HOOGHALEN

FRIDAY 8^th

It has been raining all night and blowing a gale, still raining this morning, ground is like a lake. We thought that Noordpolderzijl would be too bleak and barren, not suitable for a walk across the polder, so headed for Hooghalen instead, about 44 miles away, near to the TT circuit at Assen and also Camp Westerbork which is a concentration camp that Brian would like to visit. We stopped off for some foodie bits, fuel and also a camper shop on the way, arriving around 12.30 having driven down the road nearly sideways at times in driving rain. Not much fun! Camping Tikvah is mostly grass, mostly under water, but we have managed to get one of the only two hardstandings for 3 nights, so will now curl up with a glass of wine and a good book and see what tomorrow brings, shame we haven’t got the log fire to sit in front of.

SATURDAY 9^th

Although it was mainly dry through the night, it started again before we got up and p……d down all morning. Luckily after lunch it stopped and even came out sunny at times. We walked 200m further along the road to Camp Westerboek and spent about 1 hour having a look at all the exhibits and film in the museum part, very interesting but oh so sad. Then we got on a shuttle bus which took us 3km to where the actual camp used to be, not much left but they have reconstructed some of the huts and there is a memorial railway track on 97 sleepers depicting the number of trains that left for places such as Auschwitz. On the roll-call ground there are 102,000 stones with stars on the tops to denote the number of people who did not survive the camp. Since the liberation it has been used by the military as a barracks, as well as a centre for people displaced from the East Indies. Now it has a number of radio telescopes all around the woods so you can’t go around in your own car, but have to use the shuttle bus. Then we walked back to our little home, now in the sun and hope for better tomorrow.

SUNDAY 10^th

The sun was actually shining this morning, I did a couple of bits of washing to hang on the bike rack and then we strolled off in the opposite direction to the village about 1km away. As it was Sunday it was very quiet everywhere apart from all the cyclists and motor cycle brigades going by. We had a nosey at some lovely houses, found a Coop (closed), cycle shop (closed)  and a bakery that was open with a little garden room on the side.  Like magnets we were drawn inside for a cup of coffee and a couple of their lovely fruit tarts. What a civilised way to spend a Sunday morning! Then we strolled back to base and sat outside in the sun with our Kindles. No need for lunch we were stuffed. Later we planned our route for tomorrow and then had showers and dinner.

GRONINGEN

TUESDAY 5^th

We awoke to doom and gloom, grey, misty, mizzly and not so warm. We were on the road by about 10.00 to drive 88 miles to Doezum (on the outskirts of Groningen). 30 km of it was across the causeway/dyke that separates the Ijsselmeer from the North Sea, but as it was so grey we could not see much at all, even though we stopped at the half-way truck stop. 

We had to wait 3 times on the journey for bridges that were up to let boats go through. We got to the Landgoed Jonker stellplatz around 1.00pm, which is basically someone’s back garden, beautiful mown grass and no-one else here apart from one long-term motorhome with a lovely Dutch couple who help out throughout the summer as the owner’s wife is very sick. We have just been watching a hot-air balloon go over whilst I have been typing, it was very low. 

Tomorrow we think we will catch the bus in to Groningen and see what that is like.

WEDNESDAY 6^th

It had rained on and off all night, and was still showery, chilly and very windy when we got up. Having donned our raincoats etc. we headed over to the bus stop for 10.30, then sat on a comfy warm bus for 40 minutes to Groningen. It was much like any other university town, full of students on bicycles and shops much the same as at home. We came across a very pretty piece of artwork all soft toys in a glass case, on the walk in to the centre, not sure what it was all about though. 

The main square, which was supposed to have a market, was full of soldiers and tanks, some sort of parade was due to take place. We were quite cold and wet at that stage so headed in to C&A, Hema and the Martini Church to keep dry and a bit warmer. Brian even bought a quilted gilet and put it on in the shop under his raincoat! It would appear summer has gone and winter has arrived. After a toasted sandwich and cup of coffee we made our way back towards the bus station, stopping off at the Jewish Synagogue and the Groningen museum on the way.

Another bus ride and we were back at the camperplaats around 4.30. At least we have power and wifi here included so can have the heater on if we want and catch up on blog etc.

Tomorrow we are going to do some washing and chill out for a while before heading up to Noordpolderzij on Friday.

DEN HELDER

FRIDAY 1^st

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 2^nd

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.

Brian trying to get in to a submarine

Cramped quarters inside

How the cook managed to feed them all from the tiny kitchen we shall never know.

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 3^rd

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.

MONDAY 4^th

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

HOORN

MONDAY 28^TH

After a day of sitting in the sun as well as catching up on washing etc. we decided to drive to Hoorn. Silly Emily sent us out of the campsite back towards the motorway, which was fine by us, but then told us to cross the canal on a ferry!! Just down the road we came across the ferry, very small, but we parked up and waited for it to come over. After 4 cars had driven off, I ran on board and asked the guy if we could go with the motorhome…no problem he said, we can take up to 11 tons. So after he had been back and forth once more we duly drove on, sat in Juliette for a few minutes, paid 2.60 euros, then drove off again. For once Silly Emily had got it right and saved us about 20 miles of our intended route.

We found the camperplaats at the harbour quite easily and parked up, climbed the stairs to see the harbourmaster and paid 45 euros for 3 days. We have all the facilities here including wifi so hopefully I can get up to date on blog and emails.

After some lunch we wandered in to the town to find the station and negotiated tickets for tomorrow, a round trip by steam tram, boat and then train, taking in the Zuiderzee open-air museum and the bakery museum at Enkhuizen. Should be good. Then we spent quite a long time looking around the steam tram sheds where they are restoring some old engines and coaches. I even managed to climb on to the footplate of one of the engines for a look-see, but they wouldn’t let me drive it.

Beautiful wooden seat on the tram

No spitting!

Smoking - 1st class

Non-steam engine being attached to our train

TUESDAY 29^TH

Up with the lark and on our way to the station by 8.45, walking through a very quiet town with nothing open. We had time to have a look in the signal box and take a few photos of our tram, with it’s very old carriages, before leaving at 9.40. We chuntered through the countryside, over lots of level crossings, stopped at a couple of small stations on the way to Medemblik. All the stations were done up just like yesteryear even down to the old “facilities” as well as the carts, milk churns and luggage.

 Arriving at 11.00 we had just over 2 hours to wander the town, so headed for the bakery museum first as we had been told about it. Still a working bakery we could see the old methods and utensils, the children there were able to help with rolling out pastry and putting almonds on marzipan tarts. The cooking smells were mouth-watering. Upstairs was an area devoted to icing models, moulded chocolates and sugar art. Again the children were given some coloured marzipan and ice cream cones and were making flowers in a vase.

From there we went to look at the wonky church, but unfortunately it did not open until 2.00, so instead we found a small café and sat with a cold drink and toasted sandwiches. It was a very hot sunny day so we were glad of some shade. Then it was back to the station, over the track and up over the dunes to the waiting Friesland steamer which was to take us on the next part of the journey to the Zuider Zee open-air Museum.

We got there around 3.00 and were able to have a good look round what is somewhat like a mini version of the Beamish attraction. It was all very well laid out, all the old houses and shops and workshops, many in use and the ladies in their original country dress.

By now we were flagging, so caught the 4.30 ferry across the Zuider Zee to Enkhuizen where we were able to get on a normal train back to Hoorn, we just made one by the skin of our teeth. Then it was the 25 minute foot slog back to the harbour and put our feet up, by about 6.00pm… we were shattered. We tend to forget we are not fit young 40 somethings and expect our bodies to keep up with our ideas. It has been one of our most interesting days on our travels this year.

Wednesday 30th

It rained all night and has been raining all day, so we are confined to barracks and doing some emails, photo editing and blogging. Hope it will stop soon, the camperplaats is now flooded.

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THURSDAY 31^st

As yesterday was such a wash out, and we had discovered that there was going to be a cheese market here this afternoon we decided to stay another day. First off in the morning we wandered around the harbour to the old prison which has now been made in to an excellent 20^th century museum as well as a hotel/restaurant. We spent nearly 2 hours looking and listening to all the exhibits, it was so interesting. 

After a freebie coffee there we walked off to see the old harbour with the sailing barges and very old boats, back in to town for a 1.00pm start to the market. We found a nice eating place which turned out to be the old weighing room for the cheeses, so sat and had a toastie/drink and watched the preparations. 

Back outside around 2.00pm the horse and carts came along with their cheese rounds to sell and did a few circuits of the square, then along came the men ready to carry the wooden stretchers. They had great fun giving some children a ride in both the carts once unloaded and on the stretchers. There were also some dancers in old national costumes who demonstrated polkas, waltzes and even one that looked a bit like the barn dance, accompanied by a fiddle and accordion. It was all quite fascinating and much more interesting than the market at Alkmaar which was somewhat touristy and over-crowded. Today’s seemed a lot more authentic and you could imagine the same thing happening donkey’s years ago.

Then it was a meander around the inevitable cheese stalls, ice creams, herring sellers, up to C&A to get a couple of cardigans, then the supermarket for some foodie bits before going back to the van for a cuppa and a shower. Hoorn has been a really interesting picturesque town and we would highly recommend it. It would appear that Shearings even do coach trips, ‘cos we came across one their coaches whilst walking about.

More photos