They say if you want to experience the best of a country, then cycling is the way to go. [I would say that wouldn’t I?] Walking of course, gets you a little closer, down at a slower ground level pace, but is limited by time and distance.
In the elevated position that Beastie offers, Mr S sees all and sundry. The way road systems integrate with road users, can tell you lots about countries’ priorities towards travel management.
The way farms are structured. The field and hedgerow arrangements. The grazing animals. The growing crops. All vital pieces that add colour to the landscape that defines a country.
The towns and villages that are passed through. House types. Amount of allocated land. How well the gardens are tended. The state of the gutters. Speed bumps. Chicanes. Safety cameras! All paint a mind’s eye kaleidoscopic picture. Leaving either a good, bad, or indifferent impression.
Of course, one big give away from that driver’s seat is the attitude perceived of other road users. Scandi drivers come tops. Get a ten out of ten from Mr S. Polite. React and stay within the speed limits. Do not tail-gate. This subjective opinion excludes the scourge of Mrs S. Namely fast approaching Norwegian juggernauts! On more than one occasion she almost gives birth to a litter.
Day 55 – We can almost smell home, although we still have more kilometres left in the kitty than we’d prefer at this point in time. It’s now going to be a bit of a rush to make the chunnel – but not if the weather we have to contend with remains like this . . .
We dry off at Märchencamping, 17K south-west of Bremen – assisted by a gale force wind that keeps us indoors for the duration. Not too unduly concerned however, having stocked up [again] with twelve more bottles of our favourite reds from the local lidl. €34! Thank you very much!
Pitched up just behind us, is a young couple and their two daughters. Just starting their three and a half week ‘Scandi’ safari. Hardly seeing, or meeting any Brits on this trip, it comes as a surprise to discover they live in Poole! We wish them safe travels.
Day 56 – This morning, we don’t leave Märchencamping – turns out we pitched up on the camp-site next door without realising. We leave Campingplatz Steller See with thoughts of doing another contraband shop. Once we slip off the motorway though, we’re in the Nederlands. For the first time ever, we walk away empty handed from two lidl stores, thinking how expensive they were! Each bottle was at least €2 more.
Nevertheless, we hold enough resources on board to drown our disappointment at
Roermond and Het Spikkerdal Camping.
We decide to chance our arm on tomorrow’s final day. Surely France won’t let us down?