Cantering around the Germany

As you can tell from the Net silence.  WiFi around Europe ain't what it should to be.   With all the EU directives, we expected every country to be geared up for the web.  As we’re not willing to pay mega-bucks for smartphone plus extra for coverage – cheap and free Wi-fi is what the Lloydy clan is about.

Cally has powered her way to Bad Segeberg, Northern Germany, where we’re sat supping Belgium beer waiting for the local bier garten to open.  News update de garten es offen so supping Flensburger – local of course.

Speed-wise Cally started with a moderate 60 mile an hour in the UK and have topped the speedo at 75.  She’s been a champion. The only mechanical hitch was a slight rise in temperature on Sunday as we sat in 22 plus degree heat for hours in Hamburg traffic jams!

To get the tour started we packed:

*         passports, travel doc for the punters

*         travel docs including breakdown insurance, MOT, registration

*         emergency EU road requirements eg Hi-vis, triangles, chains, breathalyzer

*         mad bike carrying kit (towbar, rack, uber-locks, trailer lights, hazard sign)

*         mad money card (Lloydy ain’t brave enough to carry €k’s on his person)

*         navigation and language tools (maps, accommodation guides, Dutch, French, German, Polish, Portuguese & Italian handbooks and Sat Nav.)

DSFS Ferry Time

Adios England ... Velkom Europe

Enough of the technicalities, where have we been?

Lloydy can't resist a Chick!

Cally took us from Comberton (5 miles from Cambridge) where we’d stayed three nights, around London to Dover with no fuss.  

Exit ferry in Dunkerque, driving then became an issue, tempers flared as Google maps vs Sat Nav vs 2012 Motoring Atlas Europe.  First planned stay was in Den Haag, Belguim.  Made way using guess the direction after roadblock stymied navigation tools and found camp fully booked.  Consulted campervan traveller books (reasonably priced vs cheap and nasty sites) and found a spot in Jabeke, 10km from Brugge where we stayed two nights.  On our rest day we got lost on cycling tour in Brugge – which is a must see with buildings dating from the early 1400’s.

 

Power only Campervan site only ... plus rabbits

Brugge to Antwerp.  Stayed at the cheapest, low budget spot 10kms outside Antwerp next to the Expo centre €8 a night plus €1 electric.  Caught the tram into centre for €2.90.  Got off at wrong stop (Elizibeth) did not realise it was the Islamic centre of Antwerp.  Pretty scary for Mrs Lloydy but all ok as, we found a fantastic butcher on our way to the centre.  Beautiful home cooked meats and sausages say no more, lunch and dinner sorted.  Explored around the Gote Makt with all the old buildings around the boat museum.  Found a fantastic little pub by the dock the last one holding out from being redeveloped.  Dekonnik was served to us in ballekers. domed shaped glass (very nice).

This has been random but ... will try a better update next time ... sign off as the Lloydy clan ... 

auf Wiedersehen!