Return to Harwich
Unlike the time we sailed to Spain in the tail end of a hurricane, we had a nice flat sea and beautiful sunshine so spent most of the voyage on deck. Then a drive home from Harwich remembering to drive on the left. It was a wonderful trip but I’m also glad to be home.
Back in Delft
Arrived back at the lovely campsite in Delft where we started out exactly a month ago. Had enough time for one last trip in our Kayak along the waterways near the campsite and a nice meal in the old town of Delft.
A Sunbathing Cat and Kitty Balls in Friesland
For our penultimate night we are camping in the large garden of an inn in the village of Moddergat on the north coast of Holland. A short walk and a climb up the dyke (a cat was sunbathing on the steps) gave us beautiful views of mudflats and the Frisian Islands in the distance. We won’t have time to visit them but would love to return to do so. The dyke extends as far as we can see in both directions.
We cycled to Lauwersoog where the dyke continues and a sluice has been built to prevent flooding, cutting off an area of sea which is now Lauwersmeer. There is a large lock for boats to pass from Meer to sea, which involves a section of the road lifting to let them pass.
The highlight of the cycle ride was a friendly Dutch couple we met at a roadside honesty stall selling yellow plums. They told us in Dutch the plums are called “Kitty Balls”. It took them a while to make this understood and involved the man gesturing at his trousers.
Bad Zwischenahn
Bad Zwischenahn was mainly a “pin in the map” mid way between the Puttsgarden Ferry port and Hook of Holland. A convenient place to stop over for the night having navigated the north Germany traffic jams and motorway roadworks as well as a fairly unpleasant trip on the Hamburg ring road. Bad Zwischenahn was by contrast an oasis of calm. A German spa town complete with municipal spa bath. Mellany and I lowered the average age of the population by several years! The town boasted a fine campsite and a traffic free cycle route into the stadt centrum where various physiotherapy clinics were at your disposal should they be needed. The lakeside setting for the town was nevertheless rather lovely and we enjoyed our cycle into town to find a cashpoint ( as the campsite predictably only accepted cash).
Somewhat lowering the tone of the campsite as our detritus is strewn across our perfectly manicured pitch - including the kayak drying off after yesterday’s thunderstorm.
Mellany bought a mug to add to our collection and remind her of her Bad Zwischenahn experience.
Farewell to Denmark
Last night at Maribo So after the thunderstorm.
And this morning
We packed up and took the 45minute ferry from Rodbyhavn to Puttgarden in Germany.
Kayaking and a Thunderstorm
We drove south back past Copenhagen, over several bridges and through a tunnel to reach Lolland, a large island in the south of Denmark only a short ferry hop from Germany. It was a beautiful sunny day reaching 34 degrees and we spent a wonderful afternoon kayaking (Danny did most of the work. My wrist is a lot better but I didn’t want to overdo things). Danny then went for a solo kayak until …
It started raining and was very windy. Luckily he made it back to shore before a massive thunderstorm broke out. Before and after pictures above. We’re now sat in our van waiting for it to pass.
Tonight is our last night in Denmark. Tomorrow we take the ferry to Puttgarden in Germany and begin our drive home. It’s definitely been an enjoyable trip and one to remember.
We had a visitor during the thunderstorm!
Kronberg Slot and a Sight of Sweden
This is Kronberg Slot, or Elsinore as Shakespeare imagined it in Hamlet. We drove the few miles up north to see it before we headed south.
Walking around its defences there’s a view of Sweden only a few miles away.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
After investigating Denmark’s (excellent) healthcare facilities we returned to our original plan and drove approx 30km north of Copenhagen in order to visit the Louisiana Museum. Our visit was partly as a result of the recommendation of my Danish friend Lis whom we previously met near Copenhagen. The Louisiana museum is situated close to the northernmost tip of Zealand near to Helsingborg where the ferries cross the short strait of water between Denmark and Sweden. In addition to the museum itself there was a large sculpture garden situated on a georgeous coastal setting with views across the strait to Sweden. I loved the sculpture garden and the terrace restaurant where we ate dinner accompanied by masses of flying ants!
Remember to Pack your EHIC Card
Yesterday evening I tripped and fell onto my left wrist. I thought it wasn’t too injured but after a painful night (and having to climb into the top of the van on my elbows to sleep) we wondered if I might have broken it and headed to the local hospital. I was seen within 10 mins and had a CT scan of my wrist (not just an X-ray) in half an hour. Luckily it wasn’t broken and I have a very fine bandage to wear. It was all covered by my European Health Insurance Card despite Brexit. And the parking was free!
After a nap and a restorative lunch in a lovely cafe as I’d missed breakfast, we visited the Louisiana modern art museum near Copenhagen. You can see Sweden across the water. It was actually very hot and sunny so I don’t know why the picture looks so gray
The tour continues! Only 2 more nights in Denmark though then we head home.
Smorrebrod, Free Spirits and a Cruise
We spent a few quiet hours at the campsite this morning recovering from our busy schedule and headed into Copenhagen for lunch. The sun was out and it was warm. We ate outside in one of the main squares, delicious smorrebrod, traditional open sandwiches on rye bread. One was avocado with pepper purée and the other herring with egg and dill. The only problem was they were rather small! Still that left room for a Danish pastry later.
We headed to Christiania, an area where people have lived in a free spirited commune for 50 years. It was relaxed with painted murals and produce in gardens, although Danny said parts of it reminded him of Camden market.
Then we used our travel cards to take the harbour ferry south and back again. It was interesting seeing all the modern apartments and swimming facilities by the edge of the harbour.
A Mermaid and Black Diamonds
The sun came out and it felt much warmer. We took the harbour ferry a few stops to see the little mermaid. She was smaller than I expected and closer to the shore.
Pictures from the ferry, which we then took south to Slotsholmen, an area of Copenhagen surrounded by canals on all sides. It contains the Kongelige Bibliotek (royal library). The old brick building is joined by a glass bridge across the road to two new “black diamonds” which seem to lean over the canal. It’s free to enter and inside the old and new architecture was stunning. Just don’t ask me what all the large pairs of pants are waving in the wind in the square outside. They were T shirts in different colours but I couldn’t find out what they represented.
And this is the back of the library with its beautiful garden
