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.

Farewell Donna, Patrick and Poppy

While we were busy in the Netherlands, Donna was busy in our house making the final preparations for her, and Poppy's journeys to Australia.   Patrick had already left the previous week, after making his goodbyes to family and friends.  It is not easy emigrating to another country.

It was a sad week for Donna, as she said goodbye to all her friends and work colleagues, plus Emma, Steve, Jackson and Isabel.  And Aaron, Kylie, Mia, Abi and Raphy in the Netherlands.  And us.  A difficult week.

Poppy posing in her box, that she will use for her trip.  She has been sleeping in the box for a few weeks in order to get used to it.  Australia has very strict quarantine regulations, and Poppy has had many tests and needles to prepare her for entry into Australia.  Once she is collected from our house in the box she will not be allowed out until she arrives in Sydney.  She cannot eat before the trip.  A bit hard on a labrador that loves food.   She will be given water during the flight.

 

Donna preparing to pack clothes. How does one fit everything into one suitcase?

I think Donna is trying to suck some air out of her clothes, in an attempt to fit them all in to the bag.

Order at long last.

We will miss them, here in the UK, and I am not looking forward to returning to an empty house.  And no Poppy to go walking with in the woods.  But it is a wonderful opportunity for them all, together with Scott and Lucy, who are already in Australia.  They have exciting and new adventures ahead of them, and we wish them every success.

A postscript.  
Donna has arrived safely, and is no doubt recovering from jet lag, but is very happy to be with Patrick, Scott and Lucy again.  Poppy has landed in Sydney, where she will get the greatest of care while in quarantine.  She will fly to Adelaide in ten days time and will be one very happy dog when she is reunited with her family.

See you all in December.

Open air museum at Enkhuizen

On Monday we drove to Enkhuizen to visit the open air museum, which was very interesting, but on a bitterly cold day it was perhaps not the best idea.  Somewhere inside, warm and cosy, may have been more appropriate.  

It took about an hour to drive north along the reclaimed polder land on the eastern edge of the Ijsselmeer, once open sea but now a freshwater lake, and over the very long bridge to Enkhuizen, on the western piece of land that juts out above Amsterdam.

Once at the museum entrance we boarded the ferry which took us to the open air museum.

A fantastic view of an old fishing boat, which has been renovated and used now for pleasure cruises on the inland sea.

First stop, was the fish stall for some small pieces of fish, battered and deep fried.  Warm and tasty.

Old kilns, with their chimneys starkly outlined against the chilly grey sky.

Unfortunately I do not have much information about the museum, due to it being too cold to stand and read the signs, and now I am unable to research online, as I am writing this blog, and can only use one mobile device at a time.  Poor preparation I know.

However I can report that all the buildings on the site were brought from other areas and reassembled at the museum.  Many of the buildings came from Urk, which was once an island across the sea from Enkhuizen.  Now Urk is a village on the edge of the reclaimed polder land.

The village square, with traditional toys and games for the children.

I love the trees.  So carefully pruned.  Fascinating.

A group of 'residents' deep in conversation.

Fish drying, artistically.

Those trees again.  Some of the houses were so tiny.

A village is not complete without a windmill.

There was a smokehouse beside the windmill, and smoked palling (eels) could be purchased and eaten there.  Kylie and Murphy duly purchased one palling and ate it very quickly.  They said it was delicious.  I find smoked palling a little too fatty but then I had just eaten quite a few pieces of battered fish, so probably did not need more fat.

A view across the pastures.

These black sheep did not want to eat the juicy green grass.  They were bleating for their evening supply of dry hay.   Fussy creatures.

The school room.  A bit bleak, but it was warm.

The stark church.

More of those trees.

I loved the gardens.

And finally, waiting in a sheltered place for the ferry to take us back.  Amazingly everone was still smiling, even though we were feeling rather cold.

Once back in the car, I was so appreciative of the electric seating in the car.  We also stopped at McDonald's where we had a feast, sitting in our cars, away from the crowds of people also having McDonald feasts.  After eating a McKroket and drinking coffee I felt quite human again.

We all thought the museum was very good, and will return there again, for a whole day visit.   Plus we will make sure we wear plenty of warm clothes.

Avondvierdaagse

Avondvierdaagse, the four day evening walk, which children in the Netherlands take part in sometime during May or June.  They walk either five kms or ten kms, depending on their age.

It is based on the real event which takes part in Nijmegen in July.  On this walk people walk about forty kms a day, for four days.   A gruelling event.

The Houten walk takes place on the third week in May, usually in warm weather, but it can often rain too.   We arrived in Houten late on the Tuesday, so I could only take part for three evenings.

I walked ten kms on two evenings, with Mia, and five kms on another evening with Abi and Raphy.  They joined the ten kms group on the last evening for the celebratory walk through Houten town centre, accompanied by an assortment of marching bands. The streets are lined with people on this occasion.  Such an amazing event.

Some of the schools setting off for the walk through the town centre.  

Parents and children walking briskly, at first.  On the last evening it is usually ends in a slow shuffle, which can be very hard on the legs.

The children receive medals each year, which are numbered.  There are also plenty of sweets too, which are worn around the neck.  Rather a contradiction to such a healthy event.

Abi proudly showing her medal, and her assortment of sweets.

Raphy's first medal, number one, and he was so proud.  He walked every evening, without a complaint, and no doubt doubled the distance due to running backwards and forwards along the line.   Raphy was so impressed with it all, he said that he wanted to do the ten km walk next year.   Not yet Raphy, another five years to go before you will be ten, and old enough for the long walk.  Great ambitions though.

Well done to all the children, and parents and grandparents. Quite an achievement, for everyone.  And tremendous organisation, for the people who run the event, and for the parents who manage to cook the evening meals as well as walk with their children.

An impressive four evenings of walks.

First stop, camping in Houten

Finally I have an internet connection at a campsite.   The third one.  I could have used the internet at Aaron and Kylie's house but we were always too busy, but more about that later.  The camping grounds at Houten and Hamburg stated they had wifi but it appeared to be a figment of their imagination.  Now finally, in Copenhagen, there is an excellent wifi connection and what is more, it is free.

I need to now backtrack a week.   To Houten, Netherlands.   We stayed in Camping De Vliert, a farm campsite about a 10 minute bike ride from Aaron and Kylie's house.  A very friendly campsite, well laid out, and it came with the fresh farm aroma of freshly sprayed manure.  Perfect.

As it was a weekend with a public holiday on the Monday, the campsite was full.   We were fascinated by the renovated 1963 Peugeot delivery van.  Now a fully equiped campervan.  Sleeps two people.

Mia and Abi stayed with us one night and Raphy stayed with us another night.  The go karts were a big attraction, free for children to use.  In other campsites we have had to hire them, by the hour, for our grandchildren to use.

Raphy also found the games room, with a pool table, table tennis table and a football table game.  All free.  Fantastic place for children.

Walter enjoying the sunshine.  whicb was unusual as he tends to search out the shady areas, but the weather was perfect.

Two very happy girls.

We spent a morning shopping in Utrecht, mainly for me to buy a jacket.  Of course I ended up with three jackets, two blouses, two tshirts and two long sleeved tops.  What a fantastic shopping expedition.  For me anyway.  Then I had to find places for my new acquisitions in the carefully loaded caravan.  Which I did of course.

The step and bell gables of some houses in Utrecht.  So Dutch.

On Sunday we visited Fort Vechten, which has had a great amount of money spent on it. This will eventually be the main museum for the water defence line, used in the 1800s to defend that area of the Netherlands.

The new entrance to the fort.  The narrow foot bridge lifts up, at closing time, which will then keep people out, or lock them in.  Impressive.

Visiters enjoying a drink in the sunshine.

A new area, which will have water in it, in order to show children and adults how the water line worked as a defence mechanism.

The fort is also used for party functions and for conferences.  And will open fully as a museum sometime in the future.  Date unknown.

The Dom tower in Utrecht, standing tall and straight, unlike my normal photos of it.  The leaning tower of Utrecht.

And to finish the day off we attended an 18th birthday party.  A great celebration.

UK to Scandinavia. The Beginning

We are off, finally, on our trip to Scandinavia.   

Yesterday, we rose very early, at 4.30, ate some muesli, said a sad goodbye to Donna and Poppy, and set off to the storage area in order to hitch up our caravan.  This went smoothly, thank goodness, and we were on our way to Harwich.

The surface of the road was atrocious, obviously not much money had been spent on repairing it.  Of course the bumpy road dislodged the jockey wheel, which we noticed straight away, and stopped before any damage was done.  Jockey wheels!

Early morning at the Harwich port.

Not many vehicles.  A lovely quiet voyage.

Waiting to go.   Pulling up the anchor.

Breakfast on board, bacon and scrambled eggs.  Beautifully cooked.

The last view of Harwich.

After seven and a half hours we docked in at Hook van Holland.   Almost like being on a very short cruise, a well appointed ferry, cinema, good food and comfortable chairs, plus cabins should you wish to book one.

At four thirty we hit peak hour, so the drive to Houten was very slow.   Finally we arrived at the camping ground, where we decided to use the mover rather than practise reversing the caravan into the site, under the scruntiny of the Dutch men hanging around, watching us intently.  

We arrived at Aaron and Kylie's house just as they were returning from their Avondvierdaagse (four evenings of walking) walk.  Great to see them all.

A long journey, timewise,compared to the time it takes when we travel from Dover to Calais and drive up here on the motorway.  But it was very enjoyable and restful.  A mini cruise included in the trip.

The sunshade

The caravan is nearly finished, and ready for our trip to Scandinavia.   We have a new water pump, a new jockey wheel, and now we have a new sunshade.     The sunshade fits onto the awning rail at the top of the caravan.    It slides very easily into place.    However, it takes two people to pull the shade out and put the legs down.   An opportunity for us to work on our co-operative skills.   Never a strong point when putting up the annex on our caravan in the south of France.

Great co-operation in progress, between Walter and Patrick.

The sunshade has been rolled up, and is held in place inside a zipped up cover.   There are clips on either side of the sunshade, otherwise it may slip forwards or backwards, when out on the road.

Walter and Patrick consulting the instructions.  And then agree on the procedure for clip placement.  Most impressed.

Poppy looking as if she belongs in the caravan.   Sorry Poppy, not this time.  

Now we just have to pack all our belongings into the caravan and car, remembering where to place heavier items, and remembering to not exceed the caravan weight allowance.  And most importantly remembering where we put items in the back of the boot, especially the five boxes of non alcoholic beer for Walter, and the twelve bottles of red wine for me.   A very long trip.