DOVER TO DUNKIRK THEN THE NETHERLANDS

On the way down to Dover we were passed by the Queens entourage. We were travelling in the slow lane on the kerb and after being told to slow right down they went out to pass us to get back to the kerb and Harry for a few short moments enjoyed the Queen's company. I think we might have got a royal wave. 

The trip over from Dover to Dunkirk was interesting and cost 34 pound one way. This was our first experience taking a vehicle onto a ferry. Of course Harry was an old Pro so he showed us the way.

We were a little late reporting in and with another campervan we went down to the 4th floor with the huge trucks. After parking everyone has to go up to the top deck which has lots of restaurants.

I took some photos of the white cliffs of Dover but the windows were so dirty they look very grey And there were no Bluebirds.

2 hrs later and we docked in Dunkirk

FRIESLAND- NETHERLANDS

There is no doubting we are back in the Netherlands, then it is across the Afsluisdijk and back to Friesland.

T’Eibertsnest Marina Kuikhorne

It is still cold up here. As usual April was warm and May is cool, most days are about 20 and night 8. We are parked next to the boat and moving things backwards and forwards between Harry and Courlis. Some things we want here and some things there.

I should have taken our daughter Sandra’s advice and not been so much of a collector, after six years I have so far taken to the Kringloop Winkel (means going around, recycling  shop) 6 big bags of unwanted clothes and things. I am now trying to be a minimalist but it is very difficult.

We are flat out sorting things out and driving around to get a ladder put on the back with the box on top. We spent two days going from one place to the other before we found a motorhome repairers and shop in a town further east.

Harry before and after. And YES we have measured how high the box is!!

 It was very strange seeing the Harry Hymer going off to the workshop. We spent the day shopping and were glad to get back in the Hymer that night. I felt like a vulnerable snail without its shell all day.

The boat fuel pump had a leak over the winter which dripped diesel onto the starter motor then into a tray under the motor so Kevin had to clean that out and we have found a diesel and auto electrical services place and they are repairing the pump seal and servicing the starter motor.

When we were driving around the other day we came across these delightful storks. A lovely custom here in Friesland of welcoming a new baby and

also a real stork making its nest on a the tower erected in a field. I guess welcoming chimneys and cabbage patches are getting hard to find.

Courlis is back in the water and we need to wash away the winter grime put the bimini on then put things back in their place to wait for her new owner. We have had a few warm days with the sun shining all day.



OFF TO LONDON TO MEET HARRY

May 11 and we left Perth flying Air Asia no frills airline on a promo fare. The flight was very good, the plane had plenty of leg room but I think they have cribbed a bit on the seat width, but we will fly with them again. Paul and Christine met us at London Stanstead  and we stayed with them the next day, then on Friday took a hire car to Bristol to finally see the motorhome. We waved goodbye to Paul and Christine and excitedly left Norfolk on one side of England to drive to the other side. Kevin was thinking Australia time for driving when he estimated how much time we needed to get there. He should have estimated on England time.

Although part of the way was on the motorway , on smaller roads we passed through so many small towns where the speed  drops to 50kph. We only just arrived in time to drive to where the motorhome had been stored and then take the car back to the hire company before they closed. We fell in love with Harry Hymer the minute we saw him.  That night we stopped in a rest area then drove down through Devon to Cornwall where we were to meet Anna and Gareth the previous owners of our motorhome. It is very picturesque

and very hilly down this way.  

Anna and Gareth were very helpful and patient with all our emails and phone calls, guiding  us through the ins and outs of buying a motorhome on the internet.  They had moved from Bristol to Cornwall so we set the Navman for the delightful address of Jasmin Cottage, St Newlyn. The Navman thought he was directing a mini van there and the roads, hedged each side got narrower until we imagined any minute we would be stuck between two hedges. The traffic is two way with little pulloffs where one or the other vehicle has to move into if you see the other coming or reverse when you don’t. I think we won about half of the standoffs and the only hedge damage was wiping the sticker off of the awning on the side from a pole hidden in amongst the shrubbery.

The village of St Newlyn is really lovely and and it was great to meet Anna and Gareth in person.  They showed us all we needed to know about Harry,

the heater (such luxury), hotwater system for shower and sink, how everything opens and locks, bits about the motor etc. Anna gave us the 2011 camping books and vouchers we would need when travelling in Europe and left us all of their maps so we are really set up well.

It was Sunday and they took us to the local pub for a great Sunday Roast with all the trimmings.

 As we walked up the street to the pub we passed a lot of different Scarecrows and were told the village was having a competition.

Soon it was time to say goodbye and Gareth took us the route to a wider road out of the village.



CLOVELLY- CORNWALL
On the way back we visited Clovelly a fishing village famous in the smuggling days. The houses are built on each side of an old cobbled road down to the port on the Atlantic Ocean. The road is too steep for vehicles and donkeys are used to carry provisions down.

Unfortunately they don’t carry visitors and as we descended , the thought of coming back up was burning onto our minds and our muscles. This photo makes us look like we have very short legs but it is the steepness of the pathway. 

The tea towel tells it all.

Still not at the bottom and the Red Lion Hotel is looking good.

I can almost taste that beer now!!!

Our next venture was getting a new loo fitted. The bathroom is very squeezy but we now have a new electric toilet with swivel seat so your knees don’t knock on the wall.

Also on our overnight stop we met Paul who showed us his gas system which uses auto gas from the service station instead of filling removable gas bottles.  As we were travelling to several different countries ( and we know from boating experience each country has different bottles) we decided to have a Gaslow system fitted.

After emptying the bank account with a few more bits added to our boot off we set off back East,

As we passed through towns I took photos of some of the quaint pubs we passed.

and drove through the Cotswolds to visit Jackie and David in the lovely historical village of South Cerney, then it was back to Norfolk.

We stayed with Paul and Christine for a few days and found a Winter Storage Business close by where we will leave Harry when we go back home. Then off we set to catch the Ferry from Dover to Dunkirk then back to the boat in Friesland.