Houten to Copenhagen

As I sit here writing this blog, I am watching the kroners mount up, payable when we leave.  Yes the wifi is free, for one device, but everything else is expensive.  A highly sophisticated computerised system has been installed in the camping site and swipe cards have been issued to each camper.  Every time the card is swiped: shower, washing machine, dryer, it is registered on the computer in the front office, to be paid when you leave.  At the moment I have done two loads of washing (equivalent to £9) and so far have spent the equivalent of £10 on the dryer and the clothes are not even dry.  Or even nearly dry.  What a pain.  

But back to the beginning of our trip from Houten.   We drove on the motorway at a leisurely 85km an hour.   Sedately.  We passed one small truck only.  Everything else passed us, even the large trucks.  Most cars just whizzed by, although we noticed that there were speed restrictions of 130 kmh on most of the motorway.  Too many people killing themselves at ridiculously high speeds.

We stopped for a quick cup of coffee at McDonalds, and came out with two egg and bacon McMuffins each as well as coffee.  Our excuse was that we ordered too many McMuffins when using the automatic ordering machine.  But we managed to eat them all.   Needless to say we did not need lunch.   This is becoming a really bad habit, two McDonald meals in a sixteen hours!

Finally we arrived at our camping ground, Ferienzentrum Heidenau, just off the A1 motorway, a few kilometres before Hamburg.  A beautiful camping ground, set in woodland plus three very large ponds and a few canals.  

The view from our bedroom window.  The setting sun reflecting on the water.  So picturesque.   And smelly.   Unbelievably smelly.  We were surrounded by freshly manured fields, which gave off the strongest smell I have ever encountered.  But it all looked beautiful, as long as we stayed in the caravan.

Early the next morning we were on our way again, in our sedately manner, on the A1.  Our destination was the port of Puttgarden on the island of Fehmarn, at the top of Germany.

The bridge that connects the mainland of Germany to the island of Fehmarn.  A simple but effective design.

We lined up with all the other motorhomes and caravans, ready to board the ferry to Rodbyhavn, Denmark.  The ferry was very large and full of vehicles and people of course.  A busy crossing which took 45 minutes, just long enough to have lunch.

And then we were off again, driving through similar countryside as in Germany, mainly flat but sometimes slightly hilly land.  Everything looked much the same really, except for the exit signs on the motorway.  Always a giveaway as to which country you are driving through.

I drove through Copenhagen, while Walter navigated with the help of the navigation system and a map.  We did very well really, even when Walter mixed up his lefts and rights.   There were no arguments.  We managed to avoid hitting any pedestrians or cyclists, and there were plenty to choose from as well.  And we did not go through any red lights either.  But I think we will take the motorway out when we leave.  Might be a little easier.

So for dinner we ate pork schnitzel, new potatoes with a tomato and mushroom sauce.  The photo below was dinner on the previous night.  All so delicious, but with two McDonald meals plus two heavyweight dinners we have certainly had our fill of calories.  Back to the straight and narrow, I think.

I was planning on writing a blog about today, but due to the numerous trips to the laundry in order to swipe my card on the drier, I have run out of time.

Now for just one more check of that expensive but inefficient dryer.  Walter will definitely complain tomorrow.  He is better at complaining than me.  The Dutch presence.

A good nights sleep then lies ahead.