Homeward Bound
Monday 4th September
A short walk from the stellplatz took us into the centre of the old town of Celle. Here there were many well preserved buildings, many with stepped gables and ornate carvings, as well as an attractive castle which was the home of the Guelphic dukes until 1705. Sophia, the daughter of Georg-Wilhelm and Eleonore of Poitou, was to become the wife of George I of England.
Tonight we drove a short distance to the overnight motorhome parking at Bergen.
A short walk from the stellplatz took us into the centre of the old town of Celle. Here there were many well preserved buildings, many with stepped gables and ornate carvings, as well as an attractive castle which was the home of the Guelphic dukes until 1705. Sophia, the daughter of Georg-Wilhelm and Eleonore of Poitou, was to become the wife of George I of England.
Tonight we drove a short distance to the overnight motorhome parking at Bergen.
|
|
Tuesday 5th September
This morning started on a sombre note with a visit to the Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp. This camp was one of the first to be liberated by the British Army as they made their way across Germany in the spring of 1945. Nowadays it is a moving memorial to the more than 70,000 who died here. The memorial site embraces the entire camp that once stood there. Mass graves contain the bodies of those who died there and various memorials dotted across the site make this a whole area of history that must never be forgotten.
This morning started on a sombre note with a visit to the Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp. This camp was one of the first to be liberated by the British Army as they made their way across Germany in the spring of 1945. Nowadays it is a moving memorial to the more than 70,000 who died here. The memorial site embraces the entire camp that once stood there. Mass graves contain the bodies of those who died there and various memorials dotted across the site make this a whole area of history that must never be forgotten.
|
|
|
From Belsen we travelled north to Undeloh, a small village on the edge of the beautiful and atmospheric Luneberg Heath.
Wednesday 6th September
Wednesday 6th September
It rained overnight and was dull this morning so not the best of days to be walking Luneberg Heath.
John has been suffering with his legs and having difficulty walking for quite some time now. Recently I had taken to leaving him sitting on a bench whilst I wandered off to take photos. He was determined to walk today. For the first mile, he stopped at every bench for a rest, but once his muscles had relaxed and he got going, he was fine.
A 4 km walk took us to Wilsede, a tiny village in the middle of the heath where cars are not allowed. The village is very picturesque but is rather too popular with visitors, most of whom have arrived on one of the many horse drawn carriages (Kutschwagen) that ply the path to the village.
From Wilsede it is another one and a half kilometres walk to reach the top of the Wilsederberg, at 169 m the highest point on the heath. From here the heather and juniper bushes would have looked stunning if it had been sunny!
Walked back to Wilsede for lunch (eintopf, bockwurst und brochen) before returning to Undeloh. On the return journey we had a couple of short, sharp showers but fortunately the heavy rain waited until we got back to the motorhome. We strolled through the village trying to find an icecream but to no avail.
John has been suffering with his legs and having difficulty walking for quite some time now. Recently I had taken to leaving him sitting on a bench whilst I wandered off to take photos. He was determined to walk today. For the first mile, he stopped at every bench for a rest, but once his muscles had relaxed and he got going, he was fine.
A 4 km walk took us to Wilsede, a tiny village in the middle of the heath where cars are not allowed. The village is very picturesque but is rather too popular with visitors, most of whom have arrived on one of the many horse drawn carriages (Kutschwagen) that ply the path to the village.
From Wilsede it is another one and a half kilometres walk to reach the top of the Wilsederberg, at 169 m the highest point on the heath. From here the heather and juniper bushes would have looked stunning if it had been sunny!
Walked back to Wilsede for lunch (eintopf, bockwurst und brochen) before returning to Undeloh. On the return journey we had a couple of short, sharp showers but fortunately the heavy rain waited until we got back to the motorhome. We strolled through the village trying to find an icecream but to no avail.
|
|
|
|
Thursday 7th September
The weather is still like yesterday - more like April than September. Autumn is very much here - leaves falling and much, much cooler.
We drove to Visselhövede today, a place we have stayed at before. En route we stopped at an Edeka to buy a few items for taking home. Visselhövede has a lovely indoor swimming pool so we spent the afternoon there.
Friday 8th September
A really wet day with no improvement as the day wore on. We had hoped to visit the Cloppenburg Museum Village but it was far too cold and wet for being outdoors.
Saturday 9th September
Our last day in Germany which we spent at Schüttorf and still the weather is dreadful. The local swimming pool were holding their gala and everyone was in good spirits despite the weather. There were bric a brac stalls, bratwurst, pommes and kaffee und kuchen. We stayed overnight at the stellplatz by the swimming pool.
The weather is still like yesterday - more like April than September. Autumn is very much here - leaves falling and much, much cooler.
We drove to Visselhövede today, a place we have stayed at before. En route we stopped at an Edeka to buy a few items for taking home. Visselhövede has a lovely indoor swimming pool so we spent the afternoon there.
Friday 8th September
A really wet day with no improvement as the day wore on. We had hoped to visit the Cloppenburg Museum Village but it was far too cold and wet for being outdoors.
Saturday 9th September
Our last day in Germany which we spent at Schüttorf and still the weather is dreadful. The local swimming pool were holding their gala and everyone was in good spirits despite the weather. There were bric a brac stalls, bratwurst, pommes and kaffee und kuchen. We stayed overnight at the stellplatz by the swimming pool.
|
|
Sunday 10th September
Drove to Rolien's in Markelo. After lunch and a long chat we headed out for a short walk. The local windmill was supposed to be open but it wasn't. We walked to the War Memorial and took a circular route through woods and fields.
Monday 11th September
Drove to the lovely Hanseatic town of Deventer. Took the ferry across the river and wandered round the lovely old town. Weather dull and cloudy but not so much rain. Soup for lunch and hot chocolate mid afternoon helped keep us warm!
Drove to Rolien's in Markelo. After lunch and a long chat we headed out for a short walk. The local windmill was supposed to be open but it wasn't. We walked to the War Memorial and took a circular route through woods and fields.
Monday 11th September
Drove to the lovely Hanseatic town of Deventer. Took the ferry across the river and wandered round the lovely old town. Weather dull and cloudy but not so much rain. Soup for lunch and hot chocolate mid afternoon helped keep us warm!
|
|
Tuesday 12th September
Visited the sand sculptures at Diepenheim. Unfortunately heavy rain was starting to erode them and the ground was sodden underfoot. Tea and cakes in the café afterwards, and a fascinating video showing how the sculptures were built.
Visited the sand sculptures at Diepenheim. Unfortunately heavy rain was starting to erode them and the ground was sodden underfoot. Tea and cakes in the café afterwards, and a fascinating video showing how the sculptures were built.
|
|
|
|
|
|
On the way back, we visited the castles at Warmelo and Weldam.
|
|
Wednesday 13th September
Spent the day food shopping. Lots of lovely cheese, waffles and biscuits to take back home. Dinner in a restaurant in Markelo, joined by Rolien's friend Irma who we had not met for a few years.
Thursday 14th September
Heading home, stayed overnight at the stellplatz at Zonnebeke by the Memorial Museum. We took a walk round the Remembrance Gardens to see how things had progressed since our last visit.
Spent the day food shopping. Lots of lovely cheese, waffles and biscuits to take back home. Dinner in a restaurant in Markelo, joined by Rolien's friend Irma who we had not met for a few years.
Thursday 14th September
Heading home, stayed overnight at the stellplatz at Zonnebeke by the Memorial Museum. We took a walk round the Remembrance Gardens to see how things had progressed since our last visit.
|
|
|
Friday 15th September
Drove to Arques, France. Lunch at Flunch, followed by shopping. More lovely cheese and cases of red wine! Overnight at the aire. Saturday 16th September Took an early morning ferry (Full English Breakfast) and drove home. |
|
[click] to return to Home page