First Night in a Truck Stop
Our first night in the camper van was spent in a truck stop next to the autobahn in Germany. Although we generally slept well, the noise of passing cars occasionally woke us up in the middle of the night. The next day, our goal was to drive to Austria and, at the same time, equip the van to be suitable for living. After a quick Google search, we decided to head to Innsbruck, which seemed to be the perfect destination for both purposes. This is part 2/7 of our Alpine road trip series.
Equipping the Van in Innsbruck
On the way to Innsbruck, we began to ponder what all was needed for campervan life – as neither of us had ever lived in a camper van before. Once there, we started to figure things out one by one. From a local Bauhaus store, we bought gas bottles and electrical cords, and from Ikea, kitchen utensils and bedding. Figuring out the compatibility of adapters and gas bottles took some time, as different countries and camper van types have their own requirements.
Filling the Water Tank – A Surprising Challenge
Filling the water tank presented a surprising challenge. We bought a water hose, but the water taps at petrol stations did not support it. At petrol stations in Central Europe, filling a camper van's water tank is often prohibited or intentionally made difficult, so that a hose cannot be directly connected. So, we ended up filling the 110-liter water tank using two 1.5-liter soda bottles. The operation was quite time-consuming and quickly taught us the importance of improvisation in campervan travel.
Achensee and Camping Restrictions
Our travel plans were intentionally kept loose – the idea was to go wherever we pleased, climb in as many mountain spots as possible, and stay on the road for as long as interest held up. The August heat in Central Europe directed us from Innsbruck to Lake Achensee, where we spent a relaxing day.
However, regarding camping, we encountered a new challenge. Central European legislation prohibits camping or overnight parking almost everywhere. Additionally, we were traveling during the holiday season, so camping areas were completely full, and no free spots could be found for the next month. This is an important consideration if you are planning a camper van trip to Central Europe in July-August.
Park4Night Saved the Night
Eventually, we found a place to stay for the night using the Park4Night app in Innsbruck, in a petrol station parking lot. To our surprise, the spot was peaceful and located in the middle of a forest. Other campervan travelers were also staying there, which created a safe and pleasant atmosphere. The approaching thunderstorm capped off the night. It was fascinating to watch the lightning through the camper van's roof windows, while lying in bed listening to the rain patter.
