Travelling in the Death Star

New continent, new transport. After we arrived in Frankfurt, we went to the quaintly named ‘McRent’ to pick up our next motorhome. Here it is



Brand new, diesel, manual (tricky when it’s on the other side!), German efficiency at its best! It’s heaps smaller than our US RV but the layout is great – loads of storage and nifty ideas. A better stereo too! We originally nicknamed this campervan ‘Fritz’ but it didn’t stick – and as the brand of this van is ‘Dethleffs’ it’s become the Death Star. Way cooler.

So far we’ve driven from Frankfurt, through eastern and southern France to Gijon, Spain, and then back through France. We’re currently in Verdun (northern France) and we return the Death Star in 3 days.

What have we done as we’ve driven these huge distances? The boys have played DS, lego, done homework, written journals, drawn, chatted, listened to ipods, read their bibles, played word games with us, built air speeders from paper and played whatever crazy game Max has dreamed up next. And had very few fights. Mike has driven (obviously) and he and I have loved the scenery – we’ve tried to avoid freeways and instead have taken many backroads through small villages and beautiful countryside. We’ve chatted about how to make the readjustment to real life once we return. And he’s loved listening to all our CD collection – particularly the ‘Les Miserables’ soundtrack, his Christmas present CDs and Neil Diamond. And I’ve loved doing a cross stitch I bought in the Cotswolds of a poppy. It will probably take me 20 years to finish, but I’ve enjoyed making a start!




For those of you who will like to read the specs on this van… over to Mike ...

Compared to the American Chateau we are talking chalk and cheese. Where the Ford based Chateau was big, powerful and unwieldy inside and out, the Fiat based Death Star is clever, refined and handles like a sports car!

Approximately 18 feet long, single front and rear wheels, 6 speed manual Diesel engine, 10L per 100kms, terrific turning circle and very comfortable driving position.

Inside the 11 foot difference is accounted for in the reduction of distance between our bed and the boys beds (10 feet down to 10cms) and an extra foot in the drivers cab making for excellent leg room and a dash board as deep as a dining table is wide.

The three things the Americans did better than the Germans were the automatic internal power control system, number of power outlets and a flushing toilet rather than chemical. The rest … well … give me the Death Star every time - Storm Troopers, heavy breathing and all.

Karen & Mike