Trip up to 21st May

Sunday 9th May - After a few days spent at Canterbury Camping and Caravanning Club site, we made our way to Dover to catch the 10.00 am Norfolk Line ferry to Dunkirk.  We were quite impressed with the ship and as we had vouchers for the VIP Lounge, decided to sit there, with complimentary coffees, fruit and snacks. We arrived on time at Dunkirk at 1.00 pm local time and were soon on our way out of the docks and along the main road up in to Belgium.  We had decided on a short drive just to get acclimatised to the roads, so only did about 84 miles to Zele  - Camping Groenpark .  It was a little site in amongst the trees, more basic than we are used to in England, but quite pleasant. It was still very cloudy and quite chilly so we got set up as quickly as possible and got the kettle on about 4.30pm. After a walk along the road to see how far it was to nowhere, and back again, we decided not to bother cooking and just finished the rolls etc. that we had carried around all day. A glass of wine, a game of cards and early bed beckoned.

Monday 10th May -  It was less cloudy and a bit warmer when we got up to a late breakfast, after which we did a few necessary tidying up bits.  Then we walked down through the campsite to a sort of park, which led around to the Donkmeer. (A lake to us Brits) It was very pretty, with a promenade bit all around it, lots of restaurants and bars with outside tables but not a soul in site. We found the festival hall (shut), museum and information centre (shut), a fountain in the lake and not much else. At least the sun shone for a while whilst we wandered back to the campsite, but it was still not warm enough to sit outside with our cuppas.

Tuesday 11th May – Up about 8.00am, breakfast and packed up on the road around 10.30am. It was very chilly at first, but gradually warmed up a bit. We drove until 1.00 pm and stopped for some lunch, once more parked in amongst the lorries (no change there!)  Arrived at Otterlo in Holland – about 2.30pm,  Vakantie Park De Zanding, just as it started to rain. We had driven only 137 miles, but had already decided to take things easily, no point in rushing, after all we are supposed to be on holiday. This is an enormous campsite with over 1000 pitches, at least half of which are mobile homes or static caravans. By the time we had sorted out our pitch, it was slaughtering down, so we got very wet, cold and depressed setting up, wondering if it was really worth the hassle. We put the heating on, cooked a chicken casserole with rice, opened the brandy/whisky and decided not to set foot outside the door before morning. At least we have Sol Suite and our books, ‘cos we can’t understand Dutch radio, only the music bit!

Wednesday 12th May -  It rained all night, so we are now soaked,  and it was quite chilly still when we got up, so dawdled over breakfast. Just as well we paid 3euros extra per night to have a comfort pitch with more amps electricity (standard here is only 4 amps) as we seem to have the heating going full blast most of the time. Once it stopped raining, about 11.00, we went for a wander around the site to find everything. It is huge with lots of different attractions for the children. After a soup lunch we set off in to the woods which surround the area; little paths and unmade roads everywhere, but very pleasant – would be even nicer with the sun out! Hot showers beckoned when we got back, then a cup of tea.  We had a typical Dutch evening meal in the Pancake House, one with ham, cheese, onion & paprika, the other with ham and apple, extra salad on the side plus 2 cokes – all came to 19 euros, so similar to a pub meal at home. We then settled down for the evening to play DoppelBlok, which is Kismet in Dutch, as we had picked the game up in the shop earlier in the day. Quite amusing trying to work out what all the scores were!

Thursday 13th May – It is Ascension Day and a public holiday…caravans have been pouring in to the park since yesterday evening. We did a bit of washing and tidied up, then went for a wander in to the nearest ‘town’ about 20mins walk away. Not a lot to see, especially as everywhere was closed. Back the long way round across the heath and through the woods. Still cold (thermometer in Otterlo said 10’C) Back on site kids were playing on huge inflatable thingies, riding around in a little train, eating candy floss, playing mini-golf etc….a bit like Thorpe Park really….and millions of bikes all over the place.

Friday 14th May -  After filling the car up with 39 Euros worth of diesel (roughly the same price as at home), we walked in to town and found the Dutch National Tile Museum.  It was very interesting with tiles going back hundreds of years, both floor and wall tiles, some that make up a mural showing what life was like a number years ago. We also found a Tardis –like everything shop, so ended up with a witches broom which will be quite useful in the camper.  I got some strange looks carrying it around town with me.

Saturday 15th May – A colder but a bit sunnier, 214 miles drive to Bothel in Germany, arriving at Camping Park Hanseat .which is on the edge of the Luneberger Heath.  Our first impressions were not very good, a terribly windy site, gate locked although it was now 3.30 (they close for lunch 1.00-3.00!) no one visible in the office and only one other touring caravan there,  but lots of mobile homes and chalets around.  Eventually a “Frau” came out of the building, when I asked if she spoke any English “Nein” was the reply! So my German, with hand signals, pay 10 euro deposit for a key and go and find a spot anywhere!  We later found out that the key opened the door to the washrooms, and the blue plastic tag was to get in and out the gate (but NOT between 1.00 and 3.00, all closed) What a hoot!

Sunday 16th May – We woke up to a sunny morning, spoke to our Dutch neighbours who pointed us in the right direction as to all the rules and regulations – they had been there 5 days.  We walked in to the town, but as it was Sunday, everywhere was deserted and closed. Very pretty houses and farmyards in this area.


Monday  17th May – Again a sunny but cold morning, and we had more neighbours – a German caravan had pulled in after we had closed our curtains.  We spent most of the day trying to get some clothes washed and dried, nothing seems to work properly here. After the lunchtime shutdown we drove in to town to fill up diesel and buy some bread, milk, etc.  Then back to sit and read our books until another Dutch couple turned up. They were on their way to Norway so we had a long chat with them.  In the evening we went to the local pub for an evening meal, which was lovely.

Tuesday 18th May – We left Bothel about 10.00 and 1 hour later, having gone around in ever-decreasing circles across the heath managed to pick up the motorway up to the ferry at Puttgarden.  We had a lunch stop about 1.00 and arrived at the port about 1.45 – very impressed with the service there, just drive straight to a check-in booth, pay the little man 98 euros to get a ticket, line up in lane 14, 2.00 drive on to the boat and before we had got up the stairs to find coffee, we were on our way! 45 minutes later we were driving off at Rodby in Denmark, needless to say the customs people stopped us and wanted a look, but we were soon on our way. It was only about 20 miles to the campsite, but once again we missed a turn, drove extra miles until we could turn round, then were hopelessly lost so pulled in to a garden centre for directions. Finally got to Sakskobing Camping, which is lovely, by about 4.15. They speak excellent English, as well as French, German, Dutch and Norwegian, the pitches are quite large, but at the moment a little muddy as they have had a lot of rain recently.  Both Brian and I now have colds, probably due to the previous cold wet weather, so we got out the brandy bottle and went to bed early.

Wednesday 19th May -  Today has been beautiful, warm sunny.  We even went out in T-shirts, no sweaters! We had a wander along the path outside the campsite which led to a gorgeous little harbour with houseboats on it like nothing we have ever seen before, then in to the town. We found an Aldi so bought some pork cutlets for dinner plus veg and fruit.  When we got back we sat outside, with an ice-cream and read our books (for Lorna’s benefit, I did have my eyes open!) This is more like it, we feel as if we are on proper holiday now. We have eaten our dinner outside and I am now sitting in the awning, typing and watching a very red sunset at 8.45pm.

Thursday 20th May -  It rained again during the night and we were rudely awoken at 7.00am by church bells, blackbirds and Danish cuckoos that speak English! The blackbirds seem to think we are about to invade their nest in the hedge behind us and take every opportunity to tell us off! We are both feeling very achy and flu-like, so decided to have an easy day – just wandered along the fjord path a bit to take some photos, then back again in time for lunch in the rain. We can get internet here, so will pay my £5.00 for a day and try to get caught up with the outside world and update the blog.  As this coming weekend is Whitsun here, the site is beginning to fill up with little people, so presumably the schools are on holiday.

Friday 21st May - A beautiful sunny morning! Maybe the promised heatwave is about to arrive. We took a leisurely drive around this Lolland area which is more or less an island. Up and down country lanes, always keeping the sea on our right in the hopes that we would end up back where we started. We found the town of Nakskov and had a look around their shops and streets. Some of the house were quite old and very pretty. The church was open so we had a nose in there, it was very modern looking compared to ours, but actually went back to the 1600's. When we came to go out, we could not open the door! The gentleman who had seen us come in had wandered off somewhere and we presumed had locked the door! Oops!! panic set in for a while, then we thought may be he had just gone for lunch. After hunting around for another way out, with no success we were just debating what to do next, when lo and behold the door opened and in came 4 other oldies, no idea what nationality.So we grabbed the door quick and snuck out - just hope they did not have the same problem!
Carrying on around the coast we came to Albuen Strand which is where we had thought of as an alternative campsite. It was lovely and peaceful, but very remote, so we just sat on a bench, had lunch, watching the sea, listening to the birds. Afterwards went for a walk along the dyke and back via the beach, but it was quite hard going.
We eventually found our way back by about 4.00pm, when it was 31'C in our camper, phew!! So we sat outside with cold drinks and watched the world go by.