On our travels

Post by **syncro4us** » 03 Jul 2007, 21:13

from Kevin Jones kevinhjones@btinternet.com

We have now been on our travels since April 2nd this year and are currently camped just outside Bergen in Norway on the return leg of this section from the Arctic circle.
We have travelled some 20,000 kms in our 1986 Syncro Joker and it has proved a very substantial vehicle.
The main problems encountered apart from the police in Kosovo was a loose expansion cap so in Volos in Greece we bought and I fitted a new one.
We also had a rear trailing arm go which was fixed locally in greece then Russel a syncro specialist replaced them both on our brief return in May.
So far our journey has covered, Croatia, Serbia Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro,Greece,Italy, France then back to GB and up to Scotland to fix the VW then a replacement unit for our LPG system from our local hero, Steve of Gasure near Chester as the other one went OS.
So we returned in June to travel to Check republic, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, up through Finland then onto the Arctic circle in Norway where we saw the mid night sun at North Cape!
Now returning to the south we have driven to Bergen through the lake district of Norway and took in the 1400 metre pass at Haug about 16km south of Turtagro where the snow still lay on the ground and the lakes are frozen!!!
The LPG has saved us a packet on the trip making the VW syncro run the equivalent in economic terms between 30 to 50 mpg depending on the country. Belgium and Estonia are floating on the stuff but you can get it most places except Finland for some reason.
Steve@s conversion put a 80 litre and a 30 litre belly tank on board making a total capacity for the engine fuel of 110 litres giving a range of 580kms per fill up excluding the Petrol Tank.#
There is of course the 30 litre LPG tank for the fridge and cooker and heater though we havnt had to use the heater much except in Scotland and the North Cape!!! where it was very chilly.
Any one wanting to know more about the trip we will be putting on an exhibition ad the Van fest in Malvern on I think around the 8th September where we will also display our vehicle.
As I have wifi connection from the VW at the camp site in Bergen I thought I would get this off in case any of you are interested.
If you want to send me an email then its kevinhjones@btinternet.com as we can pick them up on my GPRS enabled telephone. That together with TOM TOM and a Dutch guide to LPG garages in Europe have really made navigation and obtaining LPG fuel, our major expense, so easy.
The traffic of Prague or Athens, Rome and the small obscure roads in Lithuania are all completely mapped out down to street numbers.
I have some thoughts on upgrades that TOMTOM need to do but I wont deal with that here.
The VW has been an ideal vehicle as its not one of those white bricks that float along the highways, you can actually park it in city centres like any other car! Also with the 4 wheel drive some off roading was a sinch. The Goodritch AT's are perfect for the trip and having the LPG as well as a good overhaul of the suspension worked wonders.
Thats all for now but I will blog a site with picts of the journey and others so see my site at www.telemationpublishing.co.uk for more

cheers

Kevin

Post by **edmundator** » 03 Jul 2007, 21:28

Sounds like an epic voyage, I love hearing about people making the most of their vans. I'm a bit disappointed I won't be able to see your display at Vanfest (although this is offset somewhat by excitement at taking my Syncro to Iceland) so I look forward to pictures and so forth on your website

Post by **syncropaddy** » 04 Jul 2007, 11:54

I just wish I had the balls to do something like that. Certainly the Syncro isnt the issue cuz my new one will have quite a bit spent on it and will be "expedition ready" very shortly.
I think all you people who go off on these journeys should log the routes, have hints on planning and all the pitfalls etc and Im sure we could open a special section for that purpose on this site.

Comments .............

Post by **HarryMann** » 04 Jul 2007, 13:10

Andrew,

We could easily have a section on the Syncro website for expeditions, long distance routes and travelogs generally?

Post by **syncroand101** » 04 Jul 2007, 14:26

You know what, that sounds like quite a good idea. Not just Syncros, but long travels or overland travels.

Countries visited, any tips etc.

the only thing I like about going with your own rough route rather than someone elses is that you discover things for yourself - however, you could drive within 5 mins of something amazing and not even know about it.

I just wish I had the balls to do something like that

Just do it Andrew! No whingy excuses.

I have spoken to a few people about a Norway / Greenland trip...

Oh and Nice Write up Kevin - we met up at Syncro-Nutz when Russel fixed your bits - glad to hear all is going well. Please drop me a line if you are in the London area, would love to compare trip stories over a cuppa or beer!

Post by **v-lux** » 04 Jul 2007, 16:02

I think all you people who go off on these journeys should log the routes, have hints on planning and all the pitfalls etc and Im sure we could open a special section for that purpose on this site.

Seen a similar thing done with cycle routes, all linked into google maps.
Could be a nice way of bringing it all together with a visual representation of the routes?

Post by **syncropaddy** » 05 Jul 2007, 13:31

Just do it Andrew! No whingy excuses.

Id never get another job at my age if I quit and went off galavanting !!! But you never know.........

Clive, lets set up that travel section then on the Syncro site