Comment: 'Queen of the Road' is back... But her fur isn't

Thursday 27 September 2018

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After six weeks back in Jersey, and an unfortunate hair cut, 'Queen of the Road' Indie Luce is off exploring Europe again for part two of her adventures on wheels.

"Have you missed me?

Well, what a last six weeks... Dad had to head back to Jersey to help a colleague at work, so that’s why I’ve been quiet.

There’s not much to write about adventure-wise whilst in Jersey, so let's dive into the last few weeks of Adventure Part One...

Pictured: Mountain passes in Switzerland were beautiful but also "darn right scary."

After a wonderful break in Morzine we left the Alps. Although my mind is that of a 66-year-old, the top and tail of it all is.

We headed into Switzerland - expensive Switzerland - and drove through many beautiful mountain passes. It was hot, it was sticky and at times darn right scary, as the mountain passes are not exactly wide enough for two cars - they make Jersey lanes feel like motorways.

Pictured: Walking under waterfalls with Dad.

First stop was Lauterbraun (Wengen) and the campsite was epic under a huge drop waterfall. We walked under it in a hole in the cliff. 1 August was Swiss Day, so more fireworks than we’ve ever heard - on and on and on. The next day was a birthday so we decided to find a nice place to celebrate in style a bit. It was all going waggingly well until dad took a wrong turning, which is actually easy to do. We found our way winding up the Grimsel Pass, which was absolutely stunningly beautiful, fresh air and the Matt Monroe ‘On Days Like These' thrashing out of the sound box thingy. And, yes, we visited the Eiger... and its four million tourists.

The majestic mountains are something to behold, and when we finally got to the top it certainly took our panting away. 2,400 metres above sea level is a bit high, but surprisingly we found a hotel (only finished five days before). This was serendipity, so we investigated a stay. After getting a bank overdraft, we had the best room in the house for the night. All set for the big birthday night.

Pictured: Happy Birthday Sharon!

It was going to be an epic night as a mountain storm was due in, whilst the lakes were cold the weather was great, I’m not a fan of fireworks or thunder, so we made the most of the sun.

The Grimsel was a long detour and petrol was low, we had to get juice so decided to head down the mountain to fill up. We had about 50miles range... no problem... but... no bleeding petrol station for 50miles... I’m not a thinker, but we had not planned that perfectly. The need was great so we drove up the amazing Furka Pass to Andermatt.

Pictured: Furka Pass was "scary poo-poo breathing in time."

An hour later, nursing the vapours, we got to fill up. Petrol station in Switzerland are a rare as gnomes. Phew! There were a few colourful verbal explanations en route - not so much about the fuel issue, more so over the proximity of the cliff edge issue. It was 'scary poo-poo breathing in' time... But we survived. The thing about high mountain passes is there is one way in and the same way out. We had to do it again the other way.

After a great night in a fab hotel we set off to go to Bern, which involved going over - you guessed it - the Furka Pass. I was not a happy Newf by this stage. Sharon was catatonic, and there’s no fur-kin' way I’m staying with my left butt cheek hanging over a mountain again.

Clever dad spotted a train with cars on it... It was a car train that went to Andermatt under the Furka mountain. It was a no-brainer - yet another disaster averted and a new experience of the open truck in a closed tunnel for 30 mins.

Pictured: This car train saved my life!

We had decided that Switzerland needed a small fortune poured into it and that it was best to head out and hit France. As I said, we had to be back to Jersey, so decided to wind it back up through the Alsace wine routes, the Burgundy wine routes, Loire wine routes... I think they drink too much. But it was hot again - a nice 38 degrees, and no wind.

The week passed quickly stopping off at lakes and lovely villages like Vendôme on the way back to Jersey. I can’t quite say it feels like home anymore after all the wonderful places we have been.

"The stats on the Newfi meter are: 6,800 miles in four months, and five countries. I’ve been further than any other Newf I know.

Pictured: On the way back to Jersey, we hit the French roads again.

As we had no home in Jersey, it was a week stop at Le Port then three weeks at a campsite. Thankfully, the need to help the colleague finished just as the weather got bad. We did not hang around and booked the boat back so Adventure Part Two has already begun.

There have been a few changes: my bloody 'Number 1' poodle haircut (see above) and a new Tonka truck. As we had decided, it would be no more van sleeps, drive to Javea in Spain, and settle for a few months. The van was sold and I hope the new owners have as many moments as I’ve had. If there was a mistake made, it was probably not settling in any one place for a while, but rule A was if we don’t like a place... move on.

"We are now in Javea - Xàbia, as the Spanish say - for a few months. The best part of the trip down was a two-night stay in Toulouse. What a great place! We walked 'til we dropped.

Pictured: The new truck has been blessed by dad's daughter Ellie.

"The future posts will be full of the Costa Blanca fun that we are about to have."