finally will start my Northern Europe road trip.
The Cold-Wet In The Italian Apennin
Bad weather forecast for all the Northern Italy. Not only cold, but also lots of rain was predicted. No fun for camping at all.
I had to move on anyway. So i looked up for an alternative route and accommodation.
Go to the Apennin, they said. It’s fun, they said.
Fortunately i booked an apartment, i thought, when the cold creeped in the car as i gained more and more altitude. Around 1200 m a.s.l. the narrow, winding road got snow covered and icy.
Happily and safely i arrived that small unknown village, hidden in the thick fog,
Nobody to see on the street. Even the building, where i booked my apartment seemed abandoned. Only the neighbor opened his window, glared to my car and let me know, i’m parking on his property and have to move the car on the right place. The neighbor watch works all over the world, i thought amused.
Eventually i got into my warm, heated rooms and went out to explore the village. I passed the church and the memorial, which looked even more sad in the cold. A board at the pharmacy shows 4°C only. Many shops are closed down for the season. So are most restaurants and bars.
On the main square were some cars parked. Indeed, there’s a cafe open. Old men were sitting on tables, drinking coffee or beer and playing cards, while other watching and commenting the game. I could feel the eyes following me, when i entered and approached the waitress behind the counter.
Eventually they turned back to the game and to their conversation, while i sip on my cappuccino and observe the scene. The fog made the glass door milky, as if it try to push into the room. I felt like in a time capsule, thrown back 50 years or so, when the only bar in the village was the meeting point and source of the news, inside and outside of their world.
On my way back i found a little store, where i got some groceries, but most important some fresh bread, a small, typically cake, called panettone, and a bottle of red wine. What a cosy evening was awaiting me.
Crossing The Alps – New Journey Starts
It’s already late this year.
My feet got more and more itchy. But finally my #TinaTortuga is ready to take her out for another, bigger trip.
The decision for a destination was hard to find for this winter. There’s no lack on ideas and opportunities, tho. But where to put the priority?
Traveling by my Landrover #TinaTortuga.
Heading to warmer places.
Explorer new regions.
So, let’s start by crossing the snowy Alps, having a coffee in Italy first…
Autumn – the colorful
There was this occasion of a family reunion in a small valley. As a boy i used to spend our family holidays in these mountains in Northern Italy.
Blue sky invites for a hike in nature. From the top of the mountains shines the first snow of the season, and the colors of autumn burst from the forest.
A good opportunity to grab my Nikon and take some shots of this colorful world in autumn…
At the pump station – somewhere in South Africa
On our search of a good and cool location for another photo shooting we came across this abandon pump station on a farm. We decided for a rather shabby but sexy look. Maybe a bit like the pin-ups from the 70’s, but darker and less colorful.
Thembi got an old, stained, short trouser and a teared shirt. With her curly hair and a stern look, she posed in front of the huge petrol drum. The gas pipe in the hand she gave a self confident look to the camera.
Despite the serious look, it was all fun and we captured few shots. But decide for yourself…
Pilanesberg National Park
It’s a long time since my last update here. However, my journey didn’t stopped, but leaded me further west. At the time i got near to Pilanesberg National Park, i thought it’s worth a visit.
Pilanesberg National Park is roughly three hours drive from Johannesburg. Situated on an ancient vulcanic area, it shows a distinct landscape with many hills, valleys and small lakes and ponds. Although the wildlife is not dense as in other national parks, it has a superb birdlife and the stunning landscape offers beautiful viewpoints.
So, i took my time for birdwatching, explored different corners in the park and climbed up the hills for splendid views. I did not encounter many other people here, except that truck got stopped by a white rhino. You can guess who got the right of way.
After a long, peaceful day in the park i still didn’t get enough from the landscape. That leaded me to another idea, together with a young lady i just met outside the park. A plan to combine her request with my fascination for the landscape in the park started to build up. But that’s another story will be told in my next post. Keep tuned!
Overlander Car Issues With ‚Tina Tortuga‘
A bright lamp enlightened all the issues of my newly named landrover Tortuga, #tinatortuga. I was standing under the lifted car with a mechanic to check the state of it. There’s an oil leaking and some unsolved problems with the prop shaft, what brought me to this mechanic. The source of leaking was founded quickly, but as I requested we went trough the entire vehicle, more or less.
Beside the leaking from transfer box there’s also leaking from oil filter housing, Even the tank is leaking and had to be repaired as some bushes and hoses has to be fixed and replaced too. Despite there isn’t much electronics in that vehicle it turned out difficult to find the bug which is blowing my indicators and hazard lights continually. In short, quite an overhaul.
I need a stay for the time of repairs. The estimated period of four to five days was doubled, as the costs of repairs was too, due some difficulties, mainly with the transfer box. All bearings of that part must be replaced. I didn’t care so much about the time, since there was heavy rain predicted. All i needed was a quit and dry spot to be.
Luckily I found a beautiful place outside town of Mbombela/Nelspruit. Friendly hosts welcomed me and showed me around the self catering house where I got a nice room with a glass door towards pool side and amazing view to the valley. That’s the place to stay for a few quit days. Reading, writing journal and sorting photos next to the pool. Having a beer or a glass of red wine in the evenings, after cooking myself a tasty meal, and chatting with the owners, while waiting my car got fixed. That’s all part of traveling too and must try to use the time as good as possible.
Just the day before I could pick up ‚Tina Tortuga‘, another Landrover Defender arrived at the Lodge. Same model as mine and even the same color. A couple got off the car and settled in the accommodation. It turned out they are from Brazil and already four years on the road. So there was lots to chat about and share travel stories and experiences. And of course, as a Landy driver there’s also about workshop stories. That lovely couple gave me a lift to the landy-workshop and get a oil/filter change for their ‚Pandora‘ too. Who wants to see more of the journey from Eduardo and Rafaela visit their website: www.pandoraontheroad.com.br
Ten lazy days later I checked out of ‚Highland Creeks‘ and got ‚Tina Tortuga‘ back from the workshop. Since it was late of the day and weather forecast predicted another storm with heavy rain, I decided to stay another night at an apartment on my way out of town. Another jewel in the mountains as I found out. After all, the day ended beautifully with a glass of wine and a bath in a tube with a view.
rene bauer photography 