This
roundtrip was one of the nicest journeys I ever made. This trip wasn’t
easy to plan, because I had a lot of ferries to fit into the schedule. I
had to drive a total of 4,227 km. (2,780 miles) to complete this tour.
This
year I did rebuild my Volkswagen from a transporter into a campervan.
It’s a real campervan now. Dutch road tax reforms made
it
possible to do so. Before you had to pay a lot more road taxes for
campervans, than for business used vans. It was a very bureaucratic way
to go, but after approval the 7th of April I had the official
registration certificate at the end of June. When I left, I didn’t pay
the right amount of taxes yet. I did leave anyway; the civil servants
are there to help, but sometimes!
Planning
the ferry crossings wasn’t easy. At last I started to plan the ferry
from Norway to Shetland, this is a Summer only crossing and sails ones a
week late Saturday night. The Shetland-Orkney ferry sails twice a week.
When these dates are known and confirmed it’s easy to book the ferries
for the Denmark-Norway and England-Belgium crossings.
The
start - and return date is the logical part in the planning. Asking the
boss for some extra days off and you are ready to go.
The Dutch ANWB (AA) was for
years my travel agent and always ferry tickets and so on were right on
time, no mistake made. This year with a maybe different - and more
difficult schedule it wasn’t real fun to book. Just one week before I
left I did get the tickets for the Denmark-Norway
and England-Belgium crossings. The P&O Scottish tickets never
arrived in The Netherlands. After all it was the procedure that the
P&O vessel coming from Aberdeen did take the tickets to Bergen,
Norway. You will receive those tickets boarding the vessel. But the ANWB
had no notion of this. I had to make so many phone calls and always
there was a wall of misunderstanding, they couldn’t manage this kind
of bookings. The first time I did hear what the procedure really was,
was at the Color Line office in Bergen, Norway. ANWB is good in helping
people, but there will be no more bookings for my holidays.
Reading
the story above, you understand I had to cope a lot of difficulties this
year, but even Friday the 14th when getting my ordered
foreign money from the bank, they couldn’t pay me out, because of a
computer failure, so no DM., DKr., NKr and GBP.
Saturday
the 15th of July, Heerenveen - Kruså
Very
hopeful that the bank did find a solution for their computer failure. I
did go for my foreign money. Still no working computers in the bank. The
employee did see my problem and arranged, that I could get my money with
some old fashion arithmetic and a lot of goodwill. Thanks Postbank.
So,
at half past ten I steered the Volkswagen towards Groningen and go!
German
roads can be very busy at a Saturday in July and this Saturday that’s
the case. Between Bremen and Hamburg there are always a few queues and
the Danish border nearby Flensburg is also very busy in the holiday
season. Before Flensburg slow driving traffic for 162 km. (106 miles)
according the radio news.
A
quarter past four in the afternoon I did reach Kruså, Denmark. A
typical Danish border town, a lot of petrol stations, sex shops and
cafeterias.
Sunday
the 16th of July, Kruså - Hirsthals
At
half past nine I did leave Kruså and was on my way to Hirsthals,
Denmark. De Volkswagen is a real petrol consumer, so I had to fill up
the tank before driving away. Petrol is with 6.00 DKr. a litre cheaper
in Denmark than in Germany and The Netherlands.
The
weather was nice to drive, with some heavy showers. Drinking coffee in a
small café along the road with a tin roof, the noise of the showers was
so loud you couldn’t have a talk. However inside it was warm and the
coffee tasted very good.
Hirsthals Lighthouse
Denmark is an easy to drive through country, so about two o’clock I
arrived at the campsite in Hirsthals. In the afternoon I did visit the
lighthouse above. You could even climb to the top, but you had to buy a
4.00 DKr. ticket to do so. I usually get paid for work, so I stayed
below.
The quality of beer is very good in Denmark, but very expensive too. I
had to pay 22.00 DKr. for a ½ litre of Fax Beer. Ten years ago you
could buy for the same amount of money more than 1¼ litres.
To lose some weight I tried to spend a handful of coins to make a phone
call to the people I left behind. They aren’t at home, so I have to
try to spend it otherwise.
Monday the 17th of July, Hirsthals - Kristiansand - Evje
The Kristiansand ferry leaves around seven o’clock in the morning. I
had to leave the campsite around six o’clock, so it was a short night
sleep. On board were a lot of German tourists just as I having holidays
and Norwegian weekend travellers, spending their weekend drinking liquor
on board and in Danish Pubs. It’s very cheap for them. I did buy my
first souvenir a Norwegian liquor glass (empty) as remembrance to the
extreme high prices of liquor in Scandinavia.
View from Hornnes Camping
Hornnes Campsite was reached at two o’clock in the afternoon. The route
I did take looked a lot like Scotland; only here you have to drive to
the right-hand side. It was a nice and tranquil campsite. The warden did
know of my hometown Heerenveen, because of the World - and European
speed skating championships, which have taking place in the Heerenveen,
“Thialf IJsstadion” for a number of times. The first 400-metre speed
skating track indoors of the world.
My neighbours from The Netherlands did feel the need to tell me about
their feelings for the German and the Norwegian people. They disliked
the Germans and the Norwegians were faultless. Why this generalization?
Tuesday the 18th of July, Evje - Røldal
I had planned a 316 km. tour to Røldal. I just will see if it’s
possible. Petrol is in this oil rich country very expensive, but I had a
Color Line Pass, which goes by the ferry ticket, so I had a little
discount. The coin operated telephone boxes are a disaster. Using a
telephone card is a lot easier. At home everything was all right. Coffee
and a slice of cake are very affordable buying it when visiting a
silversmith shop. Norwegians aren’t big talkers, it’s mostly Yes, No
and a smile.
Nature is magnificent at Setesdalen, after every turn you expect to see a
bear or moose.
Hawkeliseter was sign posted for the last 175 km. So I had the feeling,
that it would be a rather big town or village and planned to take my
lunch there. Hawkeliseter however is nothing else more than the crossing
of the roads 39 and 11. There is a shop, a motel and a few market stalls.
So I had to make my own lunch. The shop had some (old) bread and this
made it possible to create a few good tasting sandwiches. Lettuce was
sold in a flowerpot to keep it fresh a little bit longer.
In the middle of Summer, it’s nice to wade through the snow beside Vej
(road) 7. It was knee-high. Norwegian people must like to build road
tunnels into their mountains, there are a lot. Electricity is however
their black spot, because all these tunnels don’t have any electric
lights. One of the many tunnels was 5,7 km. long.
After taking a picture from a tunnel entrance I saw under my campervan a
plate of loose metal, it could be one of the guards of the air-cooled
engine. At the campsite I did take a closer look, just a few screws
missing. I always have some spare parts, oil and other useful stuff
within reach. So repairing was after all an easy job.
Usually I try to be around two o’clock at a campsite. It makes it
possible to do some repairs; reading or just doing nothing is an option
too. Around six o’clock I have to eat and take my insulin injection.
To be a diabetic means you always have to watch your sugar and eating
enough and on the right time is a must. But it may not interfere your
freedom too much. For Norwegian campsites the Røldal campsite is a
crowded one, but I like it that way. For one night the fee is 60,00 NKr.
per night. This is less than 5,00 GBP, so it’s very reasonable.
Røldal Campingsite
Walkers, can enjoy themselves in the Røldal area, it’s really nice. I
did take a long walk to the Hydro power plant. Walking makes thirsty,
but I think the Norwegians are never thirsty, because there isn’t any
bar, pub or café available for a tired or thirsty traveller. Only the
tranquillity is enough to make you long for a nice terrace and have a
drink.
The tour de France is very popular in The Netherlands. I always listen to
the shortwave radio to listen to a live coverage of it on the Dutch
shortwave radio service. A Dutchman saw me listening to the radio and
did ask why he couldn’t get it on his radio. A good antenna is all you
need and with some help of his (partly iron) clothesline it was easy to
let him listen too. He was for the first time in Norway too and also
very enthusiastic about the wildlife and the friendly but stiff nature
of the Norwegians.
Røldal is also a nice place to read the Terry Pratchett’s book the
“Wyrd Sisters”.
Wednesday the 19th of July, Røldal - Ål
Norway has a lot of cash machines, but very often they only work for the
local bank clients. So I had to get the needed NKr. from the post office
using a cheque. My campervan had some trouble starting. Something wrong
with the electronic ignition device? It occurs most of the time when the
engine has a ascertain temperature. After waiting awhile everything is
ok proving a Volkswagen always has some trouble, but it keeps on rollin’.
It’s not easy to find the faulty part this way.
Heading for Ål the route was just wonderful. Large waterfalls,
magnificent mountains but very narrow roads. Often you see lorries
without or broken side mirrors. It happened once just in front of me, a
lorry came to close to the side of the road and gone was his side mirror.
Ål Campsite
It’s strange the sun is shining it’s Summer and if you get out of
your car you can make a snowball.
Arriving at the village of Ål around two o’clock made me decide to
stay at the Ål campsite. The sun was shining and I did drive 225 km. I
had two (remote) neighbours, Norwegian and Swedish campers.
I bought some bread at the camping shop. I thought my bread was old and
dry, but this bread was even dryer. Norwegians don’t eat the kind of
bread I like.
Overlooking the last few days there is one conclusion, Norway is a
marvellous country, but they are in need for cafés alongside the roads
and every town or village should have at least one nice bar or pub.
Thursday the 20th of July, Ål - Breisten / Bergen
Today I didn’t fancy driving all the minor roads again and did choose a
mayor road (by Hol) to Bergen. The whole day it drizzled. Not a nice day
for a drive. Bergen is one of the wettest cities in Norway; it rains
usually more than 300 days a year. The same as at the Isle of Skye,
Scotland. Just having a heater powered by the air-cooled engine a
Volkswagen often has steamy windows in this kind of weather. You have to
pay a toll fee to enter the city.
I’m a Frisian and the highest mountains we have are molehills. Driving
a whole week through the mountains makes me long for the sea or a piece
of land to see the horizon again. Seeing the North Sea again was
therefore a relief.
If you are in need for a break Flåm is a nice stop. A lot of tourists
do, there is a nice kept steam train and you can have your coffee break
in an old fashion train coach. The lake was busy, people sailing or
taking one of the circular cruises.
The Bergenhallen campsite Slettebakken was according my guide nearby
Bergen university. I did ask around, I did drive three times through the
neighbourhood, but still no campsite. And when even taxi drivers, petrol
station keepers don’t know it’s hopeless. A few days later it heard,
the campsite was closed. There is a Bobilcamp; it’s just a parking
place only for campervans and there are some conveniences. Nothing for a
few days stance. Bergen Camp is just outside the city of Bergen. There
is a good bus service to the city. The campsite is clean and well kept.
The city’s racecourse is nearby.
Friday the 21st of July, Bergen
Bergen is a nice city but it should be covered. This afternoon it
didn’t rain; this is unique and I have the luck to take part in it.
Bergen is a colourful city. The front of the houses and shops are painted
in the most unlikely colours. There are a lot of wooden buildings, just
as everywhere in Scandinavia.
The “Fløyenbaan” is a cable – rack railway leading to Bergen’s
highest point. The view is marvellous and you can really see far. There
is a nice cafeteria too.
I did have a nice meal in a Norwegian restaurant close by the Free Record
Shop. I had a real Norwegian “Swinekotelett” (pork chop).
The Color Line office is during Summer also in business for P&O
Scottish Ferries customers. According the letter of the Dutch ANWB I
could collect my P&O Scottish ferry tickets over here. This wasn’t
the case. Tickets could be collect or purchased after the arrival of the
ferry out of Aberdeen. A cyclist from Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, had
the same wrong information as I had.
The man from Leeuwarden did cycle the same route as I did by car. He is
also heading for Shetland. He is travelling real low budget.
Tonight I did send everyone I like a postcard. Not to forget my sister in
law Catharina, who is a genuine Norway adept.
Saturday the 22nd of July, Bergen
Today I did spend the day in and around Bergen. I did put my campervan at
the Bobilcamp, it’s more convenient as I expected. You have to buy a
24-hour ticket; it’s nearby the city centre and close to the harbour.
Saturday is real nice day to shop in a city as Bergen, because a lot of
people from around the city do their weekly shopping. I did buy some
souvenirs and a nice 1996 calendar for Catharina. Norwegians must earn a
lot of money, because everything is real expensive compared with the UK
or The Netherlands. Coffee was 8,00 NKr., Schnitzel with chips and a
salad 110,00 NKr., a cheese or ham sandwich 25,00 NKr. There is an Irish
Pub in Bergen and even with a special discount a half litre of beer was
60,00 NKr. The equivalent of 1,00 NKr. is 0,26 guilders or 0.08 GBP. So
this half litre of beer (a pint is 0.6 litre) was 15,60 Dutch guilders
or 4.80 GBP. You don’t get drunk this way. Poor maybe.
Half past ten in the evening we did queue for the ferry at the harbour.
There wasn’t any sign how and where to go and where to put your
vehicle. On a democratic way, we, the passengers solved this problem by
our selves. After all we did follow the right procedures. The Aberdeen
ferry was a little bit to late it arrived around half past twelve. In an
office we could get our tickets, so another queue was formed.
The lady behind the counter however didn’t have the tickets yet. A
Norwegian traveller had a lot of stress or wouldn’t wait for the cheap
liquor on board any longer, but he was very unreasonable towards this
girl. The waiting room was completely empty; you couldn’t buy any food
or drinks. A television set did show continuously pictures about the
nice food and drinks on board.
A P&O employee delivered an ironbox containing the tickets. I did get
my tickets and had to wait in the car again to get boarded. We sailed
around two o’clock in the morning towards Shetland.
Bergen by night is a wonderful sight looking from the harbour. The
weather was good, so you could stretch your legs a little bit on board.
At last I could buy a few pints of Ale for a reasonable price too. When
Norwegians see a bar like the one onboard they go out of their heads.
They order in a fast manner different kinds of liquor and drink it very
fast. Strange that well educated people living in a democratic country,
have such strong anti alcohol laws. They never learn how to drink liquor
the proper way.
It’s like a fairytale the lights on the large suspension bridges when
leaving the harbour. At half past three I call it a day. The Norwegians
still are swallowing alcohol.
Sunday the 23rd of July, Bergen - Lerwick
It was a rough sea in the night. The vessel didn’t have stabilizers;
sometimes you had really to hold on. Luckily I’m never seasick.
Breakfast was of a poor quality; the milk was lukewarm just as the
coffee, the bacon, eggs and sausages. The bread was old and dry.
The whole day the sea did stay a little bit rough. Lunch was from the
same quality as breakfast.
The ferry did arrive around two o’clock. Most of the travellers were
glad to set foot on Shetland. The campsite was just two kilometres from
Lerwick harbour. I had a nice stance. The campsite was part of a modern
Leisure centre. A swimming pool, golf course, gymnasium, cafeteria and a
bar were all in easy reach for the campers. The bar did close around
half past ten. Because it’s all very new there wasn’t a lot of
shelter against the severe wind.
As usual, there are a lot of Dutch travellers on this side too. You see
them everywhere. My neighbours on the campsite came from Harderwijk, The
Netherlands. I did see them also a few years ago on my trip to the Outer
Hebrides. He likes ferry boats and cruise ships a lot and is always
taking pictures of them. He also knows a lot of their history, their
former and today’s owners for instance. I did send him often a
postcard posted and postmarked on the ship I travelled with, to complete
his collection. They sailed from Aberdeen to Lerwick and left their car
parked in Aberdeen. They see Shetland and Orkney by bicycle. They sail
next Friday to Orkney, just as I do.
In the evening I had a nice walk to the sporting grounds and “Clickimin
Broch”. The ancient broch is in easy reach of the campsite, strange
that Normans did walk around on the same soil too.
Monday the 24th of July, Shetland Tour
At home I couldn’t get a detailed 
Shetland map, so just after finishing morning coffee I did buy one at the
Lerwick tourist information centre. They had a lot of other useful
informative leaflets too. Sumburgh was my first go. It’s located at
Shetland’s south coast. The road leading to Sumburgh wasn’t much exciting. Sumburghhead however
has big bird colonies. You can find here Gannets and Puffins.
Queensdale Mill is a museum with a still working waterpower driven mill.
Local farmers still bring their grain here for grinding. A video
presentation did explain everything in an understandable way. The croft
house was one of many. I did visit a very old castle or really a ruin in
Scalloway. There are a lot of these ruins in the British Isles.
The landscape is special; there are almost no trees. Everything is green
and you see a lot of places where the locals dig peat. Shetland ponies
you don’t see a lot. Actually there are more Shetland ponies outside
Shetland than over here. The natural richness of the soil isn’t so
great on these isles. For not so useful animals as the Shetland ponies
there isn’t really any place left, without any form of subsidy.
Lerwick is a nice town to visit. A little bit less colourful as Bergen,
but over here you have a lot of pubs and many brands of beer you can
choose off.
Petrol is 66P. a litre. A much lower price than in Norway. My Volkswagen
normally uses about 8.33 litres every 100 km. so there stays some money
left to buy some pints for myself.
Tuesday the 25th of July, Shetland Tour
I planned to look for another campsite in the north. The Dutch neighbours
have to leave early next morning, so I did give them my alarm clock. I
will see them again soon at Orkney or so.
Toft was the first place to go to take
the Yell Ferry, which sails from Toft to Ulsta on the isle of Yell. From
Ulsta a drove to Gutcher and from here I sailed to the isle of Unst
using the Gutcher - Belmont Ferry. Unst has the most northerly post office of Britain. I had some postcards
and posted them here, just for the unusually postmark. You find the most
northerly house in Skaw. The roads are narrow in these parts. The
landscape is everywhere the same on these isles no trees, a lot of sheep
and peat digging. Birdwatchers have the time of their life over here.
Riding back to Yell I did visit a museum. It was a collection of tools,
second world war goods, like posters, records and coupon books. They had
also a display of Whalebones. Not a very interesting museum.
The campsite I was looking for didn’t have any conveniences and the
total of campers should be one, including me. So I decided to drive back
to Lerwick. It was a nice day I did see a lot and had good weather too.
Wednesday the 26th of July, Lerwick
There was a little bit of fog driving to the northwestern parts of
Shetland. After awhile it became windier and soon the fog was gone and
the sun was breaking through. Lovely.
At Mavis Grind you can see the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. They
almost meet here. If you wish you can throw a stone from the North Sea
into the Atlantic Ocean. Watch out for cars on the A970.
It’s all single-track roads in this part of Shetland, you never can
drive fast and there is a lot of stopping to give way to oncoming cars.
At the sport grounds there was football game. They have a Summer
competition over here just as the Scandinavians do.
Thursday the 27th of July, Lerwick
Visiting Lerwick was my go today. I made enough miles the last days, so
no driving this morning. Fort Charlotte was build during the second
Dutch war they had to fight.
Shetland museum is part of the local library. There are many things on
display, like knitting, coins (a lot of Dutch too saved from a wreck),
second world war goods and all kinds of stones. Of course has the museum
a lot of fisherman tools (self-made), pictures and books too.
Using these grindstones for
years grinding grain, made deep marks or holes in these stones.
I didn’t see the “Jarlshof” last time visiting Sumburgh. That
wasn’t smart after all, because it’s a nice historic place. The
brochs are build by the Normans, are well kept and very authentic.
The football game this evening was 3-1. Blue-White against Black-White.
Friday the 28th of July, Lerwick - Kirkwall
Today as planned another ferry crossing. The ferry terminal is nearby the
campsite. An accident occurred at the main entrance of the harbour. Two
girl cyclists and a car collided with each other. One of the girls had
injured her ankle and couldn’t cycle for the time being. Otto also a
Dutchman who stayed at the campsite, has taken her and the bicycle into
his car. This way she could make her ferry crossing to Orkney after all.
A few years ago I made a journey to the Outer Hebrides. It’s amazing
how many of the travellers you did see than you see again this time.
Kirkwall Harbour
The cyclist from Leeuwarden is sailing today also. Tomorrow he will
travel from Stromness to the south, to take a foot ferry to the Scottish
mainland. I stay a few days at the Orkney Isles.
Around eight o’clock we disembarked at the Stromness terminal. The
campsite opposite to the harbour bay didn’t look suitable for a few
nights stay. So I decided to go on to Kirkwall. Some cyclist decided to
take a look anyway, but around ten o’clock they arrived too at the
Kirkwall campsite. At that time it’s still daylight in these northern
parts of Europe.
Our football team Heerenveen is playing the European Intertoto
competition. Tomorrow they have an important game ahead. I did hear our
manager Foppe de Haan and one of the players on the radio. I try to
listen tomorrow.
Saturday the 29th of July, Orkney Tour
As usual the day started a little damp, but later on the sun was shining
and it became a warm day. First I had to go to the tourists information
centre to get some useful information about the Orkney.
The Churchill Barriers, build in the second world war to keep the German
U-boats out of Scapa Flow bay; to protect the allied fleet were the
first to visit. I did see them also at the Outer Hebrides; they are
impressive. Italian prisoners of war did a lot of the work at these
barriers.
The Italian chapel is also build by these prisoners. It’s just a facade
and a Romney shed. But it’s beautiful painted in an old fashioned
Roman Catholic way. It’s well kept too. Against the barriers are a lot
of old shipwrecks.
Italian Chapel build by
Italian prisoners of the 2nd world war, during their stay at
Orkney
This afternoon I had some time to take a look in Kirkwall town. I did see
a Scottish wedding. Nice kilts, a beautiful vintage car. Kirkwall church
and castle are well maintained.
I did buy a chain lock for my bicycle. I lost mine a few days ago. I
don’t think there are a lot of bicycle thieves over here, but when on
the mainland a lock isn’t luxury.
Heerenveen had to play against a Romanian football team tonight. It was
an easy 4-0. Their next opponent is Bordeaux, France. It was live on the
shortwave radio.
Sunday the 30th of July, Kirkwall
Orkney’s north coast is my go today. Gurness Broch isn’t easy to
reach, but is worth to make this affords. Visiting the broch was free,
because the custodian is not on duty on a Sunday morning.
Evie is a nice village and the local pub has good food too. Sometimes
when seeing a nice stone I will take it home, at Birsay I did find such
a stone. It was a nice sunny afternoon to read a little bit.
Monday the 31st of July, Kirkwall - Stromness
At first I did visit Maeshowe it’s an ancient burial ground.
Maeshowe Burial Ground
Skara Brae is international known, as the well kept and good documented
remains of an iron aged settlement.
Remains of the Skara Brae iron
age settlements
Standing stones you see a lot on the northern – and western isles, the
"Ring of Brochar" is worth a visit.
This afternoon I did move to the Stromness campsite. Tomorrow I have to
sail to mainland Scotland
Tuesday the 1st of August, Stromness - Wick
Stromness is a nice city to spend
a morning shopping and look around. We did leave Orkney around three
o’clock. Our ferry was the P&O vessel St. Ola.
I did send a postcard from the ship to the Dutchman who collects all
kinds of goods connected to ferry – and cruise ships. The “Old Man
of Hoy” is a stack rising out of the sea. Looking from ascertain point
of view it’s just an old man’s face. The captain of the St. Ola
actually takes another route and slows down the speed to give us the
opportunity to take some nice pictures of this “wonder”.
From Wick, Scotland I did contact the relatives at home. They will record
the football match Heerenveen – Bordeaux on video. So I can see it
back after these holidays.
Wednesday the 2nd of August, Wick – Blair Atholl
The A9 is a busy but nice road to drive. A lot of nice views and the sea
is always close. Tomatin’s “Little Chef” did provide a real
British “All Day Breakfast”. The Volkswagen didn’t start after
this. The wrong temperature again. I didn’t want to wait any longer to
let the engine cool down, so I did cool down the different electronic
parts with some water. The engine is in the back, so you have to remove
a lot of baggage before you can enter the motor compartment. It started
immediately after this treatment. Refill at the petrol station and go.
The next campsite is the one in the village Blair Atholl. Blair Atholl is
a nice village, close by the A9. The castle is a nice one to visit.
Again a lot of neighbours are Dutch. My next door neighbour also Dutch
dislikes mountains (not so handy if you are in the Grampians). Their boy
is diabetic too. It makes us a little bit brothers in arms. Ha, ha.
Bordeaux defeated Heerenveen with 2-0. Heerenveen had two red cards too.
So Heerenveen is out of the European football competitions. Next time
better luck.
Thursday the 3rd of August, Blair Atholl - Edinburgh
At the Edinburgh city bypass I saw Tony “Indian” Lenes he is from my
hometown. He was driving his
commercial van to accompany with five motorcyclists riding their vintage
Indian motorcycles. He sometimes plans this kind of tours.
We just had time to wave to each other.
Buildings more and more close in Edinburgh’s campsite “Little France”.
There is new shopping centre just a short walk away now. On my way back
I did catch some wet feet because I had a short cut through the park,
but one of the ditches was too wide.
The Australian neighbour did like my "Basic Camper" sign on the
campervan.
Friday the 4th of August, Edinburgh
Edinburgh always is a nice city to visit. From the campsite you take the
33 bus, it’s takes you right to Waverley Station (Princess Street) for
just 55P. Bought some nice fairy tale books in a small second hand shop.
My Tolkien collection was enlarged with the “Hobbit” comic. Back on
the campsite I did take a few pints at the “Jolly Jumper"
this pub is next to the campsite.
Saturday the 5th of August, Edinburgh - York
For a great part I did take the A68 towards York. It’s a hilly road,
sometimes your ears even start to peep.
Rawcliffe Manor campsite is changed a lot since the last time I was here.
The Monroe factory is still producing shock absorbers. But a lot of the
grassland is made into a large shopping centre. On easy walking distance
(five minutes) you have now, a Tesco, a Curry's, a DIY shop, a Toy'r'us,
a Children’s World, a Deep Pan Pizza and of course a McDonalds.
Sunday the 6th of August, York - Market Rasen
This time I did take the Humber bridge (Toll bridge) on my way to Norfolk
avoiding the busy A1. The whole day the weather was good and to get some
exercise I cycled to Market Rasen for some shopping.
Monday the 7th of August, Market Rasen - Ipswich
The end of this journey is now near. At least it feels that way. Just
one ferry to go. Driving
through Norfolk, you see a lot back in the landscape that reminds you at
The Netherlands. The Dutch did create a lot of this landscape in early
years. Strait canals and windmills.
Felixstowe is a city of a departed glory.
Tuesday the 8th of August, Felixstowe
Double Decker Bus Felixstowe -
Ipswich and back
The bus to Ipswich leaves from an old worn out bus station. Ipswich is
nice to shop and to buy a pint.
Wednesday the 9th of August, Felixstowe - Heerenveen
The Dutch people from Lerwick campsite were also at the Felixstowe –
Zeebrugge ferry. The vessel was full; I had to put my car on the moving
part of the car deck. That means that I’m the third car leaving the
ship.
Than awaits the last 250 km. to go to the northern part of The Netherlands. Friesland.
In
Belgium a Dutch car with a small wheeled trailer did pass me with an
approximately speed of 130 km/h. This speed is much too high for this
kind of trailers. My first thought was this must go wrong. 30 km. later
he stood alongside the road with a flat tyre and a square trailer wheel.
They never learn.
At home everything was the same.
