WITTENBECK TO FREEST - 98 miles

Sun 24^th- Thurs 29^th     

After spending a while in the queue to dump our waste we left around 10.15 and had a pleasant drive without lorries, arriving at Waldcamp Freest at Freest about 5 minutes before they closed for the 2 hour lunch hour. This is a proper campsite with all the facilities, permanent caravans and chalets under lots of pine trees, then an open area nearer to the beach for tourers. Again 99% German, we have met 1 Dutch family, obviously all sun worshippers as they slather themselves with oil and lay out almost naked for hours on end. We had some lunch then wandered off along the beach to find the marina where we can catch a boat across to Peenemunde on the island of Usedom. The sand is very fine and soft and hard work to walk on. Back at the campsite the Grand Prix was showing in the bar, so we bought a beer (3 euros for both of us) and joined in watching. Dinner and showers followed, then everyone went inside, we wondered why…..about 9.00pm we were surrounded by thousands of huge bugs flying around!! We discovered they are called June chafers, rather like our Maybugs and come out every night for about an hour and a half througout the whole month.

Mon…was spent catching up with washing, sitting in the sun and not much else.

Tues….We got up a bit earlier and made our way around to the harbour to catch the little ferry at 10.20 to go across to Peenemunde. It took about 40 mins, stopping a bit further down the coast at Kroslin on the way.(16 euros return) It was a beautiful sunny day and lovely on the water. We even saw sea eagles and cormorants on the way. Arriving at Peenemunde we headed straight over to the museum area and paid our 16 euros and picked up a leaflet in English. The facility here is where the V2 rockets were designed and built during the second world war and used to land on London and the South East. At the end of the war the Americans took the skills and designs back with them to use as fore running plans to the space race. It was a very interesting place, a lot of it outside and a marvellous viewing platform on the roof, even had a lift to get us up there. We must have spent about 2 hours there. Afterwards we started to make our way back to the harbour, but found a small snack bar to have some lunch, chicken and chips get everywhere, but I had some flounder which was really nice. Then an ice cream to finish off with, all for 20 euros including drinks. By now it was really hot and we ended up seeking shade wherever possible, it is amazing how the weather changes from one day to the next. We caught the 3.00pm boat back to Freest and after strolling back along the road taking some photos got back to the site around 4.00pm worn out. Both of us crashed out for about half an hour then it was drinks and nibbles for the rest of the evening as we did not feel much like eating.

Wed….We had a stay at home day, did some washing, had a sweep out, changed the bedding, sat in the sun, read our Kindles and planned our homeward route. We are now at the half-way point both in time and distance so tomorrow we will start to head back the way we came.

Freest has been a lovely stop with it’s village and fishing harbour and is ideally placed for anyone wanting a trip across to Peenemunde or just wasting time on the beach of the Baltic Sea.

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WISMAR TO WITTENBECK - 31 miles

Thurs 21^st /Fri 22^nd and  Sat ^23rd 

It was raining when we got up and we had decided not to stay any longer, so we left around 10.30 after a 20 minute hold-up to get out the gate – 2 large motorhomes trying to dump over the drain, dustbin lorry trying to come in and empty bins, 3 more motorhomes trying to come in and 3 of trying to get out! Talk about a Mexican stand-off. We only had a short drive and we stopped at a REWE supermarket on the way and did some stocking up. Silly Emily took us directly to the spot at Sanddstorm Strand stellplatz for once even though we thought we were going to be driving on the beach at one point. We had a choice of a large open area with plenty of space without power or nearer the sea under a lot of trees and very cramped with power at 3 euros extra, so guess which the meanies chose. It was very windy and not warm at all, we went for a short wander down towards the beach then the sky went black, the heavens opened and we ran for cover under a marquee where people were watching the football. After shivering there for about 10 minutes we made a dash to the café/restaurant and had coffees and a warm-up. The rain was like shards of glass, you would not believe it was the middle of June especially as it was 15’ colder than yesterday. About an hour later we made it back to Juliette soaking wet, so stripped off, got in to our pj’s and then cooked dinner. We had a visit from a German chap who spoke good English who came to tell us that Rostock was celebrating it’s 800 year anniversary this weekend and 3 large cruise ships would be docking at Warnemunde, so should be well worth visiting.

Today has been warmer, still windy but very little rain luckily. We caught the little Molli Steam train, which runs right alongside the site, around 9.50 to Bad Doberan, where it runs straight through the town along the same streets as cars and pedestrians, ringing it’s bell constantly. At the end of the line we watched them shunt the engine from front to back for the return trip. We walked around the town centre and market place and over to look around the Munster (abbey) It is another of the old red-brick buidings from around 1300 and full of pictures and statues and tombs, keeping us enthralled for about an hour. We got back on the Molli at 12.30 to make the journey to Kuhlungsborn which is the other end of the line and takes 40 minutes, chuffing along through fields of wheat, corn and potatoes as well as wooded parts, really an enjoyable ride. We got off at what we thought was the middle of the town to try to find somewhere to eat, but our inner direction finder was having a senior moment and we ended up walking for nearly an hour along streets full of holiday homes and nothing else. Eventually finding the station at the end of the line we gave up, sat down with a coca cola and waited for the next train back to the stellplatz. The round trip cost us 30 euros and was well worth it. When we got back to our stop we made our way back to the Strandgut café/restaurant and had a very late lunch or early dinner whichever way you want to look at it. Luckily it had stayed dry and sunny for most of the day and certainly warmer than yesterday. 

After yesterday’s excursion we were worn out so thought we would stay another day. We relaxed and read in the morning, but after lunch went for a walk along the beach cycle path towards Kuhlungsborn. We went down the first set of steps to the beach and spent a while pebble-collecting. They are lovely, of many colours and very smooth. Back at the restaurant the owner has painted lots of them to use as weights on the tables outside. In the toilet there we had a ladybird one sitting on the basin. In the evening there were lots of folk sitting outside their vans with their barbecues and bottles of beer.

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BUCHOLZ in der NORDHEIDE TO WISMAR - 103 miles

Weds 20^th

We left around 10.15 am and did battle with the traffic around Hamburg, but once past that it was a beautiful drive along a motorway marked as a scenic route, to Wismar, Wohnmobilplatz Westhafen arriving about 12.45. It was a lovely sunny day but quite hot, so we had some lunch and relaxed for a while before heading off for a meander around the old harbour with its colourful boats.  There were a number just moored up and acting as fish stalls, some smoked, some fresh. All of them were doing good business with their filled rolls, there were people all over the place sitting eating them. We stopped for an ice-cream and then carried on in to the old town, past the last remaining town gate which was also a water town in a previous life. Many of the buildings were from the Hanseatic era and really picturesque with their painted walls and wonky windows and doors. We came across The Church Tower of St. Mary, once one of the most beautiful red brick churches in Germany until it was damaged in WW2 and subsequently demolished in 1960.  Now only the tower remains, but you can go to a viewing platform at the top by lift and look out over the whole area. We also went in to the Church of the Holy Ghost which is a rectangular naveless church with an incredible painted wooden ceiling dating back to the 15^th century.  The whole time we were there we had chanting music playing, rather like being in a monastery. We toiled up and down the cobbled streets to the market place and the newer shops, sat on a bench and listened to 3 people playing an accordion and 2 xylophones, they were very good. On the way back to the van we found Gottfrieds restaurant  around 5.30 so decided to stop and eat then and there, it was an excellent meal (38 euros with drinks). Back at the van it was 32’ inside, so we put our chairs out on the gravel along with everyone else and got out the brandy/whisky bottles and celebrated my birthday. This is not a very inspiring wohnmobilplatz, 75 spaces all taken soon after lunch. We will probably not stay another night, but head off along the coast tomorrow.

BAD ZWISCHENAHN TO BUCHOLZ in der NORDHEIDE - 89 miles

Mon 18^th and Tues 19^th

After doing battle once more with the gate key and machine to get deposit refunded, we set off in the rain about 10.15am.  It was a bit like a M25 day, round Bremen and up towards Hamburg. We arrived at Camping Nordheide in Buchholz im der Nordheide around 12.45 and decided to pay the extra to stay on the campsite itself rather than on the wohnmobilplatz outside as it was only a very uneven patch of gravel. We paid 21 euros pn incl electricity with full facilities.  It eventually stopped raining so we went for a wander around. This site is also on a lake, very pretty and with plenty of long-term static caravans which we find a lot in Germany. They all brighten up their plots with flowers, windmills, ornaments and little fences so it is really interesting to see.  We have Dutch neighbours here, 2 fellows! Say no more.

Today has dawned grey and gloomy with a bit of drizzle now and then.  I have used the washing machine (2euros) and we now have clean towels etc. This afternoon we will go exploring round the lake in the other direction.

NUIS - BAD ZWISCHENAHN - 89 miles

Sat 16^th and Sun 17^th

We left Nuis around 10.00am and arrived at BadZwischenahn wohnmobilplatz by 12.30. (9.40 euros pn + .60 kwh) We had to do battle with a machine to get access (all in German as usual) then try to find a spot. Only about 3 spaces left out of 60! Then we discovered that having paid for electricity half the points were not working. Luckily a kind German man had a 3-way socket outlet so we joined forces with him.  It was a very hot and muggy day so the wander in to town was brief, enough to find Lidl and some milk, then back to flop out for a while. We made a salad dinner and afterwards went for a stroll along the lake, Bad Zwischenahn the same as the town,  for about an hour.

The wohnmobilplatz was completely full when we went to bed so it felt quite congested.  It rained overnight and at 3.15 am the power ran out and we had to get up and put the fridge on to gas, so a somewhat disturbed night. However it was lovely in the morning and after a leisurely breakfast in the sun we walked back to the supermarket to get the bits we forgot yesterday.  When we got back the place had emptied out a bit and we were able to get a power point of our own. After lunch we walked for about 3 hours around the lake, along the boardwalk and back through another part of town.  This time we found the market place and St John’s church, probably one of the most beautiful churches we have ever seen. Colourful carvings and pictures everywhere. The main street was full of cafés and ice cream places so we treated ourselves to an ice cream. Most of the buildings here are fairly modern, hardly any of the old half-timbered houses we had seen last time when we were further south.  Back along the boardwalk we climbed a viewing tower to look across the lake, it is vast, with yachts beetling back and forth. Everywhere is much quieter tonight and a lot more pleasant.

I am having a problem with the uploading of photos here so will try again another day.

I have tried starting a tripline map of where we are and have been. You should be able to find it here

MIDDENMEER - NUIS - 84 miles

Thurs 14th and Fri 15th
It was very windy today as we drove over the Afsluitsdijk (16 mile causeway across the Isselmeer). Juliette decided to mimic a crab and drove mostly sideways! We stopped at the Monument parking spot for a look at the view and nearly got blown away. It started to rain a bit so we carried on to the Het Knooppunt camperplaats at Nuis (12 euros pn all incl), having to stop twice for bridges that were open, arriving around 1.00pm.  A very friendly Dutch gent called Chris came out to greet us and show us to a pitch. It was just like being on a 5 van site at home. It was still drizzling on and off so we had some lunch and a doze then wandered back along to the village to see what we could find, not a lot, no shops but a very nice-looking truck stop restaurant. so decided to give it a try in the evening......later.....a huge blow-out meal of schnitzels, veggies and fries plus drinks for 39 euros.  We were stuffed as we waddled back to Juliette to collapse for the night. There were only 2 other vans on the site with us as well as a foursome in the bed and breakfast part.
Friday dawned a bit gloomy but soon cheered up so we washed some t-shirts and had showers in a little wooden hut and then sat in the sunshine watching the cows and the farmer next door.  We went for a stroll after dinner and sat outside at a picnic table with our coffees watching the sun go down with a hot-air balloon on the horizon.
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OFF ON OUR TRAVELS AGAIN

Tues 12th - Wed 13th June

After having a lovely few days at the dance festival at Copdock with friends old and new, we sailed overnight from Harwich to Hook of Holland. We arrived around 8.00am, had a lengthy wait to get off the boat through the security checks and parked up on the boulevard for an hour or so to have some breakfast and get ourselves sorted.  We drove 82 miles to Middenmeer where we found the Jachtaven Camperplaats. (11 euros per night with all facilities) Although it was a rather cool, grey, gloomy sort of day it looked to be very pleasant by the water looking at all the boats moored up, so we paid for 2 nights. We had some lunch and then went for a wander back over the bridge in to the town and found a few shops including a supermarket.  Then read our kindles until dinnertime, wash-up and an early night.
Today started off a bit drizzly so we did not get up until 9.00am, then did a few chores such as knicker and sock washing, and tidying up. The sun came out after lunch so we went for a walk for a couple of hours around the canal and harbour and back through the town. We had an interesting chat with our neighbours when we got back...Dutch couple who live in Spain, have one son in Canada so learnt their English there, one in Scotland married to a Paisley lass and another due to marry in Edinburgh in December. They spend 5 winter months in Spain and the rest of the year travelling between Holland and Scotland. What a interesting life to lead. Then it was showers and dinner time and a chance to start the blog. Tomorrow we are heading up towards Germany and the Baltic Sea, we'll see where we get to.

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