It all started in the fall of 2019

Before children, they clearly spent a lot of free time in nature, especially in the mountains. Not much changed with the first daughter and we still spent a lot of time outside. The turning point came with the twins, with whom it was significantly more difficult to spend time in the mountains. Not that it wasn't possible, as they say, where there's a will, there's a way, but logistically it was more complicated. Since their birth, we have been looking for a way to travel comfortably with them. Cottages and guesthouses are possible, but moving a lot of things and the necessary planning discouraged us, and that's why we were looking for something simpler. By complete accident, an acquaintance told us that he had started renting a motor home. We immediately arranged a rental date, with the understanding that it could be a good way to travel with children, where you always carry everything you need with you. Right after the first trip in a rented car, which was to the Austrian Rax Alps, this way of traveling completely got us. There was no turning back. After returning, a frantic search for our first motor home began on Internet bazaars. And before long, the old Fiat was standing in our yard.

But now back a bit to our very first journey.

It all started in September 2019 with this borrowed semi-integrated beauty from Roller Team.

During the handover, the owner expertly instructed us in the control of the car and the possibilities of how to look for parking spaces and the differences between parking and camping. This information was really helpful for us. We didn't plan much for this first trip, we rather wanted to test whether this nature of travel would be for us. Since it was only a long weekend, we chose the nearby Rax Alps. The first trip led from the rental company to the house to load all the necessary things. That is, clothes, duvets and a stroller. The next morning, we first went shopping in Olomouc's Globus, where we occupied three parking spaces (that's how the tribute walks with a 7.5m long car, and this must be taken into account when choosing a parking lot). After shopping, hurray for the highway in the direction of Brno and then Vienna. To my amazement, the car drove almost like a passenger car, you just had to pay attention to the dimensions and drive a little into intersections, but nothing that an ordinary driver couldn't handle.

Before the trip, I installed the Park4night application on my mobile phone based on a recommendation, which is a database with places where you can park or spend the night. Places are divided into groups so that everything is clear and filterable. For starters, it's a useful app that, if used correctly, will make traveling a lot easier. You just need to respect any traffic signs and local ordinances upon arrival at the location. Both are subject to change, and places and place descriptions are entered into the app by other users, so this information may not be completely up-to-date.

According to this application, we chose our first car park Rax Park ´n´ Camp near the town of Reichenau an der Rax. It was a STPL, so it was possible to pull out a table and chairs. The price then was around 15 euros per night.

In the morning, I went for a walk through the Schwarza valley, which was like a playground for the little ones.

De-logging, transfer to Lake Erlaufsee. Since it was the end of September, it wasn't perfect for swimming, but the place was beautiful and as a bonus there was also a children's playground.

We spent the second night at the Biohof Fraiss farm. In the morning we bought homemade eggs and cheese. In general, we like sleeping on farms and their home products. With small children, we always appreciated the possibility of observing animals.

After breakfast, I set off for the nearby Kollerbauer pension, from which a nice hiking trail leads with views of the Erlauf river valley.

Along the way, a stop for a walk and a snack in the town of Göstling an der Ybbs and in the afternoon arrival at Stellplatz near the village of Wenten. At this parking lot there is a museum forge and a beautiful wooden playground for children.

After a peaceful night, which we spent practically in the forest, we had breakfast and set off towards the town of Eisenerz. Along the way, a small stop at the playground in the village of Vordernberg.

Eisenerz, a small Austrian town, has a rich history of iron ore mining. This activity, carried out here since Roman times, gave the town its name, which translates as "iron ore". During the Middle Ages, Eisenerz became the center of intensive mining that shaped the economic and social structures of the region. Today, the town still maintains its mining tradition.

There is a parking lot in the switchbacks above the town, which provided us with shelter for the next night. It had a beautiful view of the city and the mine.

In the morning, we had time to climb the Hohe Rötz hill and then pack up and go home.

Finally, a map of our first route with a motorhome. Almost 1000 km, a long weekend and a lot of experiences.

So that's how it started and we got so crazy about this type of travel that a few years later we started a motorhome rental ourselves so that you too could experience this unique type of travel.

Your OllvanCamper