Whale Let Us Down, Again!

GYENESDIAS (LAKE BALATON).

Just before bed last night, the Whale space heater stopped functioning to be replaced by a chugging or a ticking depending where in the van it is heard. The only way to stop it is to turn off the master switch. By definition, everything else is turned off as well. The good news is that it the coldest night of the trip so the fridge remains functional. The bad news is that it so cold that we use the hair dryer and hobs to warm the van in the morning. The noise is still there when we turned the switch back on. Rosie is not best pleased, it was the Whale water heater that let us down last year.

The site owner tells that in addition to her 3 dogs and 3 cats she is currently looking after another dog and a further two cats. No wonder there are faeces everywhere in the garden!

Still, she is very pleasant as we prepare to leave. Rosie asks if many Brits stay here. Yes, she replies, a Scots couple came last year and then we came.

We find the number of a camping van builder in Budapest. He passes on contact details of one on the lake 80 miles away. He tells us that he is unlikely to be able to help with the heater but can help with the door. (It has become increasingly more difficult to close since the breaking.)

We pass through a number of villages before joining the motorway. In one, we stop to admire the Easter display of eggs and a straw rabbit.

Arrive at 1pm and he advises that it will take an hour. Why don't we go for lunch? He points us in the direction of a good restaurant. After a walk to the lake we take his advice. A Greek salad shared and goulash for Rosie and bean soup for Paul plus a drink each comes to £12. We're stuffed and can only manage beans on toast at the night. We return just as he finishes. He's managed to mend the door lock, fitted an extra secure lock and isolated the space heater. All for £64.

On to Tihany where Rosie has read she can buy cheap souvenirs. She could but most of the shops are shut. Still, it's a nice change of pace and there are some sights for the non-shopper.

Several failed phone calls before we make contact with a site at the west end of the lake. It means that we will have travelled all the way around the lake by the time we leave tha area tomorrow. Still, as most sites remain closed at least until Easter or some until May 1st, we consider ourselves lucky.

A nice family run site, the lady gives us a discount, charging only 15 euro for the evening. Rosie has me driving through the trees for several minutes before settling on a place under the trees.