When we left Bangkok it was early in the morning of a day predicted to reach 37degrees C. When we arrived in Prague 21 hours later it was snowing! What a difference!
It has been a mild winter here this year. There has not been a winter that has not been mild since 2003. There was only one significant snow fall this year and that was 2 weeks ago. The temp reached minus 15 degrees C. Jirka took this photo of Matilda in his back yard.
Consequently, although we had drained all of our water tanks and pipes before we left, a fitting under the second water tank has cracked. A small amount of water must have pooled there and frozen. Next time we will blow the lines out with compressed air.
Everything else appears to be in order. The batteries are fine, there is no mould inside. There is moisture under the mattress so that problem remains unsolved. The heater is working well. Of course the stove is still playing up. We have an appointment in Milan, Italy with a Webasto service centre to fix it, but we will have to do without it till then - second week in April. Luckily we have a propane gas burner as well.
There is one colourful feature here on these bleak, overcast, cold days (yesterday the max was 2 degrees C recorded on Jirkas windowsill), and that is these little birds coming to Jika's bird feeder.
12 March 2016
We are all ready to go. The leak has been fixed we are packed. But unfortunately last night I came down with a virus. I was shivering violently, making me think of malaria, but then vomiting and diarrhoea took over. There is an unusual flu doing the rounds in Czech, causing just these symptoms, so I guess that's it.
However we decided to depart and we are now camping near Cheski Kromlov, in a parking area, in snow. The trees and ground have a light covering and the flakes are gently falling. It's sort of surreal considering where we were a week ago! It is also absolutely silent.
13 March 2016
We are travelling through western Czech Republik towards Slovakia. The weather is COLD (although the Czecks seem to think it is warm). We have braved the weather and sat outside in our warmest clothes to enjoy our customary glass of wine on setting up camp, but it is really "braving it". It is still snowing when we are above about 500m elevation, and raining below that. But I am fully recovered and enjoying being on the road again!
The countryside is all pastels and mists.
And the deciduous trees give the scenery a special character.
Joe has been enjoying using his Czech language, and also improving his reading skills. I read the signs and in my head I hear Joe's mother's speech without understanding the meaning.
We went through Ceski Kromlov. This is an example of a medieval walled city. It is a tourist attraction, and rather picturesque.
And also Cheski Budejovice (the home of Budweiser beer).
14 March 2016 today is our last day in Czech Republik. We find ourselves at Red Horse Pass, at about 1000 m elevation at around night fall. This is a ski area with 19 ski lifts! 12 of these are operational at present and of course there is snow everywhere. We noticed an open resturaunt and Joe went in and asked if we could "camp" in their car park and eat at the resturaunt. So here we are!
Yes that is ice on those twigs....
15 March 2016
We awoke this morning to minus 5degrees. Our water has frozen, but no obvious damage. Hopefully it will all thaw out OK.
Today we will leave Czech Republik. Our route through Czech Republik is shown here...
We will enter Slovakia. Czech Republik and Slovakia were one country (Czechoslovakia) under communism, and split once they had democratic processes. We are heading for the famous "High Tatras" (mountains). We are really looking forward to this!
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