FRIDAY 1st
We managed to leave around
10.00 after having queued for the dump and filling point, but we only had 38
miles to drive to Den Helder where we had earmarked the stellplatz at the
Jachthaven again. Most marina stellplatzes have toilets/showers and a small
shop to serve all the small boats coming in and it is very interesting to watch
all the comings and goings. We settled on a pitch and then set off to find the
harbourmaster’s office in order to pay for 2 nights. After some lunch we were
about to go for a wander when we noticed we had a red light showing on our
solar display to the battery. We played around with switches and fuses for a
while to no avail so ended up sending a text to our mobile mechanic back at
home. He responded with the fuse checking we had already tried, but still no
joy. Brian was worried that our battery was old and on it’s last legs, so went
to the office to find out if there was anywhere nearby where we could get a new
one. Two very helpful Dutch chaps came back with him to put the tester on and
told us that we definitely needed a new battery. Although they stocked quite a
few they did not have our size, as it is quite small and inaccessibly located
underneath the driver’s seat. However, having rung around they said they could
get one sent over on Monday, so we booked in for another couple of nights.
SATURDAY 2nd
It rained during the night
but was not too bad in the morning, we walked about 10mins over the canals to
the supermarket and did a bit of essential shopping knowing everywhere would be
closed on Sunday. We had an early lunch and went in to the Marine Museum about
1.00pm, spending nearly 2 hours inside and then another 2 hours outside on the
Ramship, mine-layer and a submarine, all for 8 euros. It was fascinating
especially clambering down the ladder backward in to the submarine and then
seeing the cramped quarters for 67 crew and officers.
How the cook managed to feed them all from the tiny kitchen we shall never know.
Back at Juliette we put our feet up for a while with a cuppa, then went to find a restaurant for dinner and pigged out for once. This part of Den Helder is all the old naval dockyard that has been transformed with the museums, stellplatz, restaurants, cafes and little craft type shops. We can see 3 of the boats just sitting in Juliette and it is so interesting just wandering around.
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| Brian trying to get in to a submarine |
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| Cramped quarters inside |
How the cook managed to feed them all from the tiny kitchen we shall never know.
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| Ram ship at dock |
Back at Juliette we put our feet up for a while with a cuppa, then went to find a restaurant for dinner and pigged out for once. This part of Den Helder is all the old naval dockyard that has been transformed with the museums, stellplatz, restaurants, cafes and little craft type shops. We can see 3 of the boats just sitting in Juliette and it is so interesting just wandering around.
SUNDAY 3rd
Another sunny morning so I
did a bit of washing and decorated Juliette’s bike rack whilst Brian had a
brush-out and rug flap. After lunch we walked through the dockyard to see the
ferry which goes over to the island of Texel set off. We had thought of going as foot passengers,
but had been told that it was very touristy and as it was Sunday would be busy,
so settled on a walk all along the dyke for about a mile and then back in to
the town and window-shopped for a while.
We have found out that there is another island, Schiermonnikoog, that would be more our cup of tea, no vehicles, just a nature reserve, when we get up in to the Noorpolderzij area in a few days time, so will probably try that instead. In the evening we met up with an Australian couple in an English van for a good chat, drinks and nibbles. Needless to say it was 8.00pm by the time we thought about dinner and did not feel like cooking by then, so settled on a beef sandwich with a bit of salad instead.
We have found out that there is another island, Schiermonnikoog, that would be more our cup of tea, no vehicles, just a nature reserve, when we get up in to the Noorpolderzij area in a few days time, so will probably try that instead. In the evening we met up with an Australian couple in an English van for a good chat, drinks and nibbles. Needless to say it was 8.00pm by the time we thought about dinner and did not feel like cooking by then, so settled on a beef sandwich with a bit of salad instead.
MONDAY 4th
We were up by 8.00 just in
case the battery man came early, but it was about 11.00 when he turned up. The
nice Dutch chap from the harbour office came over to fit it in for us, they are
more usually found repairing boats so a camper made a change. He was telling us
that a few weeks back they had 80 – 100 vans on the stellplatz, mostly Spanish
and Italian, in the 40 spaces that are marked out! He was having to work from
9.00 in the morning until 11.00 or 12.00 at night to keep up with them all. Someone
comes around about 10.00pm to check all the parking tickets on your windscreens
and anyone who has not paid gets a knock on the door. We felt that it was good
value though for 12.50 euros per night, including toilet, hot showers, wi fi, but an extra 2.00 euros if you wanted a hook-up.
Photos of Den Helder dockyard, town and camperplaats
Photos of Den Helder dockyard, town and camperplaats
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