JUNE 2006
ENGLAND-Dover
Tuesday
6th we
crossed the channel from Dover to Calais. We motored into Belgium
and camped at Bruges. Wednesday
Mervyn went into Bruges while Howard caught up with some
paperwork. Thursday
we crossed into Holland to camp at Oosterhout. Friday we continued on into
Germany to camp north of Bremen.
Saturday 10th our journey took us into Denmark, to camp at Ribe. Six countries in four days, the Americans have nothing on us! Sunday Mervyn went into Ribe, while Howard caught up on more paperwork. Monday, having had our letters taken to be posted by a very kind camp manager, we set out for the ancient port of Faborg and on to Kvandrup Slot (Mervyn said Castle, Howard said Chateau
x) and finally on to camp
at Tarup Strand, a very pleasant camp. Tuesday we travelled north
to Kerteminde to see the preserved soil mould of a Viking Longboat, the
wood has gone but the shape remains. The boat was a burial
chamber for a Viking Chief. Having crossed to Sjaelland by a toll
bridge (18km at £60!!!). We proceeded to a very interesting
Viking Round Fort, found at Trellaborg north west of Slagelse.
Every road we wanted to travel north on had a low bridge, 3.2m, the
caravan is 3.35m tall, this required a detour of 20km. Finally on
to camp at Roskilde at 1700. Wednesday while
breakfasting Howard saw a Red Squirrel. Then we drove into town
early to visit the Viking Boat Museum, we were too early, we had a
drive round town. We returned to the museum which was very
interesting, there are the remains of five boats, artefacts, boat
building methods and newly constructed Viking Boats for use on the
sound. We then visited Fredericksborg Slot on the way to
Helsingor. Thursday
was a rest day, Mervyn visited the town while Howard went shopping for
sea boots and items for work on the caravan. Friday another rest day.
Saturday 17th was a short drive into Copenhagen. Sunday Mervyn planned his visit to Copenhagen. Monday Mervyn visited Copenhagen. Tuesday we crossed the tunnel/bridge to Sweden and drove along the coast to camp at Halmstad. Wednesday we turned inland to camp at the side of a lake at Hjo. We saw lots of trees and rain. Thursday we continued north alongside the lake, which was behind the trees and rain. Our detour into a National Park looking for wildlife was not a success, we only saw ants and trees but no rain. We camped at Kristinehamm. Friday we drove west into Norway, no rain, and stopped at Oslo. The worst camp site so far.
Saturday 24th we drove into Oslo to visit another Viking Boat Museum, three boats 1200 years old, in much better condition due to the soil surrounding them. Mervyn then visited a museum of old buildings. Then we drove on to Nottoden to camp by a small airfield. Sunday we visited an old church at Heddal and then went on to camp at Edland, beside a small lake. Monday we continued west and then north through spectacular scenery to the Valley of Waterfalls, stopping at Latefoss, the most spectacular waterfall Howard has ever seen, unfortunately we were too close to photograph it. The spray from the waterfall was like light rain and the road was wet for 30 metres either side of the fall. We arrived at Kinsarvik to find we had to wait for an hour and a half for the ferry to Kvanndal, where we camped. Tuesday from Kvanndal we travelled west to camp 5km east of Bergen. Wednesday we drove into Bergen to try to have the air suspension sorted out AGAIN. This time the diagnosis was too small a fuse. The fuses were on delivery 20amp, in Morocco 25amp, now 40amp. Thursday Mervyn went sightseeing in Bergen and Howard continued with odd jobs around the caravan. Friday we travelled northeast to Voss, then north to Vangsnes arriving just as the ferry to Dragsvic was loading, hooray. We checked two camps before settling at Baelstrand. The reception was closed at all three camps. The Norwegian scenery, in brilliant sunshine, so far, has been superb.
Saturday 10th our journey took us into Denmark, to camp at Ribe. Six countries in four days, the Americans have nothing on us! Sunday Mervyn went into Ribe, while Howard caught up on more paperwork. Monday, having had our letters taken to be posted by a very kind camp manager, we set out for the ancient port of Faborg and on to Kvandrup Slot (Mervyn said Castle, Howard said Chateau
x) and finally on to camp
at Tarup Strand, a very pleasant camp. Tuesday we travelled north
to Kerteminde to see the preserved soil mould of a Viking Longboat, the
wood has gone but the shape remains. The boat was a burial
chamber for a Viking Chief. Having crossed to Sjaelland by a toll
bridge (18km at £60!!!). We proceeded to a very interesting
Viking Round Fort, found at Trellaborg north west of Slagelse.
Every road we wanted to travel north on had a low bridge, 3.2m, the
caravan is 3.35m tall, this required a detour of 20km. Finally on
to camp at Roskilde at 1700. Wednesday while
breakfasting Howard saw a Red Squirrel. Then we drove into town
early to visit the Viking Boat Museum, we were too early, we had a
drive round town. We returned to the museum which was very
interesting, there are the remains of five boats, artefacts, boat
building methods and newly constructed Viking Boats for use on the
sound. We then visited Fredericksborg Slot on the way to
Helsingor. Thursday
was a rest day, Mervyn visited the town while Howard went shopping for
sea boots and items for work on the caravan. Friday another rest day.Saturday 17th was a short drive into Copenhagen. Sunday Mervyn planned his visit to Copenhagen. Monday Mervyn visited Copenhagen. Tuesday we crossed the tunnel/bridge to Sweden and drove along the coast to camp at Halmstad. Wednesday we turned inland to camp at the side of a lake at Hjo. We saw lots of trees and rain. Thursday we continued north alongside the lake, which was behind the trees and rain. Our detour into a National Park looking for wildlife was not a success, we only saw ants and trees but no rain. We camped at Kristinehamm. Friday we drove west into Norway, no rain, and stopped at Oslo. The worst camp site so far.
Saturday 24th we drove into Oslo to visit another Viking Boat Museum, three boats 1200 years old, in much better condition due to the soil surrounding them. Mervyn then visited a museum of old buildings. Then we drove on to Nottoden to camp by a small airfield. Sunday we visited an old church at Heddal and then went on to camp at Edland, beside a small lake. Monday we continued west and then north through spectacular scenery to the Valley of Waterfalls, stopping at Latefoss, the most spectacular waterfall Howard has ever seen, unfortunately we were too close to photograph it. The spray from the waterfall was like light rain and the road was wet for 30 metres either side of the fall. We arrived at Kinsarvik to find we had to wait for an hour and a half for the ferry to Kvanndal, where we camped. Tuesday from Kvanndal we travelled west to camp 5km east of Bergen. Wednesday we drove into Bergen to try to have the air suspension sorted out AGAIN. This time the diagnosis was too small a fuse. The fuses were on delivery 20amp, in Morocco 25amp, now 40amp. Thursday Mervyn went sightseeing in Bergen and Howard continued with odd jobs around the caravan. Friday we travelled northeast to Voss, then north to Vangsnes arriving just as the ferry to Dragsvic was loading, hooray. We checked two camps before settling at Baelstrand. The reception was closed at all three camps. The Norwegian scenery, in brilliant sunshine, so far, has been superb.
NORWAY-Baelstrand