A Funny Thing Happened...
...when we tried to locate our camping ground (Eichholtz Camping in Berne, Switzerland).
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Picture two grown men, a car sick woman, and a teenage girl trapped in a small golf (with luggage and camping gear). Now visualize these people driving in a strange country on the opposite side of the road (right hand side for Europe).
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It was getting dark. Dark in summer (approx 9pm) and they were supposed to check in by 10pm or they'd not be allowed into the site.
It was getting dark. Dark in summer (approx 9pm) and they were supposed to check in by 10pm or they'd not be allowed into the site.
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They are following directions for Strandweg 49, Berne, Switzerland (the campsite address) on the TomTom.
They are following directions for Strandweg 49, Berne, Switzerland (the campsite address) on the TomTom.
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They departed the highway and drove into the city. Then through the steep streets towards the river.
They departed the highway and drove into the city. Then through the steep streets towards the river.
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All seemed to be going well.
All seemed to be going well.
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They got to the street named Strandweg and noticed that on one side there was a very steep drop to the river and the other were suburban houses. Thinking that the campsite was further down they kept driving along noting the street numbers.
They got to the street named Strandweg and noticed that on one side there was a very steep drop to the river and the other were suburban houses. Thinking that the campsite was further down they kept driving along noting the street numbers.
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40, 41, 43.
40, 41, 43.
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Then there was a sign saying '48 to 50' for a dirt lane going up the hill.
Then there was a sign saying '48 to 50' for a dirt lane going up the hill.
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53, 54, 57.
53, 54, 57.
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And a dead end.
And a dead end.
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Reversing back they re read the street numbers.
Reversing back they re read the street numbers.
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This must be the place. Maybe we miss translated the website and it was a house not a campsite.
This must be the place. Maybe we miss translated the website and it was a house not a campsite.
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'Cheryl you get out and see if you can see if 49 is up the lane way.'
'Cheryl you get out and see if you can see if 49 is up the lane way.'
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What a good idea. (NOT!)
What a good idea. (NOT!)
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Walking along the lane she noticed that there weren't any numbers. Up and up she went. Even up several sets of stairs.
Walking along the lane she noticed that there weren't any numbers. Up and up she went. Even up several sets of stairs.
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Then down again.
Then down again.
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Slowly, a second time, she went up again.
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Now, lets all sing.
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Slowly, a second time, she went up again.
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Now, lets all sing.
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Oh the grand old Duke of York
He had 10,000 men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again
And when they were up they were up
And when they were down they were down
And when they were only half way up
They were neither up nor down
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Finally she heard voices. (No, not the crazy voices.)
Finally she heard voices. (No, not the crazy voices.)
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It was a family eating their evening meal on the porch.
It was a family eating their evening meal on the porch.
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A young child of 5 ran to the edge and waved at Cheryl so she asked (in English as she knows no other language) 'Is your mum or dad there?'
A young child of 5 ran to the edge and waved at Cheryl so she asked (in English as she knows no other language) 'Is your mum or dad there?'
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Then she yelled very loudly 'Hello, Pardon, Excuse me, Bonjour'.
Then she yelled very loudly 'Hello, Pardon, Excuse me, Bonjour'.
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Finally, she attracted the adults attention and a man came to see what the screaming was.
Finally, she attracted the adults attention and a man came to see what the screaming was.
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She then said 'Pardon, monster. Parlez-vous anglis?' 'Sorry, do you speak English'.
She then said 'Pardon, monster. Parlez-vous anglis?' 'Sorry, do you speak English'.
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Thankfully, he spoke English.
Thankfully, he spoke English.
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After apologising several times she asked him for his assistance regarding directions to their campsite. Eventually, he came down to the street and looked at the printout of the campsite address.
After apologising several times she asked him for his assistance regarding directions to their campsite. Eventually, he came down to the street and looked at the printout of the campsite address.
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'Ahhh, how do I say. mmmmm, this is Stranweg. Not camping, house.
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It's ummmmm, Wabern is like a part of Berne. Not here. '
'Ahhh, how do I say. mmmmm, this is Stranweg. Not camping, house.
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It's ummmmm, Wabern is like a part of Berne. Not here. '
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My heart sank. 'Oh no.' (That wasn't what I was actually thinking)
My heart sank. 'Oh no.' (That wasn't what I was actually thinking)
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After several gestures and attempts at translation the conclusion was that we had the right street but in the wrong part of Berne.
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Wabern was a suburb of Berne.
After several gestures and attempts at translation the conclusion was that we had the right street but in the wrong part of Berne.
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Wabern was a suburb of Berne.
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Embarrassed, Cheryl went back to the car where 3 very concerned individuals were awaiting her findings.
Embarrassed, Cheryl went back to the car where 3 very concerned individuals were awaiting her findings.
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After explaining her finding they re keyed the address into the TomTom.
After explaining her finding they re keyed the address into the TomTom.
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There were 2 addresses for Berne:
There were 2 addresses for Berne:
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1. Strandweg 49, Berne, Switzerland
1. Strandweg 49, Berne, Switzerland
2. Strandweg 49, Wabern, Switzerland
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We had found no.1 but actually wanted no.2.
We had found no.1 but actually wanted no.2.
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Distraught we gasped in horror. How far away could this place be?
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Time was ticking on.
Distraught we gasped in horror. How far away could this place be?
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Time was ticking on.
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According the to the magic of the TomTom we discovered our new destination was a mere 30 minutes away.
According the to the magic of the TomTom we discovered our new destination was a mere 30 minutes away.
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Yay! We are Saved! (or so we thought).
Yay! We are Saved! (or so we thought).
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Vroom, Vroom. Off we hurtled.
Vroom, Vroom. Off we hurtled.
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Complete darkness was upon us when only a few minutes away from our destination we encountered a problem. The road we were told the campsite was on was blocked by a very large fence without a gate.
Complete darkness was upon us when only a few minutes away from our destination we encountered a problem. The road we were told the campsite was on was blocked by a very large fence without a gate.
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Panic set in. Followed by frustration and anger.
Panic set in. Followed by frustration and anger.
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This seemed strange as there were houses on the other side which indicated that the occupants needed to drive in and out.
This seemed strange as there were houses on the other side which indicated that the occupants needed to drive in and out.
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The TomTom would not let us know of an alternative way to get to the campsite.
The TomTom would not let us know of an alternative way to get to the campsite.
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In desperation we decided to back track a bit and hope we could find a road further up which would lead us to the one we wanted. Fingers crossed, the
In desperation we decided to back track a bit and hope we could find a road further up which would lead us to the one we wanted. Fingers crossed, the
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TomTom might re design the route once we were far enough on the other side to the new entrance road.
TomTom might re design the route once we were far enough on the other side to the new entrance road.
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We drove around for another 20 minutes, through quite suburban streets, before finally reaching the other end of the campsite road.
We drove around for another 20 minutes, through quite suburban streets, before finally reaching the other end of the campsite road.
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At 9.55pm we arrived at the entrance to the campsite.
At 9.55pm we arrived at the entrance to the campsite.
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We managed to book in and find our site.
We managed to book in and find our site.
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The last task was to put the tent up. Easier said than done as Alan was the only one who knew how to do this and it was completely dark (no lighting around our site).
The last task was to put the tent up. Easier said than done as Alan was the only one who knew how to do this and it was completely dark (no lighting around our site).
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After a bit of bickering and a few false starts we managed to get the tent up.
After a bit of bickering and a few false starts we managed to get the tent up.
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Then after another 10 minutes we had dragged our sleeping gear into the tent.
Then after another 10 minutes we had dragged our sleeping gear into the tent.
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Now you are thinking 'that ended well'. But there's more. Like those annoying commercials for steak knives there was one more bonus.
Now you are thinking 'that ended well'. But there's more. Like those annoying commercials for steak knives there was one more bonus.
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We didn't have a pump for the air beds. That's right folks.
We didn't have a pump for the air beds. That's right folks.
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We had to blow up the beds ourselves.
We had to blow up the beds ourselves.
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At this point we'd begun to contemplate sleeping on the ground. This thought process lasted until one of us laid down. Yep, it was stoney and extremely uncomfortable.
At this point we'd begun to contemplate sleeping on the ground. This thought process lasted until one of us laid down. Yep, it was stoney and extremely uncomfortable.
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There was nothing else we could do. Heaving, we slowly blew up the two double bed mattresses.
There was nothing else we could do. Heaving, we slowly blew up the two double bed mattresses.
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Finally, we went to bed (on semi inflated air beds). Despite the lack of comfort we were very glad to end the day at our destination.
Finally, we went to bed (on semi inflated air beds). Despite the lack of comfort we were very glad to end the day at our destination.
Well, actually, it wasn't that funny. You had to be there.