Monday 10th.
We're making good progress towards Frankfurt until we're diverted off the autobahn. We generally travel at around 80 - 100 kph and even at that speed, cars quite literally fly past us. Andrew informs me there is no speed limit on the German autobahns. Indeed he had heard of men flying their Lamborghinis into Germany just to race them.
Our journey then takes a diversion off the main autobahn and we're back to the twisty back roads. So, by the time we arrive in Frankfurt the girls are crotchety. The campsite we arrive at can only be described as rank. It had better be cheap in this condition is all I think. We wait for an hour for the reception to open and the angry man who eventually does open it, stabs at the price list. 25€ a night. Nein danke!!
We pick a campsite listed in the satnav, which we learn isn't advisable, but there are none left in the books we own. It's closed for the season and typically at the end of a narrow, no turn lane by the side of a the river. It takes us half an hour to reverse out.
It is at this point, that we all decide we hate city camping. I know we don't have a lot of experience. Really only Zeeburg in Amsterdam and seeing Frankfurt. But from what we can tell, they are dirty, crowded, run down and expensive.
So, what to do? We can't think of any reason to stay in Frankfurt, but where to go? We pretty much take a stab at the map and pick the Black Forest. Perhaps a metaphorical throw of the dice Andrew Green? I think I need to keep a spare dice in the glove box, after all I have 7 dice in my Yahtzee box, so there is a spare or two.
The journey to the Black Forest was quite a few hours. Driving through the night became an option.
Oddly, the older girl's demeanor changed instantly. Our adventure suddenly became an adventure. They wanted their blankets and pillows. They wanted crisps, cookies and a movie. They had, for some strange unknown reason become friends. All in the face of spending MORE time in the car together and not less.
For the rest of the time travelling that night, we don't hear a peep out of them. With both babies asleep, perhaps this way of travelling was the way forward?
Before we leave Frankfurt we stop at Lidl. I know, I know, we're becoming regulars here.
But you can't beat 2 hot baguettes for 1€. That with bratwurst pate and peanut butter feeds all us for dinner. Bratwurst pate is the cornerstone of any healthy diet I'll have you know.
Andrew drove stoically into the night. We leave the autobahn approaching midnight and the landscape changes again, becoming more and more mountainous and dramatic.
We arrive at a campsite in the early hours, park in the drive way, wind down the feet and hit the hay in our day clothes.
Awakening nice and early to check in the for the day as if we have just arrived; I think it's a genius way to get free camping in a country that doesn't offer free camping and stay safe.
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Climbing
Today, we spent the day climbing trees. Sometimes we were 40 feet high!
Emily and Holland chatting on a tree platform
You can just make Emily out climbing the rope ladder 40 feet up. This took amazing strength!
Tuesday 11 October 2011
Dam
Saturday 8th
Good Morning Sunshine!
We’re lucky to wake to glorious sunshine. The children all play for an hour or 2 in the play park opposite our pitch.
As the weather has brightened, we decide to head out.
I had seen a leaflet in the campsite reception for a Maize Maze. How cool.
We arrive excited at the prospect of getting lost, but it’s closed.
We arrive excited at the prospect of getting lost, but it’s closed.
After the disappointment of not being able purposefully lose ourselves in a field of corn, we drive towards the dam. Passing below the castle we had visited the night before, we drive along twisty, curved roads. It reminds me that I am dreading the precarious roads of the Alps.
Being on the tightest budget known to man, we prefer to find free parking. But there is none to be found. We wander across the Dam, 1st stopping at a hall of mirrors, which are very oddly, just plain mirrors.
On the other side of the dam we smell Bratwurst, 2€ a pop, but for the same reason as before we can’t indulge. No funds. More packed lunches for us then.
We’re hoping it won’t normally be this tight. It was unfortunate that there were expenditures which were unexpected and beyond our control the week after leaving.
We see a sign for Tree Climbing, which we knew we wanted to partake in. A 20 minute walk up a steep hill finds another sign which says it is 2.5 km away. At least we have had our PE class today.
Back tracking down to the Bratwurst smell, we re trace our steps back to the car. It starts to rain, so we delay the climbing for the next day.
My 1st Fret and I'm sure they'll be more to come.
It's evening time on Thursday and I forgot to tell you about it. It's about 18.00hrs and the children are acting crazy. Dinner is late and they need a wash and bed. We've just arrived, so everything is a bit chaotic.
Andrew decides a beer is in order and we need cash for the morning. So he jumps in the car, as he saw as shop as we drove through the village.
I prepare dinner and the big girls bathe the small girls. We eat dinner, but by the time we have finished Andrew hasn't returned. I start to worry a little. But worrying is my forte, so I push the thoughts to the back of my mind. He's a capable chap.
At 19.30 I figure he's been gone too long. Dukey is asleep and I leave Eden playing with Emily and Holland. I tell them to lock the caravan door.
I am not really sure of my course of action. Andrew has the car with my wallet, passport, phone, laptop, money and change. I asked the girls to scrabble around for change and we come up with 1€ 70 cents.
I walk to reception and it's closed. I find a phone box and put in the €. I dial Andrew's phone, but it goes to answer machine. 20 cents down. I dial my number. He answers. He's lost. There was a bad accident on the road home, they had shut the road, he didn't understand the diversion signs and had been driving for over an hour through steep winding forest lined roads. He didn't know the name of the campsite.
I press follow on call in a panic as I've no idea how to help him if I run out of money. Leaving the phone box with the phone dangling off the hook, I run back to reception to write the name of the campsite down.
To cut a long, rather overly dramatic story short (although I was worried at the time) Andrew returned at almost 21.00hrs. He had the beers and they had only cost 3€ for 6! Unfortunately he had done 40€ worth of diesel and had been flashed by a speed camera. So, perhaps not the cheapest beers to be had.
Andrew decides a beer is in order and we need cash for the morning. So he jumps in the car, as he saw as shop as we drove through the village.
I prepare dinner and the big girls bathe the small girls. We eat dinner, but by the time we have finished Andrew hasn't returned. I start to worry a little. But worrying is my forte, so I push the thoughts to the back of my mind. He's a capable chap.
At 19.30 I figure he's been gone too long. Dukey is asleep and I leave Eden playing with Emily and Holland. I tell them to lock the caravan door.
I am not really sure of my course of action. Andrew has the car with my wallet, passport, phone, laptop, money and change. I asked the girls to scrabble around for change and we come up with 1€ 70 cents.
I walk to reception and it's closed. I find a phone box and put in the €. I dial Andrew's phone, but it goes to answer machine. 20 cents down. I dial my number. He answers. He's lost. There was a bad accident on the road home, they had shut the road, he didn't understand the diversion signs and had been driving for over an hour through steep winding forest lined roads. He didn't know the name of the campsite.
I press follow on call in a panic as I've no idea how to help him if I run out of money. Leaving the phone box with the phone dangling off the hook, I run back to reception to write the name of the campsite down.
To cut a long, rather overly dramatic story short (although I was worried at the time) Andrew returned at almost 21.00hrs. He had the beers and they had only cost 3€ for 6! Unfortunately he had done 40€ worth of diesel and had been flashed by a speed camera. So, perhaps not the cheapest beers to be had.
Friday 7th October.
It’s raining. Steady, heavy rain. There is little reprieve. Andrew and I play virtual chess and the girls don raincoats and play in the park. Both babies soon return, crying with wet, cold and hunger.
We have no food and our laundry is now spilling over the sides of the laundry basket.
Quickly changing the girls, we jump in the car. Stopping first at the laundry room here on site. It’s cheaper here and we manage to load all 4 machines.
Our shop with Lidl set us back 40€ and this will last all 6 of us about 3 days. We’re shopping well, but I know we can do better.
After an afternoon of goofing around at the ‘van, we head out late at about 6.30 to see if we can find the local castle.
Dusk is approaching, so we need to be fast. A nice evening brisk walk will suit us, and the rain has stopped briefly.
The castle is about 450m above sea level and the view of the Edersee is stunning. The water now almost gone, leaves the bed visible, meandering visibly between the steep hills to each side. At the end there is a Dam which will be visiting tomorrow with the Labyrinth.
That evening we teach the children how to play poker. Emily clears the table.
Rain
Thursday 6th October.
Our arrival in Germany was met with consistent, heavy rain. We leave the flat Dutch landscape for the hilly, forest terrain of the North Reine. Our 1st destination is Korbach near Kassel. Our estimated 2 hour journey climbs to almost 5 hours, when we factor in diesel and lunch stops. Plus the extra time added for pulling a caravan.
Germany proves cheaper for food, as I am able to feed all six of us for under 5€ from a local supermarket. But diesel jumps from 1.37 € to 1.47€.
By 14.30 both older girl’s patience is wearing thin. Holland has reached her sitting still limit.
a typical image of the car while driving.
Arriving at Korbach on the Edersee. A very brief reprieve from the rain allows us to set up and put the awning up.
In my wet weather gear attaching the water.
Winterswijk
Saturday 1st October.
The caravan park was filling up. The sun had lulled us into a soporific stupor. Or perhaps it was the sweet, aromatic air. Regardless, we don’t think about city campsites and how they fill at the weekend.
Two campervans arrive to move into our pitch and there was little we could do at reception. We were unceremoniously ousted. ‘Shit out of luck’ says the guy jovially at reception.
Moving on. Quite literally. We pack up quickly. Andrew enjoys the buzz. I quietly get stressed.
We put Winterswijk into the SatNav and head off. We chose Winterswijk because it had a large (read vast) camping shop in the town. We needed an awning ground sheet and they had one.
We had to chance our luck with sites. So as we neared Winterswijk, we drive into the 1st one we see. It’s stunning. Absolutely vast and spacious in comparison to the Zeeburg site we have just left. It has a swimming pool, tennis courts, heaps of play grounds, sand pits and every conceivable children’s play thing you can image.
We are instantly happy and spirits sour.
The children hire go carts and swim for 3 days solid while we chill in the last few days of the heat wave. Families and children gather in large groups around different caravans.
Day 3 and the driving licenses arrive at Marjolein’s. Time to move on again. And at 27€ a night, moving on is a must. We urgently need to reduce our night rate to closer to 15€!
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Now, who can say they've bathed in a race car??
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Catalogue man
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Yahtzee and Caravan Envy
29.9.10 Thursday
It’s hot. Incredibly hot for this time of year. Over 30ยบ today. So today we went back to Ijburg Beach. Holland built Eden a Sand Car and Emily built Alana Sand Arm Chair. It’s got to be better than school.
And just to let you know, I have caravan envy. Here are a couple of my favourites so far.
Andrew prefers the more Amazonian affairs
Tuesday 4 October 2011
25.9.10 Sunday.
Todays lesson is the house of Anne Frank. Oh and also eating supremely large pancakes. We start with Anne. There is a long queue, but it moves quickly. It has changed quite dramatically since I was there last. Ok, it was 20 years ago. They have bought the surrounding houses to make it into quite a large museum.
Andrew and Eden outside Anne Frank's House
Some shots around Amsterdam
Our huge pancakes.
In Liedseplein
27.9.10 Tuesday
A Day At The Museums.
Trams today. Fairly reasonably priced ~ 15 Euros for us all to travel the whole day where ever we want in Amsterdam. England has a lot to learn.
We started with the Van Gogh museum. The girls had the ‘kids’ audio tour. Plugged in, they wandered around the 3 floors making notes on the famous pieces they viewed. I am hoping to catalogue a book of classics for them by the time we get home.
Our favourites are: Emily - Almond Blossom, Holland and Claire – The Bedroom. Andrew doesn’t have one as he doesn’t have regard for Van Gogh’s work.
Our favourites are: Emily - Almond Blossom, Holland and Claire – The Bedroom. Andrew doesn’t have one as he doesn’t have regard for Van Gogh’s work.
Next, and after lunch was the Rijksmuseum. A first for all of us. This time we all got the audio tour. Just as we got to Rembrant’s, The Night Watch, Alana decided the acoustics deserved some lung work. So she shouted and screeched at the top of her lungs. I don’t need to tell you that this area of the museum was a hushed silence. I rushed her out when the evil stares started to burn my skin and Andrew and I took it in turns to view the Dutch masterpieces.
Our favourites are: Emily – Dolls House, Holland – Dolls House Doll's house - Rijksmuseum Amsterdam - Museum for Art and History
Claire - Vermeer. Absolute exquisite work with The Kitchen Maid. Andrew also loved Vermeer but chose The Little Street.
Wish we could have seen Girl with a The Pearl Earring, but this was in Den Haag.
28.9.10 Wednesday
Major Tourist Day. I love it! Cheese, windmills and clogs. Gouda was the plan, but Marjolein and Frank find somewhere closer. Zaandijk. It was a perfect day out.
Me & Marjolein
Holland loving the cheese factory. Basil cheese was our favourite.
Brum, Dan & the four girls
A girl can never have too many clogs
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