DEPARTURE 080607
Moving house is always stressful. Bev and I rented a small key worker flat in Woolwich london, for the last two years . Furniture and clothing has accumulated along with an array of electrical gadgets and paraphernalia
Bev has moved back to NZ . Rachel and her will be revamping our flats in readiness for providing Traveler accommodation next summer . Art has always been a desire for Bev, she is in the process of setting up her art Gallery in Hokitika . I have packed tea chest full of the remaining and sent this home . To think we came here with a couple of suitcases and always had restrain when buying goods and clothing.
My last day in the flat was hectic . People coming to collect goods and furniture I had sold on the net. I was putting out the last few bags of rubbish when i heard the click of disaster behind me . Luckily i had put trousers on as i was now standing in the passage way with no way to get back into the flat. I had retrieved me spare keys from my friend in readiness to hand the keys in on Monday . They were neatly arranged on the sink bench inside along with my Mobile and keys to the camper van. .
I utilized the neighbors phone to arrange a Locksmith . £150.00 for an emergency weekend call out. Bugger that what other options. I called my friend to buy me a Tee shirt on her way over and i was bereft of clothing from the waist up.
Monday morning, a bloke form the shop below my flat had blocked me with his car in my usual parking spot . I told him of my dilemma "I used to be a locksmith, Ill open it for you" gratitude bubbled from my lips.
Last year when Bev and I traveled down to Turkey in the Camper van we met an older German couple . They had worn out two Mercedes Camper vans and had covered 400,000 km around the continent . I asked which was their favorite countries . They both answered in unison, Turkey and Norway. We both agreed with there assessment of Turkey. A must do for travelers . Their suggestion that Scandinavia was a top spot remained with me. My ancestors are vikings, hailing from southern Sweden . I have been to the family home in Borgholm and will go back this time with a chance to dig deeper and see if i can find any remaining links from the past .
I have had the van for sale over the last three months . One taker pulled out a month ago and left me with the opportunity to travel north . My work at Oxleas Trust was a temporary nature . I chose when it finished and now I'm ready to venture north .
The usual checks on the van's wellbeing have been carried out, Breaks, Oil, MOT, Insurance, Tyres. Ill try to get another 6000miles out of the back tyre . Probable expose me to more punctures, Ill test my luck.
I have a GPS which covers Scandinavia. New roads and alterations may not be right up to date but hears hoping . The usual safety equipment is aboard . First aid Gear, torches, replenished gas bottles,drinking water. My cupboards are chocker with the food supply from our flat.
I'm a bit addicted to the Internet and had withdrawal symptoms when i parted with the PC in our flat. A quick search of the internet and i had a new Laptop with WI-FI capabilities . It has been a surprise to me how many places have unsecured Internet access. All to my benefit. A site on http://www.multimap.com/ will indicate where the Cafe's and Hotels are that offer this service to guests and Camper van drivers who park temporary in the yard to search and send .
its early June and working towards the shortest day of the year soon. 21st June I think. I plan to be up beyond the arctic circle by the end of the month. The northern lights, Aurora Borealis is said to be spectacular sight . Parkie has been in the southern Fjords of Norway which by all accounts will be awe inspiring. I plan to be away from England for about two months. Summer has been erratic weather wise so far . We have had some hot days but only into the low 30s . London seems to generate it own heat on hot days, which has the locals panting.
I looked at the Speedo as i pulled out of Woolwich 80880 miles on the clock. My trip planning tells me a further 6000 miles will be added over the next couple of months .
I'm now writing this update sitting above Dover's White cliffs watching Sea France, Norfolk Line and P& O ferries come and go into the harbor. The wind is blowing enough to rock the van. I cant quite see across to France 20 miles away as there is a low haze and sea mist. Grey overcast sky, its early summer in Kent . The wheat crops a full grown and the seed heads have formed . The country side is lush with new growth and abundant wild flowers.
My ferry booking is for an early sailing tomorrow morning. I had hope to be able to bring it forward but the buggers want extra money, I would sooner put it into the fuel tank than into their pockets.
I have scanned my anxieties about the future couple of months. Bev and i have learn to keep our documents and ourselves safe traveling over the last few years. I'm confident in the camper van the mechanics are good, ford transits are great work horses, its facilities are all i need. I will have to do a bit extra to keep it to the standard of tidiness that Bev set on previous trips.
Theft will be a constant risk. I'll try to carry my valuables with me in the back pack. I have a back up British passport now in case I do get rumbled.
I want to get to meet the people in their own environment, The back roads are best in the van. I will visit the museums in the cities but will mainly be in the rural s utilizing back roads
I have trepidation about coming down through the Baltic states from Tallinn in Estonia down to Poland. I have some contacts to link with in Helsinki and will get there advise and guidance before I take that route.
My evening meal tonight is Buckwheat , Red Salmon with a touch of olive oil and parsley. I can eat it out of the pot to save the washing up.
090607
Saturday
Slept soundly , Several other vans parked nearby , I heard one head away for an earlier sailing. I woke at 0430 ,daylight was poking through the sky light as my eyes focused in the gloom
Tomatoes on toast and tea with condensed milk. I had sorted the van last night and was prepared if my internal alarm fail me . I had set the mobile to let out a scream at 0445.
It always surprises me the range of activity at the Port of Dover, one of the busiest ports in Europe. Being midsummer there were hundreds of campers and caravans , Freight truck and Motorcyclist all cued to get on the Ferries comprising the P & O Line, Sea France and My favorite Norfolk Line. My sailing took me north to Dunkirk a two hour crossing . Wi Fi connection for passengers must have played a part in the Norfolk Line company receiving a ferry operators award this year
The motorway north through Belgium was flowing freely. The the right and left is industrial complexes distribution warehouses and manufacturing factories . Hay making is in full swing the farmers will be cursing the enclement weather . Towards the Netherland border the canal become more prevalent. I was tempted to turn off the main drag for a while but the occasional down pore help me decide to remain o the fast route north.
A variety of smells reached my nostrils . The dominant smell in norther netherland is of dairy effluent . It sprayed on the paddock with high pressure pumps leaving the smelly part airborne.
Other smells at of recently milled or treated timber, freshly cut grass , and on occasion, the fragrance of flowers, emitted from massive tunnel houses .
The new three bladed super wind Harvesting generators perched on 100 meter towers are scattered through out Belgium , Netherlands and northern Germany . To help these monsters to blend in the base is painted green shading up to white at usual tree level , It does help to blend the tower into the surrounding environment
Occasionally the traffic comes to a crawl . On one occasion a caravan had flipped on to its side . An elderly German , pale and shaking stood by, looking in disbelief at his smashed up Mercedes Benz and near new caravan.
I had driven most of the day with several stops for s cup pa and chat with fellow travelers . I had covered 460 miles since starting off this morning so called it a day in North east Germany at Oldenburg. Found a quiet truck stop and pulled the curtains
The food tonight is Tomato's on butter fruit bread
100607
Sunday WWW. HOSPITALITY-CLUB.ORG
The night was accompanied by a huge thunderstorm, very heavy rain lightening flashed throught the skylights . I slept well.
I woke at 0530 , toast and a cuppa before hitting the road again . I revered to driving on the left as i pulled out of the truck stop , gave way to a car who intended to turn where i was waiting. He shook his head and drove round me. "stupid Pomms".
The north eastern corner of Germany is rural. Main crops seemed to be Wheat, barley, Rape seed, Corn,as i moved fiurther east towards Hamburg. Forestry and specialist plantations of Ammenity trees broke the natural landscape of pine and willows.
Hamburg Highways where full to overflow . I crept along in second gear for 20 miles . Road works and the shear volume of traffic. The workmen were at home but had left all the barriers and deviations in situ. Overall the roads and road conditions are excellent. They need to be as the highways have an open speedlimit . I can travel at 105 km / Hour. And get passed as if im standing still by modern BMW, Audi's, Merceded Benz, and array of fast Japanese cars.
Due north from hamburg , two hours is the Denmark border, i pulled my Documents in readiness only to find the staff were having the weekend off. No checks or stamps here. I was staring to wilt , and needed to get off the highway . My map indicated scenic routs across to ESBJERG. The fifth largest town in Denmark, Fishing haven for the north sea fleet . A relaxing brew on the wharf watching the ferry depart for UK Harwick, the off shore wind farm boats with their sea legs to spub into the bottom while erecting new towers for wind turbines , and array of support vessels , and thousands of fishing boats . If this many where in port how many where there at sea. I drove through a Fish processing factory . Seemed to be in recess as there was no action or sign of recent activity. The smell was still atrocious with fish oil and old industry. Notable was the lack of bird life, no Gulls of Turns scavenging or waiting for opportunities for food.
Monday 10th June
Camped it Vardie Town car park . Met Germans
To get a bettr undestanding of the danish country side i took to the B Roads. These are slower and pass through villages and hamlets , The speed limit is 50 KM in the towns . Im sure i had my picture taken for exceeding the limit on one occasion .
Drove back roads to Ferry across to Zealand
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