Hello to All,
Well, we’re still here pottering around the N.E. of Germany, it’s Summer holidays so needless to say we have had a few knock backs with finding places to stay and of course we are still staying with the coastline, lakes and canals. A couple of towns were Grobenbode, Neustadt and Travemunde. The latter having the shortest car ferry ride of just 5 minutes from one side of the river to the other and costing 6.10 euro.
RIBNITZ DAMGARTEN: We stayed 5 days at this Camper Stop, good for daily shopping, you could buy wi-fi (we have had a terrible time with this) at the Tourist Office, our power cable to our wifi booster died on us, so everywhere we go it can be tough or non existent (so bear with us on return emails etc). Also great area for bike rides, T. Lee had the best ever….
We rode about 34 ks this day to Wustrow and return and in between we decided to stop and smell the sea air. Parking the bikes we stroll to the beach and onto the sand (no tourist tax this time!!!!). As usual the Germans are out in force with their “Strandkorbs”!
We walk to the sand dunes to take photo’s.
Next, some official is waving his hands at us to come back, and I said….WHY!!!!!!…..and he said VERBOTEN!!!!!!! Oh.. of course it’s Verboten, silly us…You are not allowed to stand on the sand dunes -
What next you may well ask - WELL!!! After that we take our leave on our bikes again, off we peddle, (this gets better). Coming the other way is a fully NAKED…….women on her bike….T.Lee nearly crashed/fainted/had whiplash/ and said “DID YOU SEE THAT”……I did…..Mein Gott….. nipple and belly rings and who knows what, where else. She rode past, she was no spring chicken, but in good shape, nice tan too…. That’s how she got it, rides around naked all day and raising old men’s blood pressure. Anyway, Terry wanted to change direction and follow her, I said….best we don’t, we’ll get lost, so off we peddle back to H.H. He’s still shaking his head in disbelief and having bad dreams……
ROSTOCK: Unfortunately we couldn’t stop here, extremely busy town, the camper stop was full, people everywhere, Cruise ships in town, there was a Tall Ship festival happening and there was a 3 km long Carnival on the foreshore, and huge traffic jams each way, we high tailed it out of there.
We settled for a quieter time in Stralsand. They even had Tall Ships here.
Next point of interest was PEENEMUNDE: This is where the Germans launched the world’s first successful rocket into Outer Space in1942. It was captured by the Russians in 1945, then given to East Germany. It was a Military Test Centre and it was the most spectacular, and equally one of the most dangerous technical breakthroughs of the 20th century. It was the test centre for the V1 and V2 rockets.
It was led by Werner von Braun who later went onto develop the US space program of the 60’s.
Also along side the river, as a tourist attraction, was a Russian U Boat (Mein Gott again…)
These were in active service, plying the waters from about 1968 - 1999. A very scary floating monster. Your worst nightmare vessel. Complete with nuclear missile launchers, hopefully the rest of these black monsters are in the scrap metal yard decaying ungracefully somewhere.
Also there were a couple of Naval Destroyers. It’s interesting and thought provoking to see these vessels up close and personal, and just a tad sad knowing what mayhem they may have caused…….
Anyway, you’re not going to believe this but……H.H. received his first speeding ticket today, and on a country road (well I know you didn’t think it was on the AUTOBARN). He was doing 81ks in 70 k zone, 20 euro on the spot fine. We had to show passports (gulp!!!!) rego and licence, just as well it wasn’t me, as both my licences have expired. Receipt taken, a huge sigh of relief, and off we gingerly toddle again.
Almost forgot my brain damage incident. In the shower as usual! I bend down to pick up the soap, (sounds a bit suspect!!!!) Rise and hit my head on the shower mixer, it was one of those long blunt handles. The initial pain was (*?!%) and stinging, the water changed colour, bloody hell…just as well I didn’t swoon…Back at H.H., dripping blood, Dr. Lee decided I didn’t need stitches, but it was a nice 2.5cm gash, so with tissues stuck on head and a nice headache to boot, we left our campsite.
We move to PLAU AM SEA: What a lovely picturesque town. Riding, we came alongside a lock, full of boats and a couple of rowing sculls, even they have to transit this way.
It’s a great way to keep fit, we see them a lot, all age groups.
BERLIN our next stop. What can I say? A very large busy city, with crosshairs of history. The weather was very hot and then rained so we decided to push on…. maybe next time. We could only stay a fair way out of the city, so catching public transport, and not speaking/reading a word of German, it was out of the equation. Riding in on our bikes was too dangerous.
European storms are very interesting, and don’t last very long but can cause damage. In Schmailenberg we met a British guy, who’s line of work is fixing cars with hail damage. They chase large hail storms around the world. armed with their specialised equipment and tools, off they go at the drop of a hat to wherever the latest storm has hit. He had been to New Zealand 13 times.
We were tucked in just behind this beautiful lake.
Next onto to MAGDEBURG. This has the oldest church still standing in Germany, where we parked our backdrop was a fortress wall built in 1272 and the church.
THE HARZ Region: It’s nice to see this mountain range area, its beautiful in Summer, and a wonderland in Winter.
Next we pass through GOSLAR:
Founded in 922, this city is very, very, very old. It played an important role in the Holy Roman Empire. It has a lot of unique medieval architecture and fortifications. Its beautiful, has lots of tourists, and is surrounded by the Harz mountains.
Then to COLOGNE: The city with its famous Cathedral, the Kolner Dom, the largest in Germany, whose filigree twin spires dominate the skyline.
It’s full of postwar and postmodern buildings. The most modern we have seen in Germany so far.
It’s postcard picturesque and on the Rhine with the long cruise ships of Viking and A.P.T. docked alongside.
We had a good ride along the foreshore dodging all the strolling tourists, small children and dogs.
DORTMUND: H.H. and us were so exited to be back here to have our new steps fitted (if you remember we wrecked and left the originals on some bollards in Lisbon) 16 months ago. So $800.00 later and the sensor alarm re wired, we are as good as gold. (please keep your fingers crossed for us) Danke….
DUSSELDORF: We nearly got there, as it had the biggest Motor home/Caravan Show in the world happening. The decision was “why bother”, Its just like going to a Boat show and looking a what you cannot afford or spend. Besides it only had room for 2,000 motor homes in the parking lot, Mein Gott, let alone for cars. Then again, its only a Lotto win away, and we’d have to trade H.H. in and that’s not nice…
Well that it from us in Deutschland - we’ve covered a lot of ground, the compass was all over the place. So now we’ll just pop into Holland again via Belgium on our way back to France to leave on the 7th of Sept for England.
BTW Belgium has some interesting statues to rival Michelangelo’s David!
Back in France we stay at a “French Passion” which just happens to be a “Escargot Farm”. Very interesting. These little critters are hermaphrodites and all have anti clockwise spirals except for one in a million…. he/she must feel out of place.
On the way we stop off at Calais, for some cheap shopping before expensive England, (read alcohol) and while chatting and not listening to the Tom-tom we accidentally get in the truck lane to the Ferry Tunnel…. bloody hell.
We finally manage to turn around before reaching England a few days early!
We are back at Gravelines, our favourite transit stop while awaiting the ferry.
And as always are always amused by the “Case of the Missing Boats”. First you see ‘em…
And then you don’t… Miss Marple is on the case!
That’s all for now, see you all soon,
Susie, Terry and HH (with the new steps)
XX
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