Amsterdam, Netherlands to Bonn, Germany

Thursday, 1st October,1981                  sunny and cool

Woke to another nice day.  As the area was closing for winter everyone had to be out by 12 noon, so the camp was a bustle from early morning.  We met a busload of Aussies on a Sundowner tour.  Today we head for the main dike.

We took the wrong road which caused a tremor through the van, but then we were on our way.  Stopped at Volendam, a pretty fishing village in Maketemeer Bay where the people still dressed in their national dress - men lazed in the sun whilst the fishing boats came in and out of the bay.  One boat had discharged tubs and tubs of eels.  John had his video going to record this way of life unknown to us.  The streets were narrow, as were the houses but clean - the windows sparkle in the whole of Holland.

After wandering around we headed for Edam where we pulled up at a canal behind an Australian couple. 

Had lunch and as we couldn't go through cheese factory we headed north again.

The land is so flat and green we had to stop and take a photo.  Windmills aren't as prevalent now.  At the beginning of the dike we were held up whilst a sailing boat went through the sluice.  A remarkable piece of engineering the dike - begun in 1918 and finished in 1932.  It changed the way of life from less fishing to farming.  What was once Zuider Zee is now completely fresh water fed from the Rhine - 3 million L bottles per minute is fed into the Ijesselmeer.  We stood on the barrier dam with the North Sea to the left and the bay to the right hand. Kilometres of the dike either side for as far is you can see.  Legend has it Hans Brinker put his finger in the dike to keep Holland from being inundated with the sea.

Holland reminds me of my schooldays - fancy dress balls and clogs - happy days.  Not long after leaving the dike we decided to find a park and rest for the night.  Found a closed caravan park at Workum, a park right on the bay.  Walked around the waters edge- it was like glass.  Can't believe we're actually beside the Zuider Zee.  Amazes me the cycle lanes everywhere city and country.

Friday, 2nd October, 1981

Awoke at Workum Warkum by the old Zuider Zee to a bleak and overcast day.  Breakfast and then off on the highway again.  There wasn't anyone on duty when we arrived the night before but on going out we were caught at the gate.  Didn't mind as the showers were hot and the spiders were tame.  We passed through Lemmer a town situated on the Meer.  Had morning tea just outside the town as boats were plowing up and down the canals.  The countryside is lush so green, windmills dating from1700s on the side of road and out in the never never - a huge lock with lots of activity.

Passing windmills built in 1706-1849 brought great pleasure.  Then down south through Emmaford, Kampen where we had morning tea by the canal.  On to Zwolle, a large town with the biggest Centrum pedestrian area we have seen.  Filled our larder with lots of goodies from a department store at Nymegen, which reminded me of David Jones with all continental counters.

We parked along the highway for lunch.  Roads and cycle lanes ran side-by-side.  A small town on the canals had many thatched cottages - made me homesick for Britain.  All along the highway a cow manure smell pervaded the van, they cover the heaps with plastic and tyres along the roadside.

The country has changed and now as we approach the German border, hills gently rise on the horizon, the forests thicken as we passed through Arnhem on to Nymegen a large town where we had difficulty finding the caravan park.  Here we found the supermarket, but took longer with a park.  After dusk we pulled in, showered and were preparing tea when the attendant arrived.  Park closed but we could stay overnight so we had a cheap night's accommodation -two guilders for showers.  It was raining so we were comfortable in the van.  Played 500 then on to bed.  Cars are at a minimum here- every one - old and young- used pushbikes

Saturday, 3rd October, 1981                       raining but fine later

Left Nymegen after breakfast, said goodbye to the river Waal and hello to River Maas.  Today we are just cruising down the highway towards Venlo.  The countryside is changing, more bush and drier fields.  The Rivers run alongside the highway.  Holland is such a clean country, all houses sparkle, driveways, gardens and roads are devoid of leaves.  Haven't found a grotty house or village.

Crops have appeared again, the canals have been replaced by the River Maas.  Outside of Venlo we found a huge hypermarket.  We had already filled the larder but we walk through admiring which stimulated taste buds, all the goodies.  John couldn't resist - brought Dutch biscuits.  We brought bread and had lunch in the car park.  As it is near the German border there were lots of Germans.  English (from NATO forces) in the hypermarket.

We drove on along the river Roer to Roemond a large town on the river once again the scenery changing.  Beside corn, acres of tulips are almost ready to burst into bloom.  The people are not as friendly here.  We went through a small village and it was perfect, not a leaf on the ground gardens pruned perfectly.  This we found everywhere in Holland.  Big cities are spotless.  Through a spotless village of Echt to the camping area.  Very friendly people in charge.  We washed all our clothes, hot showered, washed hairs played a game of 500 and to bed.  Perfect night for sleeping but awoke to rain.

Sunday, 4th October, 1981                       rain that cleared

We are on our way to Germany today.  Leisurely breakfast, warmer clothes with the nip in the air.  Off towards the border through Oosbech, Heerlem where we spotted 2 huge stone elephants outside a stone village.  As we neared the border we pooled coins and John called into a service station for three guilders of petrol.  On to the autobahn and to the German border - creeping in the car towards checkpoint.  Through at last - no trouble, we change some money my guilders into deutsche marks $.40= one deutsche mark.  Then on into Aachen, where we found a park near the market.

Aachen, Germany

In the main market is the Dom - the Cathedral that Charlemagne had built in AD800 on similar lines to Romans.  A 2-storey ambulatory circles the octagon at whose Centre hangs a magnificent bronze chandelier lit by candles.  A statue of Virgin Mary stands near one of the pillars, it is said to be miraculous.  The pulpit is made from bronze decorated with precious stones. Charlemagne's marble throne stands undamaged.  Charles the Great as he was known brought together tribes into the Holy Roman Empire.  In the Domschatzkammer -  the Cathedral Treasury is one of Germany's richest treasures from the year 990.  Gold busts, silver and precious stone encrusted crucifix pure gold treasures from the Carolingian era.

We had our first German espresso, very strong, in a dear little Hotel “the red house".  Then on through Duren, Euskichen towards Bonn, a very windy day.

The houses are Bavarian - small white with high gables.  We noticed some Bavarian dress amongst the people.

In Bonn looking for camp.  Bonn is a large city with mostly modern buildings, tram cars run through streets.  The river Rhine divides Bonn.  Barges plough up and down the river till late at night.

Amsterdam, Netherlands to Bonn, Germany