Europe my van Day 24

What next? Discovered a soft tyre this morning and we made it to a tyre place in Osijek, 15 minutes down the road. They sent out for 2 new all-weather tyres which arrived in under 1/2 hour and by 9.30am we were underway. How efficient people here are. But surely our luck must change for the better soon?

We decided to blow the expense and pay for motorway tolls, so headed south from Osijek, then west along the Bosnian border towards Zagreb where we filled up with diesel and had a sandwich before pressing on. Fuel is more expensive in Slovenia.

Ot was sad to read that the ‘iconic’ (hate that word) tree in Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall has been felled by a vandal with a chainsaw. It featured in the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Once it featured in my Blip of Mr C and Dennis having a pretend sword fight when we were on a walk along the wall, and also with daughters and children in the Covid holiday. Apparently a 16 year old has been arrested.

The drive after Zagreb became very pretty with forests and mountains. At 3.30, we reached Bled where we got a Park4Night at a designated Motorhome parking area. Not cheap, €25 with water and electricity, but the sites are €40+.

It is the most touristy place we have been but no wonder as it is very beautiful. It was a 15 minute walk, via the tourist registration place (€6.26), down to the lake. There’s a castle on a hill overlooking the lake with a church below it. We continued walking on the path round the lake, my sights being on the chance of a photo of the church on the island with the sun on it and the mountains behind.

As we walked back beside little hotels with people having a drink on their terraces overlooking the lake, I knew my daughters and husbands would have sat there for a drink. But Mr C had set his heart on a takeaway pizza. There was none so he popped into the nearby supermarket and bought us some cold fish and chips for €5.99. He does know how to spoil a women. But don’t feel sorry for me. When you see where I’m off to with my dearest oldest friend in 2 weeks you’ll understand why I’m saying nothing.

313 miles drive and 5 mile walk round Lake Bled.