WEEK 2

Up early to use the showers before the crowds, possibly last shower for a few days. Not particularly exciting day today, just getting away from Amsterdam and finding somewhere reasonable to stay.

Arrived in small town called Meppel, near the German border. Nice location with all the needed facilities. Parked up near a canal next to a nice Dutch/Canadian couple, who had also done a similar trip back in the 70s in an old VW.

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The next day went for a quick walk around town to find breakfast to go with our coffee.

Decided to head into Germany today and onto the Autobahns! Stopped just over the border to try and figure out where to go. We decided upon Bremen and found a place to stay just north of Bremen. Free parking with toilets and showers in nearby campsite. Walked into town found little shop with eggs and bread, dinner sorted!

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Good night’s sleep in Sandstedt, up early and short drive down to Bremen. Parked up in a Wohnmobilplatz (Motorhome campsite) on a small island on the River Wesser. Just a 20min walk and we were right in the Markplatz.

Spent the afternoon afternoon wondering around the different areas, from the parks along the river to the small streets of the Schnoor Quarter.

After a bit of a chill back at the van we walked back into town for dinner in a traditional restaurant in the cellars of the town hall, German Haggis! Fantastic.

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The next day we were unsure which way to head, looking through the road map we saw there was a picturesque route only a few miles away, we decided to follow this. After driving for a good hour or so, with nothing in the way of picturesque it was time to change plan. Since we had been driving south for the last couple of hours we were now close to the Harz National Park so headed there.

Suddenly the whole geography changed and we were surrounded by giant alpine-style trees rivers and gorges. Unfortunately I don’t seem to have taken any photos, so you’ll have to trust me that it was nice. We stopped in a nearby Wohnmobilplatz for the night and parked next to these guys…

We were planning on walking up the Brocken Mountain the next day, but closed roads and bad weather were against us and we decided to change plan. We headed towards Berlin as we needed to start heading North again soon and a weekend in Berlin seemed like just the thing we needed. Stopped in Brandenburg for the night.

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Up early to make the most of our 2 days in Berlin, parked up in Wohnmobilplatz in Tegel, on the Northern outskirts of Berlin. A good location and just 10min walk to the U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations, followed by a 20min ride into the centre.

As it was lunchtime we headed to Hackescher Markt for the obligatory currywurst. We then went for a walk in Volkspark Friedrichshain, very busy with people enjoying their weekend.

After a a few drinks, well it was a Saturday, we headed to see the Carnival Park, the main parade was on Sunday, but lots of stalls selling great food and drink. Then we headed to a bar on the roof of a shopping center (Thanks Edd), only in Berlin! Followed by burgers in Burgermeister, a converted public toilet under the S-Bahn, it really is amazing!

The next day we headed out to see the Carnival Parade, breakfast on the way in the form of a cheese croissant, bit of a tradition from previous trips.

Sorry for the change of format to weekly, I think it will be much easier to keep up to date.

Until next time..

Bryn