After touring Greece’s east coast and the mainland in 2022, it was now the turn of the more southern climes. With the Grimaldi / Minoan “MS Florencia” we sailed from Ancona (IT) to Igoumenitsa (GR). The special thing about this connection: Our two French travel dogs “Trüffel” and “Pelle” are allowed to travel with us in the cabin.

Arrival in Igoumenitsa

Gegen 19:00 Uhr legt unsere Fähre an Griechenlands Westküste im Hafen von Igoumenitsa an. Es wird schnell dunkel und Hungergefühle machen sich breit. Spontan entscheiden wir uns für einen Abstecher in eine kleine Taverne in XXX. Hier beginnt der Urlaub: Griechenland – das einzige Land indem sogar stilles Wasser schmeckt. Die App Park4night macht uns anschließend auf einen Stellplatz an einem nahegelegenden Strand aufmerksam. Hier bauen wir unser Dachzelt unter riesigen Olivenbäumen auf einer Art Terassenparkplatz auf. Wir teilen uns diesen Stellplatz mit einem großen Expeditionsmobil und einem VW-Bus. Jetzt muss nur noch das Wetter besser werden.

Side trip to Lefkada

We had already planned a visit to Lefakada on our 2022 tour of Greece, but decided against it due to lack of time and in favour of Albania. Our first real step for this trip is therefore quickly decided. We quickly pack our things, take a few photos of the beautiful bay and set off towards Lefkada. On the way, we fortify ourselves with frappé, fresh orange juice and small snacks at the Cantina Estrada. An absolute tip from us to take a short break in a pleasant atmosphere on the way. When we arrive on Lefkada, we first explore Castle XXX, but only from the outside, as it is closed.

Afterwards, we cross a pontoon bridge directly into the lively centre of Lefkada. Here you will find numerous cafés, tavernas, yachts, sailing ships and a beautiful old town with narrow streets and flower vines as far as the eye can see.

We parked our car in a guarded car park, safe is just safe. We would have liked to spend the evening in the enchanting Bar XXX, but not at the price of the less than ideal parking space. We drive along the east coast until we arrive in Nidri. Unfortunately, it is very touristy here and there is no old town, but there is the stylish beach bar Maraboo with very good cocktails and a camper car park with surprisingly clean sanitary facilities.

Through the mountains of the Peloponnese to Kalavrita

Due to the modest weather forecast for the next few days, we spontaneously decide against a planned boat tour around Lefkade and against continuing our journey via Kefalonia and Zakynthos, but instead opt for a direct trip to the Peloponnese. We want to explore the east coast and the mountainous regions of the Peloponnese first, and then head to the western south.

The second spot is supposed to be a beautiful, blue mountain lake in the direction of Kalavryta. Besides the lake as such, there is a pretty good taverna here, according to Google Maps. Our Ralfi fights his way through storm, rain and thick fog over mountain passes to the lake, where unfortunately everything is closed.

Both taverns are only open at weekends, which is a pity. Fortunately, we are quickly consoled about our disappointment when we discover an enchanted section of forest with playful streams. Elves, fairies and trolls must live here. Unfortunately, the fabulous creatures are very shy, so we don’t get to see any. Towards evening we arrive in Kalavryta. Kalavryta is a beautiful village, but its tourist heyday is as a ski resort in winter. Good and bad for us at the same time. Numerous shops, tavernas and bars are closed, but there is little going on.

We quickly find very good food at the Cellar Tavern and a final beer or two in the quaint fifty/50 bar by the open fire. Daniel uses the evening twilight to catch a photo of the village’s picturesque railway station.

The railway line through Kalavryta is supposed to be beautiful, but unfortunately we only notice this later on in our journey. We are allowed to spend our night next to the closed Hotel Helmos. The owner is open-minded and friendly and doesn’t even want any money from us.

Oak woods of Foloy and the gorge of the centaur

Since we have already failed to spot elves, fairies and trolls, we now want to test our luck with the centaur in the oak forests of Foloi. For this we even take a very bumpy and long off-road route in order to be able to go hiking directly in the centaur gorge. Unfortunately, there is no official hiking route, only a path through the river bed. Daniel stays in the air-conditioned car with Trüffel and Pelle while Michelle goes on the tracks of the centaur.

Nature is wild, charming and untouched. Michelle swears she caught a glimpse of the centaur, but unfortunately she doesn’t have her camera ready fast enough. I wonder if you can believe her. The heat makes us quite thirsty, so we decide to treat ourselves to a cool beer in the nearby village of Foloi. A few elderly Greek gentlemen have gathered on a central village square. They are drinking beer, happily telling each other stories and are pleased about our arrival. We quickly make contact and get to know Panagiotis and his friends.

To our happy surprise, Panagiotis buys us a beer to our newly formed friendship and gives Michelle a bunch of roses from his garden. We take a photo together as a souvenir and promise to ring his doorbell on our next visit. The way to our next step leads us through light-flooded old oak forests. A magical sight, which invites us to take a short walk, but beware of the numerous wild boars in the region.

Nemouta waterfall

During our evening route planning, Daniel discovers the Nemouta waterfall on Google Maps. The photos are promising; Adam and Eve must have lived here before they had to leave paradise. To get to Nemouta, we have to take another off-road route through the mountains. But with our Ralfi nothing is impossible. The walk to the waterfall is adventurous.

You should definitely take a machete with you. Everything is overgrown and feels like clock forest. Towards the end of the trail, just before the waterfall, you also have to climb a little. It’s best not to wear Birkenstock toe shoes like Michelle did. However, those who take on the arduous path will be more than rewarded at the end. We have seen many waterfalls in Norway, Slovenia and Croatia, but this waterfall in Nemouta is unique and very special. It rises in a kind of green overgrown stone cave and then runs over numerous stone terraces. We stand amidst splashing fresh water, chirping birds, fresh green moss and liana-like tree vines. If this is not paradise, then where on earth is it?

Roast wild boar in the mountain village of Dimitsana

This eventful day ends today in Dimitsana, a historic mountain village in the hinterland of the Peloponnese. At the entrance to the village, a petrol station offers two parking spaces for a fee. When Daniel pays the fee, he feels transported back in time. In this petrol station, time has stood still. The cashier’s area alone resembles a museum. But the somewhat elderly owner of the petrol station is happy about our stay and assures us that we can safely spend the night with him. We set off to explore the old town. As the last rays of the sun move over the mountain ridges, the golden hour bathes the entire village in a breathtaking, golden and warm glow. For dinner tonight, we have a traditional wild boar stew at the XXX taverna. After all, there are plenty of wild boars in this region. Without lying: This was the best wild boar we have ever had, and the taverna is therefore our clear recommendation for everyone who visits Dimitsana.

The evening is still young, so we hop around the local bars of the mountain village for a bit. After tsiporou and Greek coffee, we return to the car and discover to our surprise that the gate to the car has already been secured with a thick padlock. After some initial excitement, however, we still see light in the premises of the petrol station and knock cautiously. Although we seem to be disturbing a card game, we now return to our car.

The next morning we stop again in the centre of Dimitsana for breakfast. At XXX we enjoy Greek delicacies on the artistically designed roof terrace, while life begins to rage below us: Trucks delivering goods, cars parked chaotically with their hazard lights on, coaches squeezing through the narrow streets honking and waiting. From up here, none of this matters to us. “Another frappé, parakalo!”.

Like paradise: The Polylimnio Waterfalls

Paradise rarely comes alone, isn’t that what they say? On the way to the coast we want to visit a second waterfall. There are supposed to be several crystal-clear bathing spots here. The path is not overgrown this time, but it is steep and blessed by the blazing midday sun. Looking at the exhausted faces of the people who meet us, we already have a little respect for the way back. But we have to go through it and so do the Great Danes, whether they like it or not. Once in the forest, two paths lead in opposite directions. On the left there are supposed to be the two lakes, so we decide to cool down first.

Right at the beginning of the route, the first major waterfall awaits us, as well as a small bathing spot. Daniel wildly takes off his clothes to compete with the colourful fish in the blue water. But then he discovers that the water is not only invitingly blue, but also quite fresh. It doesn’t turn out to be more than a dipped toe and the four of us continue towards the big lake and the big waterfall. The way there is not for beginners and definitely not for a hike with two crazy dogs. We have to squeeze along steep cliffs and climb over high rocks. After Pelle almost fell several times to chase a lizard, Michelle decides to wait with the dogs in the shade and let Daniel go on alone.

After only a short time, however, Daniel also returns. He, too, has abandoned the route because he saw his life in danger for a short time. Nevertheless, it was worth taking the route. Here, too, untouched wilderness awaits us, real nature. We decide to try the path leading to the right again. This time, however, we do it individually and without terror dogs. This route also resembles a small adventure. You walk over dilapidated wooden bridges, over rocks to a water feature that runs over several terraces. There is supposed to be a waterfall further up on this side too, but we don’t want to risk anything. After all, the journey has only just begun and we want to continue it in good health and, above all, together.

Ox-eye Bay Voidokilia and coast near XXX

For our taste, Ox Eye Bay is once again a typical tourist trap. Numerous reports that we watched in the run-up to the trip swear by the Caribbean view of Ox Eye Bay.

And yes, the video impressions had an impressive effect on us, so let’s go there. We find an impressively large mass of tourists and Greeks with deck chairs and plastic umbrellas. Everyone splashes around in the blue water and pees in the surrounding dunes. Phew, that was not the sight we had expected.

We look at each other and without words we agree to leave again on the spot. A quick snapshot from the bird’s eye view and then off to a bar that Michelle spotted on the way there.

Driving to Mystra in vain – but the route is great

When Michelle tells you that you have now left the mountains behind and will spend the rest of your time on the coast, you can be sure that the very next day you will be heading for the mountains again. But this time for the last time, I promise. Michelle really wants to go to Mystra to see the remains of the Byzantine settlement. The mountain route there is also supposed to be indescribably beautiful, with stone ceilings towering over the road.

Once again, however, things turn out differently than planned, and in many ways. First of all, we have to take a much longer diversions, the weather is not sunny as announced but frighteningly stormy and we could have saved ourselves the visit to Mystra as we are not allowed to take our dogs onto the premises. So that was 4 hours of driving for nothing. Not quite true, the mountain section was actually quite beautiful apart from the storm and the stone ceilings are a bit of an adventure. However, you should check the height limits beforehand.

Falling asleep to the sounds of the Kardamili Jazz Festival

Our next overnight destination is Kardamili. Michelle shows mercy to Daniel and finds an alternative route to the diversions through the mountains. Unfortunately, this also means that the way back will take longer and that we will have to drive a part of the way back, i.e. twice, in the next few days. As a perfectionist, this is hard to bear, but it will be bearable. We hope that Kardamili will live up to what the photos on the web promise: A small, sweet fishing village with a romantic harbour. Michelle looks for a taverna during the drive, which we hope will allow us to spend the night in the taverna car park directly on the water after a hearty dinner and numerous drinks for dessert. Unfortunately, the plan doesn’t work out because, according to Park4Night, the owner apparently doesn’t like to welcome campers to his car park and sometimes calls the local police at night. The food is okay, but if we had known about this in advance, we would certainly have eaten somewhere else.

Daniel parks the car and Michelle enjoys a Retsina with Trüffel and Pelle in Café XXX. It starts to rain, but that’s not bad at all. Kardamili is indeed very romantic and the warm summer rain, refracted in the warm lights, rather enhances this sensual atmosphere. Next to the café, we observe numerous wasps and hornets sucking up sweet flower juice from a rainy wall. We set off towards the campsite, but not without stopping for a frozen yoghurt on the way. Quite full, we are happy about the short walk to the harbour. Even from a distance we can hear the sounds of jazz.

The Kardamili Jazz Festival is taking place above our campsite. What luck we have. Various jazz groups play in different bars until well into the evening. The sounds of the music and the stories of the artists quickly accompany us into a quiet and peaceful sleep.

Lobster, Crayfish and storm in Limeni

We are woken up by the next morning and three quacking ducks next to our tent. Shortly afterwards, two fishermen arrive. Today we are going to Limeni, but before that we want to fortify ourselves with a healthy breakfast at the café “Kafenio”. The Google photos of the delicious and, above all, artistically designed sandwiches make our mouths water. We can hardly wait, so let’s get going. Like typical German tourists, we are of course already standing in front of the coffee 15 minutes before the regular opening time and now have to wait. It is stormier today than it has been all the last few days. We had imagined it differently. Experiencing the fancy delicacies in the artistic outdoor area in the sunshine is probably not going to happen today. We brave the wind and sit outside anyway. Daniel orders a frappé as usual and I choose a special mountain tea from the region. This is accompanied by a bread with plums, pickles, salami… and one with cream cheese, fig jam, strawberries, anchovies, pepper and pistachio crumbs. The breads are a real taste explosion and the tea very tastefully decorated.

After defending our sandwiches from countless cats, we continue along the coastal road. Our destination today is Limeni, a small, picturesque fishing village just before the drive up to Areopoli.

Pictures on Instagram promise bright blue water, fresh seafood and a picturesque village façade. And that’s exactly what we find. At the foot of the one-way street there are even (non-official) parking spaces for 2-3 vans or off-road vehicles or small motorhomes.

We park our Ralfi there, set up the roof tent and walk to the nearby village. We quickly find our favourite taverna, XXX. We fortify ourselves with a small snack for lunch (squid, gavros and tsipouro) and then treat ourselves to a delicious ice cream. Daniel now wants to try his luck in the sea and Michelle and Pelle are so tired that they take a nap in the roof tent. Daniel quickly gets into the tent, the water seems to be a bit too cold after all. After a nice chat with our Belgian campsite neighbours, we set off again for our taverna. This time, however, we want to try the fresh seafood. We decide on lobster and crayfish.

The latter don’t really look appetising, but they are. Word of honour! Michelle discovers a beautiful little shop opposite the taverna, where you can buy natural beauty products and stylish jewellery. Even Daniel can’t help but take a look at the shop and is just as taken with it as Michelle. You could really buy everything here. After our little shopping tour, we had a cocktail. Daniel in particular is brave today and orders a Sex on the Beach with chilli. While we linger in the cocktail bar, a storm comes up. We break off and try to get into the roof tent as dry as possible. Unfortunately, we don’t really succeed in this endeavour. Our car is parked on red clay soil. This means that 8 little paws have stained the entire tent, the mattress and the sleeping bag with red clay. Thank you very much. Michelle tries to get rid of the worst of it and then we fall asleep to the whirring of the electricity pylon next to us.

Areopoli almost without tourists, but no nightlife feeling

Lost Place – Castle Village Ruin Váthia

Cape Matapan – Roman Baths, Death Oracle of Poseidon, Milky Way

Along Mani’s east coast towards Gythiera and Dimitrios shipwreck

Crossing to Elafonisos and Caribbean pitch on the most beautiful beach in Europe

Short trip to Neapolis with a stormy night in the roof tent right next to our ferry

Our discovery of the most pristine Ionian island – Kythira

Old shipwrecks and brand new stranded ships

Pitoresque harbour town of Avlemonas and our new pastime “Ouzo-Splash-Ouzo-Splash”

A dreamy night at the fishing hut in Vlachou

Discovery of the cave church and flying swallows

Photo session in picturesque Chora – unfortunately at the wrong time

A special kind of accommodation – DonQui Hotel Charlet

Enchanted Springs by Amir Ali and the Parking Lot Dilemma

Offroad to the northernmost point of Kythira – Moudari Lighthouse

Fabulous old Phillipas water mill and adventurous hike over hill and dale

Diving into another age – Castle of Milopotamos

A lunch among friends

Astikon and its nightlife

Kakia Lagada: On the left the sea, on the right the lake, us in the middle

The campsite of Kapsali – a dreamlike lost place

A German Evening in Greece – Everyone Loves Grandma Renata

Monemvasia at dawn and a pitch with a view

Along the coastal road from Kapyrissa to Fokiano

Crowded Nafplio in the midday sun

Amvrak Gulf – Swimming with sea turtles and dolphins

The entire journey as a video documentation

Ihre Daten werden erst beim Abspielen des Youtube-Videos an den Dienst übermittelt. Your data will only be transmitted to the service when you play the Youtube video.

Der Beitrag 4×4 Roadtrip around Peloponnes, Elafonisos and Kythira erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

In a previous article, we introduced you to different systems of transport boxes for car, motorhome, camping and off-road travel.

We ourselves rely on the Wolf Packs from Frontrunner for our off-road trips. But 8 black boxes that look the same are extremely impractical in everyday life. We constantly reach for the wrong box and only after opening one of the boxes do we realise that we have opened a clothes box instead of a cooking box.

To avoid this from happening and to make sure we reach for the right box, we have labelled our boxes. And we did this on all four sides, so that we don’t always have to turn the boxes around to see the labelling on just one of the sides.

So, do you just print out a small Dymo label saying “Cooking, cutlery, gas burner” four times? No, the small labels would be quite small, rigid in content and unintuitive.

Instead, we decided to print larger address labels (101mm x 54mm) with catchy symbols using our Dymo LabelWriter 550 *. Pictograms give us a quick overview of the contents of the boxes:

A pill symbol stands for medicines, a stylised dog for the accessories for our four-legged friends, a socket symbol for cables and chargers, a man and woman symbol stands for the clothing boxes and screwdrivers and spanners make the tool box recognisable.

The good thing about these thermal labels: The print is not smeared or affected by moisture and water. The labels are quite tough.

* All links marked with an asterisk are Amazon affiliate links. We receive a percentage of the purchases made through them. Our recommendations are nevertheless honest and sincere.

Der Beitrag Labelling boxes and crates for camping, motorhome, van, offroad and boat erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

Requirements for boxes and storage systems

When we started looking for a suitable box system, we attached great importance to the following requirements:

• View-proof transport boxes that do not reveal the contents. No one should be able to see what we store in our boxes when looking through our windscreen in a car park.
• Light weight. This makes the boxes easier to move, plus every gram saves fuel.
• Sturdy construction. Closures, side panels or lids should be strong and resilient.
• Boxes should be easy to stack. This means that boxes can be stacked in a space-saving and stable way, for example on the back seat.
• Boxes should be easy to secure with tension straps.

Frontrunner Wolf Pack Pro

The Wolf Pack Pro from Frontrunner are the top dogs among the transport and organisation boxes. They are shock and impact resistant and protect the contents against dust and water. The boxes can be stacked inside each other and are also suitable as a table or storage when piled up. The boxes are so stable that it is quite possible to stand on them. If the ambient air pressure has changed and a vacuum is created in the box, the Wolf Packs are sometimes a little difficult to open. Pressing on the lid can then remedy the situation.

By means of lashing straps, the boxes can be firmly lashed to the back seat, boot or even outside on the roof rack.

Keine Produkte gefunden.

Eurobox

Next-Gen Portable Euroboxes * are characterised by their durable material. Fitted with the right lids, the boxes can be stacked easily and safely and even lashed down. However, you should avoid standing on the lid with your own body weight.

aidB Eurobox NextGen Portable, 400x300x235mm, 1 St.*

• Robuster, stapelbarer Transportkoffer mit komfortablem Koffergriff und abnehmbarem Klappdeckel mit Scharnieren.
• Praktische Lagerbox mit Deckel: Der Scharnier-Deckel mit Schiebeschnappverschlüssen ist ganz ohne Werkzeug leicht zu montieren.

18,37 EUR

Amazon

Zarges Aluminium-Eurobox

In my opinion, Zarges Euroboxes * are the Mercedes of aluminium boxes. They are dust- and splash-proof thanks to an all-round foamed-in lid seal. Thanks to stacking corners made of impact-resistant plastic, they can be stacked on top of each other in a stable manner.

ZARGES | Aluminium-Universalbox | Inhalt 42 l | Außenmaß LxBxH 600 x 400 x 250 mm*

• Die Aluminium-Universalbox mit einem beeindruckenden Volumen von 42 Litern ist der ideale Ort, um all Ihre wichtigen Utensilien sicher...
• Die integrierten Stapelecken aus robustem Kunststoff sorgen nicht nur für eine rutschsichere Stabilität, sondern auch dafür, dass...

196,99 EUR

Amazon

Stier Alubox

Another inexpensive alternative in the field of aluminium boxes are the aluminium boxes from Stier *. The boxes are stackable, but less stable because there are no stacking corners. Nevertheless, due to the dust and water protection, they are also a visually appealing alternative to other aluminium boxes.

Special offer

STIER Alubox, Aluminiumbox 30L, Staub- und spritzwasserresistent mit Gummidichtung und 2 Klapphandgriffen, Transportkiste aus...*

• STABILE VERARBEITUNG: Hochwertiges Aluminium und stabile Verarbeitung für einfaches Handling, optimale Lösung zum Aufbewahren, Lagern...
• GESCHÜTZT: Integrierte Gummidichtung gegen Eindringen von Staub- und Spritzwasser, geruchsneutrale Aufbewahrung

−11,70 EUR 66,29 EUR

Amazon

Auer Folding boxes

When it comes to folding boxes, Auer Folding boxes * are way ahead. The advantage of folding boxes is their small pack size when you no longer need the boxes. This saves a lot of space. At the same time, the boxes are not necessarily suitable for use as steps because of the integrated hinges.

Auer Faltbox 60 x 40 x 27 mit Deckel*

• Faltbox im Euromaß mit Klappdeckel FBD 64/27 von Auer 60x40x27cm, 56L
• Lager-, Transport- und Kommissionierbox für Lebensmittel und andere Materialien

46,07 EUR

Amazon

Yorbay Folding boxes with lid

The Yorbay folding boxes * are the budget version of the folding box. Here, too, the lid should not necessarily be used as a step.

Yorbay 2 Stück 55L Profi Klappbox Transportbox Aufbewahrungsbox mit Deckel und Handgriff aus Kunststoff Mehrweg 53x36x29 cm (55L,...*

• Zusammenklappbar und platzsparend: In weniger als einer Minute ist das Produkt zusammen auseinandergebaut. Somit eignet es sich...
• Stapelbar: Aufgrund des intelligenten Designs lassen sich mehrere Aufbewahrungsboxen stabil übereinanderstapeln. Es kann in mehreren...

Amazon

Front Runner Wolf Pack

The predecessor of the above mentioned “Wolf Pack Pro” boxes was the cheaper “Wolf Pack” *. After careful consideration, we finally decided on this concept.

Using lashing straps, the boxes can be lashed inside the vehicle or even outside on the roof rack.
The boxes are so stable and can be stacked on top of each other that they do not slip apart, even on steep slopes. This means that the stacked boxes can also be used as a shelf or standing table.

Front Runner Wolf Pack*

• Robuste, stapelbare Behälter: Wolf Pack Pro Hi-Deckel wurden entwickelt, um den Stauraum in Ihrer Garage, Ihrem Dachboden oder Ihrem...

Amazon

Do you have any other suggestions for keeping things tidy with boxes and crates? What system do you use? Let us know in the comments.

* All links marked with an asterisk are Amazon affiliate links. We receive a percentage of the purchases made through them. Our recommendations are nevertheless honest and sincere.

Der Beitrag Transport boxes for van, motorhome and off-road vehicles erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

In 2020, the idea of off-road travel came to us. In our previous trips with the motorhome, the insulin was easy to keep cool at all times because the fridge ran on either 12 V, gas, or 230 V with “shore power” connected.

But what about power supply in our Land Rover Defender? When it comes to warmer climes, such as Greece? The good news is that anything is possible – even desert trips.

Energy-efficient and reliable cooler

Our outfitter “Offroad-Manufaktur” in Hamburg explained to us what is important for a good cooler in the vehicle:

• A cool box must be well insulated and lose little cold
• A cool box in the car should consume little energy
• The temperature should be finely and accurately adjustable
• When transporting medicines to be cooled, the cooler should be reliable

When it comes to these three disciplines, there is really no way around Engel compressor coolers. Enthusiasts rely on these units even in the most remote and warmest spots on earth. Their integrated oscillating compressors ensure that the units still cool reliably even at inclinations of 60°. Many a box has probably already passed the age of 30 years and continues to function perfectly; if defects do occur, the manufacturer promises spare parts for life. Of course, this has its price – but only the best for our insulin.

We chose the Engel MT35G-P compressor cooler with 32l capacity * because of its cooling properties and dimensions. 

Depending on the available power source, it can be operated with 12 volts, 24 volts or 230 volts. At the campsite, it can be operated with regular “shore power” and while driving with 12 V from the alternator. 

Engel SAWMT35F-G3-S Kühlbox MT35F-S 12/24/230 V mit Digitalthermometer*

• Spannung: 12/24/230 Volt
• Inhalt: 32 Liter

Amazon

Tip for saving energy: Do not operate your cooler empty. Fill the empty areas of your cooler with water bottles, beer cans or cold packs. This saves energy and the cold is retained for longer without the compressor having to work hard. By the way, this also applies to the fridge at home: a full fridge reduces the air volume and thus saves electricity.

So far so good. But what happens when we are off the grid for a longer period of time? An extraordinarily large power bank in the car and a solar panel connected to it can help.

Battery storage for electricity also “off-grid”

With a power station in the car, energy can be stored like in a large power bank. Such a station can, for example, charge while driving and simultaneously supply devices such as our cooler, batteries or smartphones with energy during the charging process.

We opted for a model with 720 watt-hour capacity: the EcoFlow RIVER Pro Power Station 720Wh *.

Explanation of the unit watt-hour (Wh) and the capacity of our system: With a capacity of 100Wh, I can operate a device that draws 100W of power for one hour. Our cooler draws a maximum of 32 W. With a capacity of 720 Wh, I can operate the cooler for 22.5 hours (720 Wh / 32 W). In reality, however, even longer, because once the cooler has cooled down at a temperature of +5°C, it may only run for 15 minutes (quarter of an hour) per hour to maintain the temperature. Of the 32 W consumption, only 8 W power consumption will then remain. At 8 W consumption, the cooler could therefore be operated for a full 90 hours. However, we have never tested this because we have never been without power for 90 hours. Of course, this all depends on the contents of the box and the ambient temperature. For us, 48 hours is enough.

This power station has more than enough output connections that can theoretically all be used simultaneously:

• 3 x USB-A (2 x 12 W (5 V; 2.4 A), 1 x 18 W (fast charging))
• 1x USB-C (100 W (5-20 V; 5 A)) 
• 3 x DC DC voltage (1x 13.6 V / 10 A / voltage regulated, 2 x DC5521 13.6 V / 3 A)
• 2x AC clean sine wave (230 V / 50 Hz (110 V / 60 Hz) | voltage regulated)

With regard to our cool box, however, only the 12V output is important. This is where we connect our cool box. No matter what we use to charge our Powerstation, whether with 12V or 230V, the Powerstation transforms the energy source and always delivers the required 12V to the cooler. So this solution is also something for lazy people like us, because we only have to take care of the power station, the cooler just stays connected.

Before we decided on our EcoFlow RIVER PRO Powerstation with 720 Wh * for reasons of price/performance and a good offer, we also had other alternatives on our minds. We have the feeling that the devices all serve their purpose, depending on the requirement. One user needs more connections or capacity, the next needs something completely different. If you are currently on the lookout, also take a look at the PowerDude 500 from Wattstunde * and the Jackery Explorer 1000 *.

Now, however, we don’t just want to supply our cool box with battery storage while on the road, but also need to charge smartphones, MacBooks or camera batteries from time to time. Thanks to the integrated inverter, this is no problem. The device produces a clean sine wave and thus also enables the charging and operation of particularly demanding and sensitive devices. However, with every connected consumer, the energy consumption also increases. So that our storage nevertheless does not empty so quickly, we can support with a foldable solar panel.

Self-sufficient power supply thanks to foldable solar panel

Our EcoFlow RIVER PRO Powerstation * can be charged with up to 200W of solar power. In full sunlight, the Powerstation should take 4 hours to charge, but we have not yet been able to test this. When choosing the solar panels, we opted for a space-saving folding system. This is not only easy to stow away, but can also be flexibly oriented towards the sun. Much better than a solar panel permanently installed on the roof, which we had initially preferred.

Special offer

ECOFLOW 160W Solarpanels Faltbar Solarmodul für Delta & RIVER Serie Tragbare Powerstation, Photovoltaik Modul Solaranlage für...*

• Hocheffizientes Solarpanel: Mit dem Einsatz der Typ-N-Solartechnologie bei tragbaren Solarpanels haben wir die Messlatte mit einer...
• Einstellbar und vielseitig: Das EcoFlow NextGen 160 W Solarpanel ist mit einer von 30-60° einstellbaren Winkelhalterung und...

−160,00 EUR 169,00 EUR

Amazon

Again, there were several products to choose from. Ultimately, the devices differ in the number of integrated modules, the IP class for waterproofness and the connection to the power station.

The Jackery SolarSaga 100 * solar panel then lost out to the Ecoflow 160W panel * because the latter offers IP67 protection instead of IP65, delivers 60 W more power due to more panel and comes directly with the MC4 connectors we need.

* All links marked with an asterisk are Amazon affiliate links. We receive a percentage of the purchases made through them. Our recommendations are nevertheless honest and sincere.

Der Beitrag Cooling insulin while travelling with camper vans and off-road vehicles – Diabetes goes Offroad erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

Every time the tank is completely emptied, for example after the winter season, we add a cap Micropur Classic (Amazon Affiliate Link) to the water. The amount distributes in the tank and provides clean drinking water. Even if the water level now drops several times in a row for several weeks and is refilled, a sufficient amount of silver ions remains in the tank. So nothing comes between you and your three- to four-week vacation.

MICROPUR Classic MC 1'000F 100ml Wasserkonservierung Trinkwasser*

• Micropur Classic MC 1000F inaktiviert Bakterien und verhindert die Geruchsbildung in Trinkwasserbehältern und -leitungen
• Wasserkonservierung für klares, nicht für trübes Wasser, da Schwebestoffe die Wirkung der Silberionen beeinträchtigen können

16,72 EUR

Amazon

After this time, or when the tank has completely dried out, we add another capful of Micropur Classic (Amazon Affiliate Link) to the drinking water again.

We have been using this method in our RV travels since 1998 and have never had anything wrong with our fresh water or the tank system.

In addition to using Micropur (Amazon Affiliate Link), however, there are other things to keep in mind:

1. In your own best interest, never use anyone else’s hoses, even those attached to supply and disposal stations. The probability is high that someone before you has already used this hose to clean his shit-tank from the inside.
2. When you’re not using the RV, drain the fresh water. Otherwise you run the risk of germs forming.

Der Beitrag Conservating Drinking Water in the Camper-Van: Germ free tank and fresh water erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

Ihre Daten werden erst beim Abspielen des Youtube-Videos an den Dienst übermittelt. Your data will only be transmitted to the service when you play the Youtube video.

You can find the photo-blog here.

Der Beitrag Our first (semi-) professional video travelogue erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

Slovenia is not particularly large, yet it is extremely varied. I can reach every part of the country by car after only a short drive. In many travel guides, 1 week is therefore recommended. But 7 days are not enough for Slovenia. You can easily plan 14 to 21 days to really experience the country and its hospitality.

On this trip, luck was on our side; whenever a plan didn’t work out, actual alternatives led us to the most beautiful places. Detours turned into highlights.

The North: Triglav National Park and the Kranjska Gora region

Our first port of call in Slovenia was to be Zelenki Nature Reserve.
After a short hike through the forest, we reached the reserve’s crystal-clear blue lakes.

At the bottom of the lake we see sand being stirred up at a spring. Again and again fish swim into our field of sight. But the bird life in this reserve is also impressive. I am not a bird expert, but the sounds reveal that there are a lot of feathered friends on the move here.

Towards evening we approach the Spik campsite. From here we have a breathtaking view of the mountain massif ahead, incl. the highest mountain “Spik”. What a rock formation! The campsite is the ideal starting point for the following activities in this region. In the evening we stop at the inn “Gostilna in picerija Jožica” and are delighted by the Slovenian cuisine for the first time.

Thus strengthened and well rested, we set off into the forest at 6:30 the next morning. Our destination is a large waterfall in the nearby mountain massif. Due to the early hour, we do not meet any other people on our partly adventurous, narrow and dangerous path. For the first time we notice how blue the water is here in Slovenia – even though there was heavy rainfall the night before.

The path to the waterfall leads over wooden paths, riverbeds, steep stairs and boulders. Not easy with two very active French bulldogs. Even though we were afraid at times that we would be hit by falling rocks or slip off the path, the climb to the waterfall was worth it. Just as we arrived, the sun came out and bathed the mountain, forest and water in a warm morning light.

Around noon we continue to Jasna Lake, which is also nearby. Again, clear blue water awaits us. So blue that you constantly feel the urge to go swimming or to drink something from it.

On one side of Lake Jasna we find restoration in the form of a bar and a small snack restaurant. The other sides of the lake are not covered with buildings, so we have a fantastic panorama of the lake and the mountains while we eat our burgers and drink a gin. A healthy amount of tourism-centricity in my eyes.

Lake Bled & Radovljica

We were a bit at war with Lake Bled. It all started with the fact that the camping site “Camping Bled“, directly on the lake, was fully booked. We found our pitch a little outside, at the “River Camping” campsite.

From here we took a taxi to the west side of the lake and walked eastwards along the lower side of the lake. The lake, the clear water, the island and the castle in the background are beautiful – no doubt about it. However, halfway we would have liked to stop somewhere for a glass of wine. But the gastronomic offer was limited. It was not until we reached the eastern side of Lake Bled that we stopped off at the quiet little “Caffe Peglez’n“.

The lake is quite busy, there is a lot of activity on the paths. Its surroundings feel like a “high society spot”. This is also noticeable in the hotels that have been set up and the traffic chaos at lunchtime. If you are looking for a quiet, natural lake for hiking and swimming, we think Lake Bohinj is a better choice.

Our taxi driver gave us a little insider tip, because she lives in Bled’s neighbouring municipality Radovljica. The old town welcomes visitors with small bars and a cute church quarter. We especially liked the ice cream parlour. What we didn’t like so much was a large swarm of bees that had taken up residence at the town hall, but also made the surrounding seating areas unsafe.

The church has a small hidden museum in an old bunker (the low door of which is a great place to bang your head).

Our local taxi driver recommended the inns “Kunstelj” and “Avguštin“. We stopped at the latter and once again enjoyed the Slovenian cuisine.

Vintgar Gorge

The Vintgar Gorge leads the visitor over boardwalks directly by the river through a beautiful gorge. Along the rushing river we admire the green vegetation and the bluish-green water. The Vintgar Gorge is a place for inner meditation, for pausing and admiring nature and a Mecca for photographers – at least as long as there are no crowds of visitors squeezing along the paths.

We got up early once again. The gorge opens at 7:30 a.m. and we were the first visitors. This way we had a lot of space, a lot of time for (deserted) photos and also enough room for our dogs. The blue water especially unfolds its effect on photos in a long exposure of 1/12s to 1/8s.

Two waterfalls await us at the end of the gorge. As the gorge is only a one-way street, the way back leads us around the outside of the mountain. Along the way we enjoy flowering mountain meadows, chapels and a fantastic view all the way to Lake Bled. All in all, you should allow about 3 to 4 hours for the entire route.

Lake Bohinj

Our taxi driver told us that Slovenians often prefer to go to Lake Bohinj for their bathing holidays rather than to the crowded Lake Bled. And so we also ended up in this great place. Shortly before 11:00 a.m. we arrived at the campsite “Camp Bohinj” – and that was our good fortune.

This campsite follows the “chaos principle” when it comes to allocating pitches. There are no fixed pitches, no reservations, you just find a suitable pitch. This is charming in terms of flexibility and visits without reservations, but it also has its downsides. Unfortunately, there are enough people without decency and education who take advantage of the flexible choice of space and park right in front of your door or in your field of vision without any consideration – also without any consideration for driving paths when leaving.

Greetings at this point to the young couple from Munich who squeezed their rented van between two campers parked directly on the lake (yes, between the green VW bus and the lake) and not only took away their view, but also their seat. That was unparalleled in audacity. Your Austrian neighbour said nobly that you lack sensitivity, I say you are selfish assholes.

To avoid such people, it’s better to make yourself a little “wider” on arrival: move out the furniture, extend the sunshade, park diagonally. That’s not the best way either, but unfortunately it seems to be necessary.

At the campsite there is a small restaurant, covered but open to the sides, with excellent pizzas and local craft beers. If you ask nicely, you can take the glasses and bottles down to the lake or to the campsite. The next day we hired a wooden rowboat to take us to the other side of the lake. Here we found a lovely little bay with warm water, colourful fish life and an ideal swimming spot.

Soča Valley and Kobarid

There are days when you wonder why you didn’t just drive to the hotel. This was one of them. With a length of 7.50 m and a weight of 4.6 tonnes, mountain passes are not much fun anyway, or even cause sweating. Add to that roads that are too narrow, oncoming traffic and no possibilities to evade, and it just becomes even more exhausting. We completed the 68km route from Bohinj to Tolmin in about 4.5 hours with 5 breaks to cool down the brakes. By car, the route takes no more than half that time.

When we arrived in Tolmin, we found that only very remote campsites were still available and there were no taxi companies or suitable bus connections to the nearest sights. As “Plan B” we chose a campsite near Kobarid and the difficult journey was finally rewarded with this jewel of a campsite: With the “Kamp Lazar” we found one of the most beautiful places on our route. Situated directly on the beautiful Soča, the site impressed us with its restaurant, among other things. The site and restaurant terrace are laid out like a ranch. For dinner, a campfire is lit outside, accompanied by the softest and best pork ribs I have ever tasted. Everything here was done with love: the reception, the pitch, the food and also the conversation with the owner Edi. Under this link you can read in the yellow box why he built the campsite Lazar the way he did and what dream he realised with it.

Camp Lazar is an ideal place to start hiking along the Soča. We find real primeval forests, old trees, abandoned farmhouses and old stables. Some of the hiking trails, however, turn out to be a challenge for man and dog that should not be underestimated.

Not far from the camp there is another gorge, at the end of which a magnificent, light-flooded waterfall awaits the visitor in an underground limestone cave. Here at the “Kozjak Fall“, you once again feel the urge to go into this wonderful water or to drink from the streams.

A greeting at this point to Susanne and Maik from the blog “Maggy-on-Tour“, whom we had the pleasure to meet in Kamp Lazar. Your stories, your blog and your travel recommendations have inspired us with regard to future travel destinations and our future way of travelling. We had great evenings with you in the restaurant and around the campfire. We wish you all the best for your travels!

Along the Soča to the coast

We first follow the Soča through its valley and reach the picturesque town of “Kanal ob Soči“.
We start the day in a small street café by the village fountain. Because everything here is so wonderfully uncomplicated. The waitress recommended that we buy pastries to go with our coffee at the bakery next door, and we could eat them at her table. While we drink our very good coffee and eat our pastries, the city comes to life. It is Sunday, the sun’s rays are getting warmer, the church bells are ringing. People come out of their houses and chat in the streets. Life is beautiful.

After our morning visit to “Kanal ob Soči” we travel further south to Solkan. Here the largest cantilever stone arch bridge in the world awaits us, over which the Bohinj railway line runs between Jesenice and Gorica: The Solkan Bridge. It was nice to see it, but we weren’t blown away by the bridge – but that may have been due to the hot temperatures. Instead, we stopped at the restaurant “Ošterija Žogica” at the foot of the bridge and had a great afternoon there.

Arriving at the coast near Izola and Porto Roz, we found out that the only 50km long Slovenian coastline is extremely crowded in July and August. There were no free campsites, and parking spaces for the large camper van were scarce. Party people everywhere. After a short search, we found out that the ratings of the (expensive) campsites on the coast were also rather poor: Users reported on drunken brawlers and the very last thing we need on holiday is a party feeling like on Mallorca’s Ballermann beach.

But once again, it is alternative planning that leads us to the real treasures. In the newly discovered app “Camp4Night” we became aware of the pitches at Robivera. The owner Robert runs a winery and a kind of self-catering farm with olive plantation and animals here with his family. This farm is also marketed as a tourist farm with a restaurant.

This evening was to be the highlight of our culinary trip to Slovenia and at the same time an experience of hospitality that will certainly remain unparalleled in our lives for a long time to come.

At noon I had already phoned to ask if there was still a pitch available for us. A young female voice answered in perfect English. After our arrival, I went to the main courtyard, because I had to register somewhere. But I didn’t find the right door straight away and didn’t want to barge in impetuously. Then Robert saw me and came towards me. In quite good German he explained to me that we should first arrive and settle ourselves. We should connect our electricity and take in water if necessary. He would join us in a moment, at the moment there was still a closed party for dinner. We used the time to shower and change in the camper van, then there was a knock. Robert and his daughter were standing at our door with a smile. We could come for dinner now, because the big party had left.

We took our seats at one of the three large wooden tables on the veranda. The table was laid with a fresh white tablecloth. Robert and daughter explained that there was no menu, only seasonal food from their own production and of course their own wines.

The salads tasted like grandma used to make in the garden, the tomatoes had an intense, sweet flavour, the meat of the main course was a dream. But the highlight was the starter: Home-made ham on home-made bread and grilled aubergine with olive oil. Michelle actually hates fat in ham or meat. But I swear to God, the fat in this ham was buttery and tasted like heaven. Even Michelle didn’t leave a shred of it.

Through the olive trees flooded with golden light, we watched the sun sink into the sea at the coast.

Around quarter past nine, Robert and his daughter came to our table again. They would soon be closing up and going home and offered to bring us drinks again. When they left, the two of them brought candles to our table so that we would still have a nice time. What a nice gesture. We should just leave the glasses and bottles – just put out the candles.

Then the next morning we got a tour of the wine and ham cellar, bought wines, olive oil and homemade schnapps. Robert gave us a book about the small town and a preserved sauce. Afterwards, we took a short walk through the vineyards.

The mountain town of Štanjel

North of the coastal strip is a wine region around the former fortress town of “Štanjel”. The town with its small romantic alleys reminds us of Mont-Saint-Michel in France, but without the mass tourism and cheap, flashing Chinese souvenirs.

With almost 30 degrees in the shade, the climb up the mountain to the castle ruins is quite exhausting. Reason enough to stop at the restaurant “Grad Štanjel” and taste the sparkling wine “Tera”, which is typical for the region. The vine of this special wine grows only on the special red soil of this region. Especially well chilled, it is a great refreshment.

Camping on the farm – Milky Way included

With only 5 other campers and one tent, we spent the night on a rural farm, the “Tekavča Ograda Farm“. Our motorhome stands in the middle of a flowering meadow, chickens run around the car, bees buzz everywhere on the flowers of the meadows. In the evening there is a campfire. That’s right. A campfire at a campsite. Do that on a german North Sea campsite, you’ll be stoned to death.

While we were winding down the evening with Slovenian wine and pickled olives, I had the idea that the old barn would make a great subject for startrail or Milky Way photography – especially since the sky was cloudless. After a short study of the astro-planner in my “Photo Pills” app, a bull’s eye revealed itself: the Milky Way was to become visible directly above the barn at around 4:40 in the morning. I set my alarm clock and prepared my camera and tripod the night before.

Then at 4:20 the alarm clock rang. I got dressed quietly, took a few steps in front of the camper and started setting up and taking the first photos. I felt my way until the result was more or less what I expected. Now I just had to wait until the Milky Way “stood” perfectly above the barn. In the meantime, I watched as thick wisps of mist floated out of the forest across the fields in the distance. It was wonderfully quiet all around and I felt the morning dew on my skin.

Natural bridges and cave of Rakov Škocjan

Near Rakek we visited the naturally formed stone bridges and a cave in Rakov Škocjan National Park. In August, the river carries little to no water visible on the surface. But when we look at the caves and passages washed into the massive rocks, we can imagine how the river flows here at other times of the year or must have raged many thousands of years ago.

The approach is again somewhat challenging. We reach the car park via partly narrow gravel roads and start our hike. The hiking trails here are poorly signposted, again and again we stray from the right path. On our tour we come to a cave entrance from which you can descend into the Weaver Cave. Warning signs inform that the cave is not part of the official nature trails and that you descend at your own risk.

Sometimes one is careless. Too careless, and so I descend into the cave, hunting for memories and photo opportunities. After 10 metres, the steps end. Scree and steel ropes to hold on to follow. I continue to descend until I finally arrive at a kind of scree ramp that leads deeper into the cave. I start to have doubts about whether it is really worth continuing the descent, but then I try it and involuntarily slide down the scree to the cave floor. Now I was at the bottom. I take some photos, let the drone go up, wonder about a candle burning in the cave and start the ascent. In vain. Three times I slip down again in the scree field. The camera is damaged, I scrape my knees, my hands are hurt. When I reach the bottom again, I look for a big stick. With it I manage to half-crawl my way back up to the stairs. I hadn’t thought it would be like this. Drenched in sweat and exhausted, I survived this adventure. Don’t take this cave lightly!

At some point, in the absence of signposting, we simply follow the road to the highest point of the hiking area, where an old church ruin and its amphibious inhabitants await us. But we wonder where these stone bridges are supposed to be. Only after studying the map on the smartphone do we realise that we are in fact standing on the wide arch of the bridge and have to descend into the valley to see it.

Camping and Bar at “Big Berry”

We wished we had had one more day, then we would have stayed another night here to participate in the night and bar life. It was only when we paid in the morning that we found out that “Big Berry” also has a small beach and a bar in addition to a wonderful view and a river running directly in front of the car.

The site was originally built as a model site for wooden holiday homes and only then was the camping business expanded. To this day, visitors can also rent glamping holiday homes and then visit the bar or the rooftop bar of the main house in the evening while listening to lounge music. Our visit to the bar was only enough for a coffee and a bit of pastry for breakfast due to lack of time.

“Izvir reke Krupe” Waterfall and Lake

At Semič we admire another spring, the resulting river and the surrounding hiking area “Izvir reke Krupe“.

A spring rises under a rock face. The emerging water is dammed to form a small, blue lake and then flows off via smaller basins until it becomes a stately river.

Suspension bridges lead the hiking trail across the river. We discover little wonder worlds of water fern under the river surface. At one point we admire the unfinished work of a beaver – a little more nibbling, then the tree falls, little rodent friend.

The Žalec Beer Fountain

On our way north, we stop in the small town of Žalec.
Admittedly, the town is not particularly worth seeing, apart from the old town and the local beer fountain. We spend the night on one of 4 camper van pitches on a large car park between a hotel and a sports field. The site is not pretty, but the overnight stay is free, even with electricity and supply and disposal. So they are doing something for tourism and seem to know that a beer fountain is only attractive if visitors can also spend the night close by.

First we stop at the Kolodvor pub. We (actually rather our French bulldogs) quickly make friends with the wait staff. They serve super tasty calamari and burgers. Then it’s on to the beer fountain.

The beer fountain is a delicious attraction. We buy two beer mugs with 6 fillings each. With these mugs, we can now tap a beer 6 times each. The whole thing is controlled via an NFC chip stored in the jug.

There is a choice of 6 different local craft beers. One that is reminiscent of an apple juice due to its cloudiness and taste, a craft beer with hemp addition but also more classic beers like dark or India Pale Ales.

The beer fountain is centrally located and surrounded by a well-kept park with old trees. We find a seat in the beach furniture set up there, watch the colourful hustle and bustle at the fountain and sit in the middle of a green oasis in this otherwise rather grey, small city. We would come back any time.

The Jeruzalem wine region

Tourists get their money’s worth in the Jeruzalem wine region. There are inns, wineries with flats, tours through vineyards and much more. The sunsets bathe the vineyards in a warm, soft light.

For lunch we enjoy a small cheese platter and local vegetables at the restaurant “Vinski hram Brenholc Jeruzalem“. The view from our table is breathtaking, the cheeses stunning. I am not a fan of the exponential use of superlatives, but here I have to use them deliberately to make clear how good this meal tasted.

Once again, we have to thank the “Park4Night” app for this evening’s pitch. The winery “Vinska Klet Puklavec” offers four camper pitches right next to the main house. Great view over the vineyards, great food in the evening. We take it easy, lie down in the deckchairs provided, edit the first photos, drink local Šipon and Muskat Ottonel.

Here we learn why the vegetables taste so good: There are no imported products here. Restaurants are required by law to buy and use local produce. This ensures that it is worthwhile for local farmers to offer high-quality goods. As a true advocate of the free market economy, I unfortunately have to admit that the market obviously doesn’t regulate everything on its own. German supermarket tomatoes simply cannot compete.

From Maribor back via the Herzerl road

At the end of our trip we visited Maribor. The city attracts with an old town and a large bar and pub scene. In addition to the spruced-up corners of the city, there is also the dirty, somewhat dodgy Maribor. The visit reminds us of Prague, and we can imagine that these not-so-chic corners can certainly unfold their charm in the nightlife at dusk. It’s just that with temperatures of over 30 degrees in the small streets, we don’t really want to get into the evening mood.

A small café that we really wanted to visit seems not to have survived the Corona pandemic. Instead, we drink a last Slovenian Šipon by the Drava, but then flee from the wasps, which for some reason like to fly behind my glasses and at my eyes.

Our last stop in Slovenia is the Herzerl road. This lies directly on the Slovenian-Austrian border. A road through a vineyard forms – viewed from the right angle – a heart on the Slovenian side of the border.

It’s a nice picture to end with this blog, because we fell in love with Slovenia: with the people, the hospitality, the down-to-earth way of life and the nature. Slovenia, we will be back. For sure. Maybe with a smaller vehicle, maybe with a Defender with a roof tent.

Here is our travel report on Youtube!

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Our photography equipment

Our photos and videos were taken with the following cameras, lenses and accessories.

Nikon Z6II mirrorless full-frame camera (*)

Lens Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm 2.8 (*)

Lens Nikon Nikkor Z 20mm 1.8 S (*)

Lens Nikon Nikkor Z 24-200mm 1:4.0-6.3 VR (*)

Photo editing on iPad Pro with Adobe Creative Cloud Photo Subscription with Lightroom (*)

Travel tripod Rollei Compact Traveller No. 1 Carbon (*)

Camera support system Peak Design Capture Clip (*)

* All links marked with an asterisk are Amazon affiliate links.

Der Beitrag Camper van road trip through Slovenia: Real insider tips erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

The ROWENTA RH9878 X-Force 11.60 comes on board

To be honest, I was initially willing to buy a Dyson because of the design. The devices are simply stylish and their marketing leaves the impression that there would actually be nothing better than a cordless vacuum cleaner from Dyson.

On the other hand, the devices are simply much more expensive in comparison and more inflexible in detail than the ROWENTA RH9878 X-Force 11.60 *. I’ll explain exactly why in the following paragraphs. The Rowenta cost us 279€. This is a great price for this ingenious household appliance. Meanwhile, we have two of these devices: one at home, a second in the camper.

A removable and replaceable battery

The ROWENTA RH9878 X-Force 11.60 * has a removable battery. This has several advantages at once:

• If the battery is running low, I can simply plug a second battery into the vacuum cleaner and continue vacuuming. Only important for use at home, because for the camper one battery lasts several weeks.
• When charging the vacuum cleaner, it is enough to charge the battery, the vacuum cleaner does not have to be near the socket.
• If a battery should ever suffer from old age, I can buy a new battery and change it without having to give the vacuum cleaner to the workshop.

90-degree fold-down suction base allows easy vacuuming under sofas or other furniture

With just one click, the suction tube can simply be folded down in the middle. This allows me to get under the couch without having to crawl along the floor myself. This is by far the biggest advantage of the ROWENTA RH9878 X-Force 11.60 *.

Originally, I was afraid that the suction power would be lost when the suction tube was folded down. This is not the case.

Battery life

Rowenta states a battery runtime of 45 minutes. In reality, the vacuum cleaner manages this time – even after half a year in use. I can clean the entire lower floor of our 160 square meter home and the stairs to the upper floor with one battery. I vacuum tile floors, parquet and long pile carpets in equal measure. In the camper with 2-3 times a week vacuuming, the battery and the suction power is enough for a 3-week trip.

Long pile carpet, parquet, tiles – suction power without switching modes

In the suction foot of the ROWENTA RH9878 X-Force 11.60 * is a rotating roller. This roller collects dirt from different floors and transports it into the suction tube. This is the first major difference from a conventional vacuum cleaner, which works exclusively with negative pressure.

This roller literally “combs” the long pile carpet to be cleaned and gets out some dirt that our normal vacuum cleaner would not have noticed. This is super practical, for example, even with long hair or pet hair.

But the roller has another advantage: switching between a smooth floor and carpet or upholstery is no longer necessary. I clean the living room at home and can switch from tile floor to cowhide or long pile carpet without interruption. And small carpets, the cowhide or floor mats no longer stick to the vacuum cleaner, as with an ordinary vacuum cleaner. There is nothing to hold on to – a huge benefit in everyday life. The old vacuum regularly “ate” the floor mats.

If there is a heavy object on the floor (for example, a large piece of glass or a thick pebble) and the normal suction power is not enough, we can press the turbo trigger and the vacuum cleaner will continue to suck with enormously increased suction power.

Emptying the tank

Emptying the container is quite simple. Open the container, take out the dirt, wipe dry once with a cloth. Every three months, you can also blow through the container once with the compressor, so that the filter remains clean.

From floor vacuum cleaner to hand vacuum

With just one click, the suction tube can be removed and we get a power hand vacuum cleaner. The inlet of this “hand vacuum cleaner„ then has a bristle brush on the vacuum. I use this regularly for baseboards, the car, upholstered furniture – or even in the camper.

Also ingenious: As a handheld vacuum cleaner with brush, the device is perfect for cleaning computer keyboards, notebooks or PC cases.

Special offer

Rowenta X-Force Flex 11.60 Kabelloser Stabstaubsauger, Tierpflege, 130-Watt-Saugleistung, 25,2 V Wechselakku, bis zu 45 Min....*

• EFFIZIENZ, DIE AUF DER HAND LIEGT: Ein Kontrolldisplay zeigt die verbleibende Laufzeit im Minutentakt an und ermöglicht es Ihnen, die...
• VERLÄNGERTE LAUFZEIT: Der herausnehmbare 7-Zellen-Akku (25,2 V) gewährleistet eine hohe und konstante Saugleistung von bis zu 45...

−132,71 EUR 204,24 EUR

Amazon

All links marked with * in this post are Amazon affiliate links. This means that if you purchase through these links, we will receive a commission. Nevertheless, this review is real and not bought. I could recommend any other cordless vacuum to you, but I love the ROWENTA RH9878 X-Force 11.60 and wouldn’t want to be without it.

Der Beitrag Rowenta X-Force in camping use: battery vacuum cleaner for motorhome and caravan erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

Special agents against rain streaks on motorhome, caravan or boat there are many. If you want, you can spend up to 50€ per liter of cleaning agent.

All nonsense, my father has at some point come to the conclusion that “Frosch Soda Cleaner” (Amazon Affiliate Link) the black or green stripes and dirt best to tackle. He swears by the soda cleaner from Frosch (Amazon Affiliate Link), others would not work so well my father says.

Simply spray the rain marks in the shade with the soda cleaner, then leave for 2 minutes and wipe with a soft brush and water. Thats it.

This works perfectly and is also one of the cheapest and most productive agents.

Der Beitrag Effectively remove rain streaks and green film on the camper erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

Gardena adapter for all common water hoses – find a connection throughout Europe

If you travel abroad a lot, you know the problem: sometimes you will find a faucet with 1/4 inch thread, sometimes with 3/4 inch thread. So that you can find a connection everywhere with your Gardena flat hose, you will need these adapters. It is best to get a small Tupperdose for storage and store the adapters near your water hose.

Gardena Profi-System-Hahnstück: Hahnverbinder für Wasserhähne mit 26,5 mm (G 3/4 Zoll)-Gewinde, Hahnanschluss für höheren...*

• Idealer Anschluss: Das Hahnstück funktioniert bei allen Wasserhähnen mit 26,5 mm (G 3/4 Zoll)-Gewinde
• Für Ihr Profi-System: Das Hahnstück ist der ideale Hahnanschluss für andere Gardena Profi-System-Teile

7,83 EUR

Amazon

Gardena Profi-System-Hahnstück: Hahnverbinder für Wasserhähne mit 33,3 mm (G 1 Zoll)-Gewinde, Hahnanschluss für höheren...*

• Perfekter Anschluss: Das Hahnstück funktioniert bei allen Wasserhähnen mit 33,3 mm (G 1 Zoll)-Gewinde
• Für Ihr Profi-System: Das Hahnstück ist der ideale Hahnanschluss für andere Gardena Profi-System-Teile

8,00 EUR

Amazon

Another tip to save space: 20m Gardena roll hose / flat hose

It is simply practical and hygienic to have your own water hose to take fresh water with you. The only problem is that a long hose takes up a lot of valuable space and is very heavy. Remaining water in the hose additionally increases the weight and can leak into the motorhome storage space. With this flat hose this is no longer a problem. It weighs only approx. 2 kg and can be stowed away super space-savingly. I personally have two of these hoses with me and can extend them to 40m by plugging them together. So I can reach a water tap on almost every camping site without any problems.

Special offer

Gardena Classic roll-fix Flachschlauch 20 mit Kassette: Platzsparende Schlauchkassette mit Wasserschlauch (Ø 12 mm in Kassette),...*

• Ideal für Unterwegs: Das leichte Gewicht und das kompakte Gehäuse machen die Tragekassette mit dem Flachschlauch zum idealen...
• Sofort Einsatzbereit: Der Flachschlauch ist mit allen nötigen Original Gardena Systemteilen und einer Spritze ausgestattet und somit...

−37,09 EUR 99,90 EUR

Amazon

Another tip for all motorhome drivers on the subject of hoses: Never use the hose attached to disposal stations to fill up your water tank, but never really do. Most likely, somebody has put it in his shit tank before.

All the links in this text are Amazon Affiliate Links, and by clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a percentage of your subsequent Amazon purchases. However, this circumstance does not influence the background of my product recommendation. This product recommendation is independent, honest and sincere. 

Bei allen genannten Links handelt es sich um Amazon-Affiliate-Links. Durch einen Klick auf einen Affiliate-Link werde ich prozentual an Euren darauf folgenden Amazon-Einkäufen beteiligt. Dieser Umstand beeinflusst aber nicht die Hintergründe meiner Produktempfehlung. Diese Produktempfehlung erfolgt unabhängig, ehrlich und aufrichtig.

Der Beitrag Adapter for all common water taps for camping and camper vans erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.