Day No. 84 - At home and yet so far away ...

I've already written that I'm coming home with mixed feelings. Cologne, Südstadt and especially our apartment have been my home port, my home, since 2006. There's a lot of emotion in it. For me, home has always meant safety, security, feeling at ease and much more. There's the hammock where I drank my coffee every morning in the summer before I started my day.

You can always argue about taste. That's why I'm not saying that our apartment is tastefully furnished. What I can say, however, is that it has been furnished with great attention to detail. Torgit and I have tried to realize ourselves here.

That's why we've always felt very comfortable here. But I realize we're talking, I'm talking about the past. I don't feel uncomfortable now either, but it's no longer my home. Torgit feels the same way. I find it strange that the things that seemed valuable to you for a long time, that you loved and cherished, suddenly lose their emotional value. 

This morning I feel like a stranger in our own apartment. I'm delighted when my friend Micha rings to bring us a few things we've sent back from the tour.

But of course there are also things that I am only now realizing are a luxury and which I will certainly miss again in the van over the next few days. These are my top 5:

1. The bathtub, "unlimited" clear, clean and above all hot water, not sustainable but great.
2. The dishwasher, simply loading and unloading the dishes, is quite something.
3. The oven, Torgit's home-baked brown bread. - Divine!
4. The baker, this selection of bread in general
5. The butcher, I'll just say herbed mince, steaks, roast beef, meat salad...

What would you miss the most?

But when I think of Kölle, I especially miss my friend Micha.

Before I get too melancholy - it's fall, after all - I have a few things to do. I collect parcels from various places. I've already announced that we still need a few things for our tour.

I always find it strange where the various parcel services have their pick-up points these days. I've already been to liquor stores, various kiosks, laundromats, sports stores (thanks Nina) and so on. This time, a flower store, a €1 store and a second-hand store complete the selection.

Afterwards, Torgit and I drive to two Volkswagen dealerships to take a closer look at the T6.1 Caravelle. For all those who don't know what the name means, Volkswagen has carried out a facelift - you could also say an update of the update. If the T6 was the update of the T5, the T6.1 is the update of the T6. This is now offered in five different variants. Firstly the Transporter, then a Transporter Estate, then the Caravelle, then the Multivan and finally the well-known California. The California alone is now available in six different sub-categories. But today we wanted to take a look at the Multivan.

"Already" at the second dealership, we found a real salesperson with a certain level of expertise. I particularly liked the fact that he checked out the purchase interest directly and bindingly. - The consultant at the first dealership was neither a specialist nor able to give advice. This combined with a lack of enthusiasm always hurts me.

Number two was completely different. Although I clearly and openly communicated to him in response to his questions that we would not be buying the vehicle from him, he provided competent advice. Nice, charming and focused. You can tell that he is passionate about his product. The market competitor SpaceCamper is not maligned as usual, but explicitly praised. He also checks whether there is a need for more. - If I were his boss, I would pay attention to this salesman.

Later, Torgit and I visit my old home, the Bergisches Land. We want to visit my mother in Remscheid. Although Remscheid will always be my home, I know exactly why I moved away. - It feels like it's always raining there.

In the evening, we receive another post on Facebook. - Apparently we've chosen exactly the right time to interrupt our tour.

"The Faro Territorial Command, through the Portimão Territorial Department, carried out, on November 26, a surveillance operation aimed at wild caravanning in the Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina Natural Park (PNSACV).

The inspection was carried out on the Amado, Barranco, Ingrina and Ponto da Fisga beaches with the aim of protecting natural resources, preserving and improving natural and semi-natural landscapes. These values are threatened by illegal occupation of these spaces, accompanied by uncontrolled waste disposal by caravans."

This is the official announcement of the GNR. - As part of the inspection, 77 criminal offenses were created for prohibited "caravanning practices".

The reasoning is interesting:

The GNR emphasizes that it is about protecting the environment. - Although we camp wild, we can fully understand that the Portuguese are not happy when the odd camper shits in their forests and on their beaches. Excuse the expression, but it's the only one bold enough. If I enjoy the luxury of being able to relieve myself in nature, the least I can do is carry a folding spade or plant a stone.

We continue to try to live up to our motto of leaving every pitch cleaner than we found it. This is often easier than expected. There's always something that still finds a place in our waste bag.