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larryf@happy-wanderers.com
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Information on this website is our opinion only. This site was created to help others considering this wonderful lifestyle, and for our own use.
Our Travel Adventures
Welcome to the Adventures of Larry and Connie Farquhar.
Travel Restrictions Lifted!
Our European Rental Motorhome
France, and other European countries started allowing US citizens to enter and travel again starting June 9th. When this looked to be firm, we made arrangements to fly out of Phoenix, AZ August 10th, arriving in Paris, France on August 11th. We'll return to the US on September 11th, giving us a month to "test the waters" and start our European adventures. The flight is booked, so I hope they don't close the borders again on us!
Initially, US citizens were allowed if vaccinated, but would also require a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departure. However, since things are improving in the US, the COVID test isn't required anymore for vaccinated travelers, and there's no quarantine required either.
We booked a 7-meter motorhome from Indie Campers for the month. This is similar to the size and type of motorhome we're thinking of purchasing for our Europe travels. With this rental, we'll get a feel for the size and handling. Motorhomes in Europe are very different than those in the USA. By the way, they don't use the term "RV" in Europe. It's either motorhome, camper van, or caravan (camping trailer). Or course, it's translated differently in different languages. A "motorhome" is called a "camping-car" in France, or a "Wohnmobil" in Germany.
As is our usual style of traveling, we don't have many "firm" plans. We did make reservations at Camping De Paris near the heart of Paris for our first few nights. August is still holiday season and we didn't want to chance not having a place to stay near Paris. We plan to visit the Louvre Museum and Versailles. We visited the Louvre Museum 38 years ago when stationed in Germany with the USAF, but Connie was very pregnant and didn't enjoy it much. This was the one place she wanted to return to. We've never been to Versailles. This is the only campground we have reservations for.
The only other semi-firm plan is to attend the Caravan Salon show in Düsseldorf, Germany on August 30th for a few days. This is the largest "RV" show is Europe. I'm sure we'll be exhausted after 3 days of crowds and looking at motorhomes and accessories. They have a large camping area we'll be staying in.
All other plans are still just "ideas" and we'll wing it as we go. We've talked about visiting a couple sites on the old French Maginot Line of defensive concrete fortifications built before World War II. We may visit the USAF Sembach Air Base I was stationed at (now closed) and the town we used to live in (Enkenback-Alsenborn). We might also make the drive to and tour Berlin, Germany. When we lived in Germany, there was still the old "East" and "West" Germany and we never made it to Berlin.
Phaeton's New Owners
Besides our upcoming trip, the other big news is we're now without a motorhome. We've sold our 40' Phaeton Motorhome that we lived in for the past 11 years. This was our second motorhome, so we've been living in a motorhome for over 16 years. She now has a new owner, who we know will take good care of her. Of course, Connie cried when the deal was closed and we left her with them.
We advertised the Phaeton through the RV Trader website. She sold within a few days of listing her for sale to the second couple to look at her, We had to be patient, waiting for the buyers financing to go through. During the month we waited for their financing, we had over 30 other purchase inquiries. A few people offered to pay cash immediately. We liked the new owners and held out that their purchase would go through. The Phaeton motorhome transferred from retired Air Force to retired Navy. The new owner is a retired Navy helicopter pilot. Of course, he was already fully aware of our U.S. Military Campgrounds and RV Parks website.
Improvements on our house have slowed down. We've already completed all of the major projects we had planned. We just realized that we've been living here for a year already! Wow! This past year sure flew by! It's nice having a house again, but we do miss the traveling. Hopefully, we'll find a good compromise between the two.
Watson Lake, Prescott, AZ
We frequently get deer in our yard.
Schnebly Hill Road to Sedona, AZ
We have a (small) garden again!
Location (Map)
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Comments 2
Guest - tommyO' CW5(R) ARMY
on Monday, 19 July 2021 08:45
WHAT A LIFE !!
Doing the reverse of your travels. We have used Space A for our past European trips; and then bought our coach(es). Our current DSDP is resting in Mass after coming up from the last two years down in Pensacola NAS, Kennedy Space and MacDill AFB. Will head back South again in mid October. Stay safe stay healthy !!
Larry Farquhar
on Monday, 19 July 2021 14:27
I agree!
I agree that traveling is a wonderful life. I need to learn more about Space A for travel to Europe and back. Any advice or tips you can share? lfar@happy-wanderers.com if you want to email me directly.
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