Thursday, 26 June 2025

Day 44 Thursday 26 June 2025 Bremen to Groningen

 This morning we debated going for a swim or run before leaving Bremen, but rain was threatened so we set off southwestwards.

We drove through heavy rain most of the way to reach Groningen in the Netherlands, where we parked in the city camping at Stadspark.

Andy cycled to Aldi for supplies, Sraddhabha walked in the park, and we generally relaxed.

There is a newly set up swimming area in one of the lakes in the park which we will consider trying tomorrow. There was nobody swimming today!








 


Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Day 43 Wednesday 25 June Bistenzee to Bremen

 We had a short walk and then Andy took a dip in the lake. It was quite choppy, but relatively warm at 23 degrees!

We headed south and decided to try Roger's suggestion of detouring around Hamburg, by taking the Glückstad to Wischafen ferry. The drive took a long time on rural roads max speed 90 km/h, and then there was a long queue to get on the ferry. We were probably waiting for 90 minutes before getting aboard. It's not Norwegian efficiency!





Our plan was to stay in a camp site near the Elbe, so Andy could watch the shipping, however we were offered a space in a half finished parking area behind the dike, and decided to move on.

After another longish drive we got the MH stellplatz in Bremen at about 18:30. We finally went out for a meal! Which was very pleasant sitting outside at the Cafe Sand on the south side of the river Weser. We've stayed here several times now, and never managed to get to the cafe before closing time.

After dinner we had a very pleasant walk in the park and allotment area between the Weser (tidal) and Kleine Weser (a non-tidal branch of the river with a weir keeping the water level constant).



The swimming area, Kleine Weser 




This gothic building is apparently a water tower, though it doesn't look like one to us.

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Day 42 Tuesday 24 June Horsens to Bistensee

 Sraddhabha walked and Andy ran for an hour, first thing, along the coastal path beside Horsens Fjord. A pleasant rural path through old beech and oak trees. Home to Denmark's largest horned beetle apparently!





Andy had a brief swim in the very choppy water off the beach, and we made use of the excellent camp site shower facilities.

We headed on south, stopping for lunch in Aabenraa, where we had a swim on the way out. We decided not to this time, being full of lunch. The marina parking is a good place to stop over though, if we ever come this way again. In fact it would probably have been better than the place we ended up which was at Camping Family Jarck over the borderr in Germany, on a lake called Bistensee. It poured with rain all night. Interesting chat with Torsten Jarck though, it's a sailing lake, but doesn't seem to have a club or any organised racing. Mostly long stay caravans that have built little jetties out into the lake.



Monday, 23 June 2025

Day 41 Monday 23 June 2025 Aarhus to Horsens

 We moved on to Horsens about 90 minutes south of Aarhus.

We called in for a very nice lunch with our friend Eva.


Eva was going to be busy with her community bonfire to mark the shortest night, and Andy failed the challenge of not drinking and driving, so we moved to Horsens City Camping for the night, so he could have a beer (and a place to sleep).

We participated in the shortest night ritual there which involved a VERY long speech by a woman - possibly a local dignitary - followed by singing a song, in Danish obviously, and then a bonfire. The fire was pretty extreme owing to the high wind.






Here's the man in charge of health and safety. we didn't think he'd have much chance with that fire extinguisher!

The bonfire had an effigy of a witch on top, something about her being banished to Germany. We hope this is being re-evaluated in keeping with a modern approach to gender politics!



 

Sunday, 22 June 2025

Day 40 Sunday 22nd June Aarhus

Second city, largest University in DK. Caught 17 bus into the centre. Downloaded the Rejse app for public transport in DK. Quite easy to use. Visited the ARos Aarhus art museum. Beautiful architecture. Famous for Boy sculpture by Roy Mueck Australian artist 4.5 M high .









We then went on to the botanical gardens, which have a fantastic indoor area



Looking down from the treetop area to the entrance door, the people give you an idea of the height of the tower!




Saturday, 21 June 2025

Day 39 Saturday 21 June Hirtshals to Aarhus


Sunset last night at the Hirtshals  campsite 



Granite statues of whales and purposes along the shore 


Chilly start to the morning 

2.5 hours travelling to Aarhus Denmark's second city 

We parked at the motorhome site Marselisborg marina. Automatic check in Suggest looking  at FAQ for tips on getting in 


Walked up and down the marina
 
Interesting murals 

Pleasant afternoon on the beach 15 mins walk from the aire. We had a swim.

Everything shuts early on Saturday so we didn't venture into Aarhus 15 mins 17 bus 10 mins walk from Marina
 



Very cold water ! 

Friday, 20 June 2025

Day 38 Friday 20th Jun Våler hay making - departing
















We left late morning and made the drive to Larvik for the ferry to Denmark with very little time to spare, as there was lots of slow traffic on the route West from Oslo.

A fast ferry sailing 5-9.30  -smooth until the last hour when it got choppy. We were so weary we ate rubbish to.pass the time  (crisps and chocolate ) whilst the children 's entertainers put on a lovely  show a few metres away in the Color line Ferry lounge . Ferry was full Arrived in Hirtshals at 10 pm So happy to hit the hay at the campsite  !