In yachting circles when you get comfortable in a nice safe port, harbour or marina it gets harder and harder to pack up and move on it’s well know and even has it’s own name - harbour rot
There is not a term for it amongst caravaners suffering in the same reluctance to get moving but whatever you call it we have it!!
We had to force ourselves to book the ferry, particularly as there are still lots of family and friends who have been promised visits and are still waiting - sorry, next time we promise!!
Tuesday 26th July 2016. Ferry day,
Yesterday we said our goodbyes to Kate and Vernon, our hosts at Little Henham Hall C&CC CS for the last 68 nights and headed off to STRANGERS INN CARAVAN SITE, just eight miles from HARWICH INTERNATIONAL PORT.
Wednesday 27th July 2016
We had to get up at crack of sparrow this morning! although just a few miles to Harwich to hitch up and get there by 7.45 we needed to get up at 6.45 - we didn’t know such a time existed. Once on board we booked a cabin for the crossing, not necessary on a day crossing but much more pleasant than spending eight hours in a public lounge surrounded by bored children and fractious parents.
The STENA LINE to Holland always seems efficient and today was no exception as at 17.16, just one minute after our advertised arrival time we were off ship, passing through customs and on our way to the De Lithse Ham campsite some 112 km to the east.
Thursday 28th July 2016
I have always, (outside the major cities - Copenhagen, Valencia, Madrid etc) enjoyed driving in Europe and if you are happy driving in the UK it's an absolute doddle, empty roads and consideration from other road users is the norm. until you get to Holland where the general traffic levels are akin to the M6 junction 18 in the rush hour - HORRENDOUS, fortunately consideration by other road users is still far greater that we expect in UK. As well as UK traffic levels Holland also has what our politicians would love - cyclists, by the bucket load, with their own roundabouts outside ordinary roundabouts, their automatic rights in the event of an accident with a car etc., etc., you would expect mayhem, but not so, unlike in the UK where cyclist are totally exempt from any and all road laws (leastways they seem to think they are) in Holland cyclists obey ALL road rules. There are even traffic lights on cycle paths which are obeyed - unbelievable!!!
We managed to do what we came to NORTH BRABANT region for - visit ’S-HERTOGENBOSCH, better known as Den Bosch, a facinating city that boasts among its many attractions a museum dedicated to JHIRONYMUS BOSCH a Dutch 15/16th century painter that as stated on the web site dedicated to him
“. . . Many of his works depict sin and human moral failings.
Bosch used images of demons, half-human animals and machines to evoke fear and confusion to portray the evil of man. . . “
Weird and quite disturbing!! Still we didn’t come to Den Bosch for Hironymous we came for cheese. Since 2011 we have been visiting the market where there is a CHEESE STALL that sells its own superb, award winning version of OLD AMSTERDAM cheese and their own award winning version of Swiss Emmental cheese. The stall owners cut the large lump of cheese into smaller wedges and vacuum pack them so that all will last the better part of a year - fabulous.
Friday 29th July 2016
We have moved north today, our usual site being totally full until late August despite boasting a total of 720 pitches, we have set up on a very pleasant site just 7 km from Dijkies home in ASSEN - CAMPSITE DE WEYERT. It is a most pleasant site.
We saw Dijkie this afternoon she looks well and insited in taking us to her local Chinese restaurant for dinner. It was excellent.
Saturday 30th july 2016 - Tuesday 2nd August 2016
We have had a couple of very lazy days, visited Dijkie each day but otherwise just been bone idle.
Wednesday 3rd August 2016
We actually got our butts in motion and went on a canal trip - quite the strangest trip we have ever been on. There is a new railway station being built in Assen and when that station is complete currently closed roads and canals will re-open and the boat trip will be a three hour circular tour. Currently it is a half hour trot a mile or so up the canal out of Assen and after turning round a half hour back over the same route. The saving grace was the skipper/tour guide who keen to practice his English gave an amusing and sometimes very politically incorrect commentary. The boat an eco friendly electric job had gearbox problems on the return journey and our only method of stopping at the end of the canal was to crash into the retaining wall at virtually full speed - interesting!!
Thursday 4th August 2016
Well we have said our goodbyes to Dijkie and packed up ready to move - where? All will be made clear with the next addition to this bog. Coming soon to a computer near you.