Andrea and Mike finish their tour of extremes. And are already back on the road – part 13
Series: 4-Xtremes
After a final stage in the Balkans – and a meeting with the RoadStars team – the Kammermanns return to Switzerland. But not for long! Here comes part 13 of our series.
Our last 4-Xtremes report comes from Germany. Or to be more precise: from a car park on the banks of the Neckar, somewhere between Stuttgart and Heidelberg. Anyone who takes a look at the map somewhat lower down, will know that we have deviated from our route. But somehow that fits in with the course of our journey that didn't always go exactly as we had originally planned. But here's the story as it unfolded.
The last month of our journey which took just under a year included a few low moments – but also several really great ones too. What was less pleasant was above all the fact that the closer we got to Switzerland the more difficult it was to find places to park overnight. It became more and more “cramped”; an increasing number of fences prevented us from getting to the nicer places. In Serbia, from where we reported last month, we spent the last night on an old pass road and things stayed that way in the neighbouring country of Bosnia-Herzegovina. There, we usually had to make do with parking areas on side roads.
Bob-sled run, bazaar and minaret: in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kammermanns had yet another opportunity for extensive sightseeing – and for tours on very narrow roads.
Bob-sled run, bazaar and minaret: in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kammermanns had yet another opportunity for extensive sightseeing – and for tours on very narrow roads.
Bob-sled run, bazaar and minaret: in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kammermanns had yet another opportunity for extensive sightseeing – and for tours on very narrow roads.
Bob-sled run, bazaar and minaret: in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kammermanns had yet another opportunity for extensive sightseeing – and for tours on very narrow roads.
Bob-sled run, bazaar and minaret: in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kammermanns had yet another opportunity for extensive sightseeing – and for tours on very narrow roads.
Bob-sled run, bazaar and minaret: in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kammermanns had yet another opportunity for extensive sightseeing – and for tours on very narrow roads.
Bob-sled run, bazaar and minaret: in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kammermanns had yet another opportunity for extensive sightseeing – and for tours on very narrow roads.
Bob-sled run, bazaar and minaret: in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kammermanns had yet another opportunity for extensive sightseeing – and for tours on very narrow roads.
Bob-sled run, bazaar and minaret: in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kammermanns had yet another opportunity for extensive sightseeing – and for tours on very narrow roads.
Bob-sled run, bazaar and minaret: in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kammermanns had yet another opportunity for extensive sightseeing – and for tours on very narrow roads.
A walk on an abandoned bob-sled run.
Before reaching the capital of Sarajevo, we drove along narrow, winding mountain roads until we reached a special destination for trips: the abandoned bob-sled run from the Winter Olympic Games in 1984. Luckily the traffic was almost non-existent, so that driving was fun. We only came across a few farmers who gave us a friendly wave. It was at times like that that we felt our military green truck was a little inappropriate because, after all, it isn't too long since this country experienced a terrible war. All the same, it was a great experience to wander down the bob-sled run that is decorated with graffiti – and then back up again, gasping for air.
From there, we continued downhill from the mountain into the centre of Sarajevo in the Axor. The bazaar in the city reminded us a lot of our time in Turkey and Iran only a few months before. And in Sarajevo too, traces of the war are still obvious: many of the buildings still show bullet holes. Time to leave the city again. Taking the tourist route, we reached Mostar and the Kravica waterfalls.
A film shoot on the island of Krk.
In Croatia, we stopped first at the beach. We stayed on a headland for several days. On the one side there was a river from which we could get fresh water and on the other was a peaceful bay with magnificently clear water typical of the Croatian Adriatic Sea.
On the island of Krk we found a super place to set up camp: in an abandoned quarry, directly next to the water – and behind us a giant bridge which connects the island with the mainland. This was also the spot where we met up with the RoadStars team to take a look back at our journey in a film. For two days we travelled all over the island together to film in all sorts of places.
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Join RoadStarsNo desire to end the adventure.
After the film shoot we were supposed to finally return to Switzerland – via Slovenia and Italy. But to be really honest, we tried to delay the moment of return as well as we could. Of course we were looking forward to seeing family and friends after a year. But at the same time, we didn't want the adventure to end.
That is why we drove along the whole of the Istrian coast, enjoying the heat and the salty sea air. And in Slovenia we looked for a place to stay for the night too. Although in this country we only had a short leg on the way to Italy which we could easily have done in an hour.
Almost 47,000 kilometres covered.
But in the end we couldn't put it off any longer and crossed over the Swiss border at Chiasso. Our Carnet de Passage that we needed for importing our Axor into a number of the countries on our journey was stamped as invalid – and we were greeted by a wonderful mountain panorama. Typical of Switzerland. Our first destination was the Walensee lake south-east of Zurich. That was where, at the beginning of our journey last year, we officially started the trip and set our odometer to zero. The number when we officially ended the journey: 46,968 kilometres.
By the way, we haven't written that we drove “home” on purpose. Because we had our home with us the whole time. For the first two weeks a lot of good food with family and friends was the order of the day. Luckily we were able to park on land belonging to friends. So we didn't have to always look for new spots where overnight parking is permitted.
Reception with a mountain panorama and a new departure: after only two weeks in Switzerland, Andrea and Mike departed anew – destination unknown.
Reception with a mountain panorama and a new departure: after only two weeks in Switzerland, Andrea and Mike departed anew – destination unknown.
Reception with a mountain panorama and a new departure: after only two weeks in Switzerland, Andrea and Mike departed anew – destination unknown.
Reception with a mountain panorama and a new departure: after only two weeks in Switzerland, Andrea and Mike departed anew – destination unknown.
Reception with a mountain panorama and a new departure: after only two weeks in Switzerland, Andrea and Mike departed anew – destination unknown.
Reception with a mountain panorama and a new departure: after only two weeks in Switzerland, Andrea and Mike departed anew – destination unknown.
Reception with a mountain panorama and a new departure: after only two weeks in Switzerland, Andrea and Mike departed anew – destination unknown.
Reception with a mountain panorama and a new departure: after only two weeks in Switzerland, Andrea and Mike departed anew – destination unknown.
Of course we felt that we recognised every corner and every street and still everything seemed different to before the journey. It was strange to hear other people speaking Swiss German again. We had to be really careful about what we said in public – now that everyone could suddenly understand us again. A lot of things seemed excessively expensive and the choice was overwhelming when we went shopping.
When the wheels are rolling the world is in order.
And then after two weeks, we decided to set off again. Originally we had wanted to wait until June before setting off in the direction of the Netherlands to visit our bodybuilder Bliss Mobil. Instead we decided to just set off and see a little of Germany beforehand. Our first destination was Stuttgart – and the Mercedes-Benz Museum. We were even allowed to park the Axor directly in front of the building while we visited the exhibition. And now we are standing next to the Neckar, alone again for what seems to be the first time in a while and are thinking back to our journey.
The last year just flew by. We have experienced and seen so much … sometimes we only really realise this when we look at the photos again or read our own reports. Some adventures only really became adventures afterwards – when we told friends about them over a drink. During our tour even the difficult situations like involuntary detours were just part of our everyday routine which we tried to master as well as possible.
We have learned an awful lot – and that has only served to awaken the desire to explore more of the world. We don't have any concrete plans for the future yet which is a little scary. Our ideal plan would be to somehow combine work and travel. But one thing is for sure: no matter whether our next destinations are as exotic or challenging as the ones from the past months; as long as the wheels are rolling, our world is in order.
4-Xtremes – the tour of superlatives.
4-Xtremes: a couple from Switzerland is taking their truck on a superlative tour
Andrea and Mike Kammermann are heading out in their expedition truck on the ultimate tour – part 1
Andrea and Mike Kammermann present their Axor-based expedition vehicle – part 2
Karaoke by the lake and storms over the sea for the adventurer couple from Switzerland – part 3
That was hot! The two adventurers from Switzerland on tour in Iran – part 4
Suspected of espionage and landed on the moon! News from our Swiss adventurers – part 5
Consistently off-road – our Swiss adventurers “conquer” central Asia – part 7
The frost takes its toll – bitter setbacks and helping hands for our Swiss adventurers – part 8
The Kammermanns travel on to the pole of cold, defying all obstacles – part 9
Polished ice and a piece of home in the middle of Siberia for our Swiss adventurers – part 10
A disappointing setback and adventure sightseeing in Bulgaria for the Kammermanns – part 12
Andrea and Mike finish their tour of extremes. And are already back on the road – part 13
Photos: 4-Xtremes, Alexander Tempel
Video: Alexander Tempel
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28 comments
GRACIAS
GRACIAS
Heb iedere keer dat ik jullie verhalen en foto's heb bekeken ,gedacht wat een Prachtig avontuur jullie hebben meegemaakt ,en genoten dat jullie me met de verhalen en foto's meegenomen hebben met dat Avontuur
jullie verhalen waren altijd Prachtig en Spannend en de foto's waanzinig mooi !!
Zal wel wennen worden om weer thuis te wezen .
Maar wens jullie veel SUCCES toe !!👍👍
Heb iedere keer dat ik jullie verhalen en foto's heb bekeken ,gedacht wat een Prachtig avontuur jullie hebben meegemaakt ,en genoten dat jullie me met de verhalen en foto's meegenomen hebben met dat Avontuur
jullie verhalen waren altijd Prachtig en Spannend en de foto's waanzinig mooi !!
Zal wel wennen worden om weer thuis te wezen .
Maar wens jullie veel SUCCES toe !!👍👍
All the best, us
All the best, us
LG aus z. Zt. Nordfinnland (auf dem Weg zum Nordkap), Manfred
LG aus z. Zt. Nordfinnland (auf dem Weg zum Nordkap), Manfred
Thank you for sharing this wonderful adventure with us!
Jean-François
Thank you for sharing this wonderful adventure with us!
Jean-François
Respekt für Eure Reiseabenteuer,
danke für Eure regelmäßigen Erlebnisberichte und Bilder Eures nicht alltäglichen Alltages - war spannend!
Auch ich würde mich über Fortsetzungen freuen!
Ein Ende ist ein neuer Anfang - eine glückliche Hand wünsch' ich Euch...
Gruß
Klaus
Respekt für Eure Reiseabenteuer,
danke für Eure regelmäßigen Erlebnisberichte und Bilder Eures nicht alltäglichen Alltages - war spannend!
Auch ich würde mich über Fortsetzungen freuen!
Ein Ende ist ein neuer Anfang - eine glückliche Hand wünsch' ich Euch...
Gruß
Klaus
Wir sind bereits in Planung für weitere Abenteuer und dessen Berichte ;)
Stay tuned ;)
Wir sind bereits in Planung für weitere Abenteuer und dessen Berichte ;)
Stay tuned ;)
Auch dir wünschen wir nur das Beste und vielleicht bis bald :)
Auch dir wünschen wir nur das Beste und vielleicht bis bald :)
You had a great time!
Do you plan new routes?
P.S. It would be nice to meet you at the Truck Gran Prix’19, in the territory of Mercedes Benz Trucks with RoadStars Team.😉✌️🏆🏁
You had a great time!
Do you plan new routes?
P.S. It would be nice to meet you at the Truck Gran Prix’19, in the territory of Mercedes Benz Trucks with RoadStars Team.😉✌️🏆🏁
We have plenty of new ideas and routes, it's almost hard to keep track haha but we need some time to plan and organize it. Hopefully, we can share our future adventures here again.
We have plenty of new ideas and routes, it's almost hard to keep track haha but we need some time to plan and organize it. Hopefully, we can share our future adventures here again.