Vluyn and Krefeld

Hello

We arrived in Vluyn on Monday afternoon. Vluyn is a small town in the Rheinland region of Germany where I spent many happy holidays as a child at my grandparents house. Vluyn is very different now and it was with mixed feelings that I wandered around the town.

I wanted to show Harry where I had lived as a child and all the local haunts. We found ourselves in the local pub where we had a drink and something to eat. The locals were curious and started chatting to us and we were amazed when one old chap remembered my aunt and uncle who used to live in the street. No one seemed to remember my grandparents but that was a long time ago. The house is still there though, fully renovated and looking good.

We paid our respects at the Cemetery and visited the local Church where my mother and father were married and where I was baptised. The Church had been recently renovated and looked spectacular inside.

After spending a few days in Vluyn we  travelled to Forstwald near Krefeld where my aunt lives and we spent a very enjoyable weekend with her with visits from all of my cousins and their families who live in the area.

This morning (Sunday) we said our farewells to Tante Margret and have travelled west. We have chosen a small site near Lowenhagen not far from Gottingen. The weather is glorious with the promise of more to come.

This week was a private family visit but normal service will be resumed next week with more pictures and anecdotes.

Love to all - speak again next week.

Kath and Harry xxx

Mierlo

This week finds us in Mierlo, a small town east of Eindhoven. After the last few hectic weeks we have decided to chill out a bit and the improvement in the weather has made that decision all the more easier. Temperatures have soared to 18' C with clear blue skies. Sun hats, sun cream and shades - what more could we ask for and it's only April. Still gets a bit chilly when the sun goes down but hey - we are not complaining. The gazebo has had an airing and is a nice retreat in the heat of the midday sun. This week has also seen us eating outside for the first time and we hope there will be many more opportunities to do so.

The site we are on is very family orientated but has lots to offer to both young and old. It is situated close to a Nature Reserve which offers cycling, walking and has a trim trail. I reckon Harry has plans to get me fit on this trip! We have done more walking than cycling this week which has the advantage of spotting more of the wildlife. We have seen 3 red squirrels and some deer at close quarters. There are ducks everywhere (mostly Mallard) pairing up for the breeding season  and it's quite comical to watch Mrs Duck being pursued by 5 or 6 suitors unrelentlessly.

One day we took ourselves off to Geldrop a nearby town to see what it had to offer. Harry told me there was a castle there and would be worth a visit. It wasn't a castle as such, more of a mansion house surrounded by a moat set in some lovely gardens. It was a very tranquil setting and very enjoyable to wander about the grounds.  Of course with all that walking we had to seek out some reefreshment and so into the town square where we sat (as you do) glass in hand watching the world go by.                                                                                                

Back at the camp site life is very leisurely, as I said earlier there are some very good facilities including an indoor swimming pool, an outdoor natural lake with a man made beach, tennis courts, volley ball, basketball, football pitch, table tennis, boules, numerous swings and trampolines etc and to cap it all a resident rabbit called Koos who does his rounds in the mornings to get all the kids going. He's there at the Disco, runs the kids club and basically it's what this place is all about - you can even have your photograph taken with him but Harry declined. There is also a boating lake and a fishing lake, all set in really beautiful surroundings. The site has been fairly quiet but I am sure it will get very busy in the height of the season.

Tomorrow we pitch camp and leave The Netherlands which has been our home for the last 4 weeks.  Not having spent any time here before (just passed through on the train) it's been really good to visit some of the different areas. We've met some lovely people - the girl in the local bakery, the friendly barman in the local pub, our Dutch neighbours on the site in Rolde who gave us some of their guide books and maps to help us on our way and their crazy dog who used to ride around in a basket on the front of the bike and who had an aversion to shopping. We met them in a large department store in Assen, dog on lead but spreadeagled on the floor being dragged along like a big mop cleaning the floor. 

Tomorrow we venture into Germany, a nostalgic trip for me - but more of that next week.

Our love to you all

Kath & Harry

PS - Please note I haven't made any derogatory remarks about my other half!!! I am biding my time 

Rolde

Well here we are at the end of week 3 and it is time for more ramblings from the OAPs, I am sure you know that if you click on a photo it will enlarge it (I didn't until last week) , mind you may not wish to - we leave that decision to you!
Kath and I decided that we would like to travel over the Afsluitdijk, this is a 30km causeway, on our way to Rolde which is our next stop.

This structure is an amazing sight which we felt privileged to travel over.

The important dates we have listed below.

1891 draft plans for closing off the Zuyder Zee

14 June 1918 Plans passed for construction note the time span, I think Highland Council planning dept work on the same set of rules (Keith if you are reading this I am only joking).

1920 work finally got underway.

January 1931 Dam completed and traffic allowed.

1976 Road converted to a motorway.

We really enjoyed the experience of travelling over the causeway, especially as we were able to stop midway for a coffee and climb the observation tower where we took this photo. If you look closely you can see our home from home or click on the photo.

We certainly benefited from the clear skies that day, especially after some of the Summer rain we have had.

Arrived at Camping De Weyert which is a short stroll from the centre of Rolde, a delightful village set in the middle of the Drentsche National Park. The park has lots of walking and cycling routes, the pictures are of a sandy area called the Ballooerveld which is one of the routes through the area. The sand was quite soft in places so gave the old girl some moments! Kath was very athletic and managed to stay in the saddle (well most of the time).


From the camp site we managed to cycle most days, our longest effort being 20km. I know that doesn't sound far to you youngsters but to us OAPs we felt a sense of achievement. Rolde and the Ballooerveld have been very popular with the residents of outlying areas such as Assen and Groningen for many years and has now developed in a popular tourist destination.

Leisure time is a fairly recent enjoyment in the Netherlands it wasn't until 1962 that they had a Saturday off and the 5 day working week did not become official until 1975.
Right that's the history lesson over, well not quite there is a bit more later on.

As was mentioned in a previous ramble Kath loves the cycle routes which keep the car users safe from us. Actually Kath insisted this photo be published as proof she does actually ride her bike.

Perhaps our local councillors could incorporate a cycle path in the A82 upgrade? Well I can fantasise can't I?

Back to that history lesson, this time of year sees villages and towns throughout the Netherlands  remembering when they were liberated in 1945.

During our time here in Rolde celebrations took place, which included over 95 different types of transport descending on the village of Rolde, as seen in the photos.

On the day as well as all the vehicles we had a big band playing music from the 1940's, a choir, military brass band and just to make us feel at home the Clan McBeth pipe band from Groningen

We have really enjoyed our time in Rolde and the surrounding area. The weather has been kind to us this week and temperatures are slowly rising. Tomorrow we move on again this time south to Eindhoven and WIFI permitting we will continue with our ramblings next week.

                                                         So until next week

Cheers from Harry and the Old Girl!

xx

Alkmaar

This week finds us in the region of Alkmaar. The town has a very rich history, wonderful architecture and of course is reknown for its cheeses. Every Friday there is a huge cheese market where cheese makers throughout the region come to sell their wares. This all happens in Waag Plein in front of The Weighing House.

The weather has been very changeable to say the least with biting cold winds and heavy downpours with odd bursts of sunshine at times.

Cycling has become part of our daily routine.

A trip to Egmond an Zee was an all day affair. Lovely walk on the beach where we encountered others doing the same albeit using different forms of transport. The 12km cycle ride back to camp was cold and wet but as I kept saying to Harry "It's character building" don't think he appreciated that remark too much!

The following day we went to Alkmaar by bus(getting very adventurous). Again armed with our map we took the recommended walk tour around the town to take in the many interesting sights including the Grote sint Laurenskerk, the largest Church in Alkmaar built in 1741. Other amazing architecture included the Town Hall completed in 1520 and the Accijnstoren built in 1622 for imports and exports to be checked. We wandered the pleasant gardens which once housed a Monastry. Found a small shop which stepped back in time selling traditional wares including hand made clogs. I was sorely tempted but resisted this time!

Bouts of scrabble are fiercely contested and the daily crossword, compliments of The Press and Journal on line, keep us busy in the evenings (that's when there's no rugby on the TV)

Easter Sunday greeted us with a surprise gift. The camp site owner's daughter visited every family on the site and presented us with a nest of chocolate eggs. It was a lovely gesture.

Tomorrow we move on again, we are heading more inland to a place called Rolde. In this area we hope to do some more cycling. Apparantly it is the 2nd most beautiful cycle route in The Netherlands. The weather forecast is a bit iffy - but here's hoping!

Tot ziens

Kath and Harry xx