Helsingør – Decision made on the Road
Russell and Steven have now joined the group and after myself and Thor traversing 3 countries and 800 miles in about 2 days. The first thing they do? Complain about a 3 minute walk to the car as we had driven past them. Pah!
Due to an error programming the Sat Nav, a decision was made to use the ferry in Helsingør instead of taking the Bridge to Malmo. Now, it must be said, whenever Thor has made a mistake before it has normally turned out worse; more fuel, time and money – as with us all no doubt. BUT this time it has not only saved us over 70 miles it has also saved us time and money. We are currently headed to the ferry terminal to book a place to Helsinbørg in Sweden.
Our current aim is to get to Gothenburg by 8pm and plan the rest of the route in more detail.
Oh and buy beer, there is no way the guys are buying beer in Sweden. That’s what I’ve been told. the price is around 7 pounds for 500ml in a supermarket.
Currently the temperature is +3.4 degrees C (17:07)
Næstved (Closest Town) – First Stop Over
We arrived at around 8 o’clock had dinner cooked by Thor’s aunt and went to sleep – Hence no update. Driving 10 hours is knackering.
We awoke to snow and wind. A slight white blanket across the land. To say this place is rather remote would be an understatement – It is roughly 14 miles to the nearest town and sheer space in between.
So far this morning Thor has been changing the oil in the car to cold weather oil and I have been choosing the placement of the camera mounts. All the camera batteries are now charged once again and the gear ready to go. We aim to pick Steven and Russell up from Copenhagen at 3pm-ish and then head to Gothenburg in Sweden. Out first trip will be roughly 200-300 miles.
Oh and we have picked up Thor’s cousin Anton who will be joining us for the trip – Apparently it doesn’t get cold enough in Denmark…
Currently the temperature is +1.3 degrees C with an astonishing wind chill effect of -5.0 degrees C!
Puttgarden – Northern Germany
We have now reached the ‘Border Shop’ where alcohol, cigarettes and snacks are a fraction of the price and double the calories. This place is incredible however, four floors (Looking more like a Debenhams than an off-licence) and each floor dedicated to a particular alcohol it’s reasonable to assume many people have spent thousands in here. A 3 litre bottle of vodka will set you back 17 pounds and 3 crates of 24 cans of beer? 22 pounds.
As we line up to put our Land Rover onto the ferry, it seems the sea is very choppy and feels bitingly cold.
Currently the temperature is +4.2 degrees C (18:08) with a feels like temperature of -2 degrees C. This alone shows you how strong the wind is tonight.
Mit Hamburg, Für Hamburg
Many signs around Hamburg have this and to be honest its quite an oxymoron as it’s very dreary. Croyden-esque would be a good comparison, perhaps it’s the weather but it really isn’t a great place. We have hit northern Germany in great time; but after driving through Hamburg (currently) and not deciding to stop we make our way in earnest to the ferry at Puttgarden.
I’m certainly not ‘Mit Hamburg’ and its streets upon streets of flat blocks and car dealerships…
It’s currently +5.5 degrees C (16:20)
Neuenkirchen-Vörden
Apparently this wonderfully named town looks like Thanet, Kent. Can’t really see it myself, but I suppose to each his own. It has just been discussed that we are now to pop into Hamburg as we are making good progress and we have to wait for our Ferry in any case.
I think buying a cheap Hamburger in Hamburg could be quite an experience! Then again, I could be wrong – what happens if it’s awful?
Midway through Germany the weather is still depressingly dull and misty. Holland was beautiful and Germany is much like their cars – Corporate.
Temperature is +2.5 degrees C (13:00)
Don’t mention…
The war. That’s right, the first thing that was said not 10 minutes ago was how concrete roads in Germany are there for tank movements.
According to a popular quiz show on the BBC, the Germans get annoyed that the English mention the war nearly every time they meet a German or go there. We are, unforgivably, no different it seems. That said Germany is dreary and grey with that fine drizzle that seems to soak you to the core – Just like Wales.
German signs are bigger than The Dutch ones and we seem bombarded with them – Im sure that is because of the attitude of the country no doubt, efficiency over all.
Temperature currently (12:45) is +1.3 degrees C
It sort of sets the tone doesn’t it?
Greenhouse’s, McDonald’s and flatness’
I must say, I have been to Holland before. What has always struck me is the sheer space and how flat it is. What I haven’t noticed is how many McDonald’s there are and how much glass must have been used to build all the Greenhouses! Where Essex has industry, Holland has plants. GoPro’s are being adjusted, stopped and started as we make our way through the Netherlands – the temperature is currently 0.4 degrees C at 10am local time.
Below is a picture of the guys adding beam reflectors for the headlamps, apparently they drive on the other side of the road here. Madness, utter madness.
The price of heating water
Now I want to say something here – I agree with a charge to heat water – its only fair! After all we have paid 15 quid in petrol to get to Harwich, 185 quid for a cabin on the ferry + car storage (Oversized for the Land Rover) + 3 People and 2.70 Euros for a small Heineken, What’s 90p for Hot Water?
A joke. That’s what it is.
It was at the point when i ordered that there was a massive flaw in my plan to take our own food – The fact that it needs hot water. I thought we would have an abundance, easy to heat and easy to get. I did not factor in the Ferry.
Oh the Ferry, wheres crisps cost you 1 Euro 20 Cents (25g) and beer is 7 Euros.
Nice.
We are on the way!
We have got to Harwich and boarded the ferry. However I will have to raid our stash as food on board is extravagantly priced to say the least (15 Euros for rice and chicken curry). We have already discussed with one of the crew members it is 22:00 and not 23:00 however, (apparently) even though we are still in Essex, on board it is never in proper time. It is, of course, on Dutch time. We insisted the crew member was wrong and left him bemused.
We have already got lost in the car deck, looking dodgy trying to get past four articulated trucks and get to a lift (Elevator in Euro-Speak), broken a door to another deck (With crew members shouting at us, to why we were there) and of course scalded our hands at the toilet water temperature.
So far so good then…
Oh and i have taken my fair share of mustard sachets for our hot dogs – The ONLY free condiment on the ship. That will teach them 🙂
P.P.S – Photos aren’t loading on this hopeless connection ‘at sea’ so they will follow later! Its working now!