Bremen – well worth a return visit. After the chaos of the missing campsite we had a few hours in the old town, and caught up with characters from Niki’s youth, the Musicians of Bremen. The town itself was very relaxed, and the perfect place to spend some time wandering around, and rehydrating.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Growing ever more confident in our GPS we prepared to leave Bremen after taking on water. Our solar panel seems to be working a charm, and we’ve not had to hook-up yet. Water usage is a little more of a worry, and I’m going to need to reassess my two showers a day!
Just then, of course, the GPS spits the dummy and refuses to give any directions. Off to the nearest campervan dealers in Bremen (with the largest number of vans I’ve seen on a single lot) at Soma Caravan Centre Bremen. The reason for naming them is that they helped us out immediately, at no cost, and with the most welcome of smiles. Thanks guys!
Off to Denmark and our next stop in Krusa after a big shop in Flensburg, trying to stock up a bit for the enormously expensive Norway. Managed to pack most of the stuff away, including 12 litres of wine…
We left Windsor a bit earlier than planned, remembering the volume of traffic we encountered on the way here. Just as well – not quite as bad, but it allowed us to catch an earlier ferry, and given the heat, traffic and distance, this worked out well. Great crossing to Calais – this has been Channel smooth as … both ways now. Apart from rowdy kids on the ferry (who looks after these school groups? Surely a profession soon to be sainted?)
What a great two days as we’ve travelled from Cheltenham to Juan’s birthday do in the Cotswolds, and today to Chris & John in Windsor. Coming to an end of our short stay in England. Must say, again, this has been the most consistently outstanding weather we’ve had … ever? I now understand why all those great outdoor sports – tennis, cricket etc, that rely on consecutive days of great weather were developed here. Hmmm – for South Africans: Remember the Gillette Cricket ads that had a jingle that included the lines: ‘In England, summer is a break in the rain.’
I’m in no way critical of our journey’s Navigator (capped ‘N’, did you notice?) when I say we see some interesting things, not necessarily those that were intended. Leaving the delightful Cheddar we took a detour to Wells, specifically to see Wells Cathedral, that structure which elevates a town to a city. Had a lovely time in an impressive structure:
St Cuthberts, Wells
St Cuthberts, Wells
St Cuthberts, Wells
St Cuthberts, Wells
However, turned out to be St Cuthberts rather than the cathedral, and, with the day progressing and traffic obviously going to be a challenge (again), we headed off. Interesting to note the restoration of iconography found as filling behind some walls, the result of ongoing religious conflicts through the Reformation, details here.
Arrived at Lotmead pick your own farm yesterday for a lovely overnight. We may have been in some crowded carparks so far, but check this out:
Had a couple of long chats to the farm manager. Boy, if ever one feels you work hard, just spend time with a farmer! Add to this daily grind is having to deal with people who simply don’t get ‘it’. Biggest complaint about the job? not the long hours, the weather worries, the immense amounts of cash outlay in anticipation of good crops … Nope, it’s dealing with people who take it as their right to eat as much as they can without payment, kids tearing up the irrigation pipes … What should be an idyllic job made less so by dealing with downright stupid behaviours. Hmmm, what other jobs come with that? I bet your’s do too 🙂
Currently at a lovely pub in Cheltenham that’s provided fresh water, dumping facilities for our grey water, great cider, AND electricity! Absolutely spoilt! Will look to use the Cosori (pressure cooker) for a chicken & sweet potato curry for tonight and ensure the Navigator’s blood sugar is up for tomorrow’s 20km drive 🙂
And for those who continue to scoff at my observation of British Mediterranean conditions, take a look at soil conditions in Gloucestershire:
With a bit of luck, the dropped pins are working on MyMaps with Google. I’m hoping to have each night recorded with a photo & GPS. Let’s see how that goes.
A little sweaty and tired after doing the round walk of Cheddar Gorge. Lovely walk, but in what is now becoming standard UK heatwave conditions…
A lovely change from yesterday though. Some context: I’m a bit of a Stephen King fan. I know, popular fiction and all that, and I can see some noses going up in the air. As an English Lit Major, I’m immune 🙂 We spent the better part of the day in Burnham on Sea as our wifi system was upgraded – more on that later. Anyway, as King readers will know, Castle Rock seems to breed some interesting characters, and Burnham seemed to present the same opportunities. I have never seen so many people on canes, crutches, or in wheelchairs – and no, these were clearly not athletes, unless the Tattoo Olympics was in town. We took a walk along the main road, one up from the beach front which, if you come from a coastal town, should have got the radar going. Wall to Wall plastic, cheap eateries, meal calories counted in the 10,000’s… you get the picture. Then, as (clearly) foreign travellers, we pictured a seafront that had, well, sea. Not.
We’ve had a very nice evening at a pub stop in Cheddar, and have extended that over 2 nights. The walk through the Gorge was amazing! Firstly, no view of the Gorge itself, but a lovely path that went up through forest, then down over more open terrain. Helpful signboards made clear just how unique the area is, and 10/10 to all those involved in the conservation efforts. Doing the walk in the wrong-way-round also saved us entry fees (why would you charge an entry fee!!) and got us down into the Gorge which was overrun with more tat, but, to be fair, as expected. It did give me a sense of achievement reflecting on cycling up here with Niki a couple of years ago while doing Lands End to John ‘O Groats.. until .. I was looking at the cave at the start of the climb, remembering having stopped there to get my Garmin sorted out. Actually, I was just knackered, and needed some breathing time before taking on a long, steep climb! To watch cyclists coming by, at pace, and at all ages, was just lovely. Good on them. One of the old guys with us, 70+ at least (apologies to all those in that age group, or feeling like they are in that age group) flew up this climb, to my chagrin, but when we spoke later it turned out he was a cycle instructor and doing over 4000 km a month! Put me in my place for sure.
Navigator is currently looking for a new site for Thursday night, heavily determined by where we can empty the loo. Ah well, every day will bring it’s challenges.
Arrived at Lotmead pick your own farm yesterday for a lovely overnight. We may have been in some crowded carparks so far, but check this out:
:
Contented-Campers.com 