January 2021

11_20 Werkhoeven

We arrived as the light was disappearing, this was happening earlier and earlier especially if it was already an overcast day. We settled in the for night in our smallest camper place so far with 10 possible spots. We were in a built up area and behind a small industrial building and autoshop. It was handy to Utrecht really so I can imagine it being well used. By the end of the evening there were only 2 spots vacant, I couldn't believe it. I guess it was a Friday night and perhaps people were getting away for the weekend and positioning themselves for a bike ride or long walk.

We settled in for the night as the mist was rolling in and hoped for a better day the next day so as we could perhaps walk before returning home. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Between the continuing mist and the low temperatures we had a rest and our only snack bar dinner, collected by bike.

The next morning the drive was short to reach our chalet from Werkhoven but the day long and required all our energy. Fortunately the sun was shining but things always take a little longer than expected. We had trouble finding a filling station for the gas bottle so arrived in Nieuw-Loosdrecht an hour later than hoped. We quickly emptied the camper of our possessions and set about cleaning. A stop for lunch and then, bikes still on the back, we headed off to return the camper. It was around 3:30pm when we arrived and the day was overcast but we felt pleased with our efforts and looked forward to the 2 hour bike ride home.

We arrived while it was just light but went right past the reception area/ house of the Camperplaats B&B Alslag Nagele. We were wandering around the facilities when a not too happy owner stopped us and said we had to check in first. We apologised explaining our difficulty seeing the place in the half light. All was smoothed over and were able to find a handy spot to the facilities. This was a smaller camper place. There was one large camper that appeared to be permanent and another small van camper. We could hear the highway and see the lights of the cars so we thought it might not be so peaceful but it turned out to be fine. When we viewed everything in the daylight including our lovely view from the camper of the country side, we decided it would be somewhere to return to, to explore the area more. It was not far from Urk but COVID was running high there so we left stayed away choosing to have a quiet night and slow morning before heading off back to Utrecht and St Antonius for my Light Therapy.

Arriving at dark in Camperplaats de Zwaan meant that it was day 6 before we had a chance to take a good look around and decide what to do.

We found ourselves parked on an area of what must have been a farm. There were 3 other campers beside ourselves. The camp could accommodate 60 campers so the ablutions were larger than the previous two camp places but... with the covid restrictions the main block was closed for toilets (this was heated) and only 2 outside toilets were available to use. Brrr....I really knew this was not summer time, wrapping up in my coat just to go to the bathroom. At least we had the WC on board for the middle of the night nature call.

We saw a bike route but resting ended up being the order of the day. We left that for another time.

A little low on some supplies we braved the cold, took down our bikes and an hour before dusk, headed out to find a supermarket and in the process see a little of Nunspeet by almost dark.

We were in the countryside it seemed but within 5 minutes on the bike there was an industrial area which we quickly passed through and found the suburban zone, main road and local Albert Heijn. (with the help of Google and some common observation) The thing is, there are always new products that deserve your attention especially when you are out of your usual zone but... with the bike bags you have to be careful or you quickly have no room. Just as well Jos is an accustomed Dutchman when it comes to carrying things on a bike unexpectedly and we made it back safely groceries all intact. Christmas lights were coming on as we rode through the homes and small shopping centre. It looked lovely and cosy but there's nothing like getting back to the warmth and cosiness of the camper and dinner.

We woke to a glorious day; the forecast was for a cold but sunny day so we found a pamphlet of a walk 'Het Bekenpad' which would take us around the village of Nunspeet to see some historic buildings and places from the area. We set off a little later than hoped but we were sure we would have enough time.

11_20 Walking

11_20 Walking 01

11_20 Walking

Streams to be crossed and of course something had to fall in somewhere; it was the map, floating on the water under the log bridge I was trying to cross. Jos had gallantly tried to assist me get on and in the process the map had flown out of his other hand. I managed a heroic rescue and we were able to use the map while drying it out.

11_20 Walking

11_20 Dairy Farm Shed outside

11_20 Dairy Farm Shed

11_20 Diary Farm Robot

11_20 Dairy Farm Robot 02

11_20 Dutch Roofers in Action

11-20 Calf Pod

11_20 Calf pods

11_20 Farm ponies

11_20 Walking

Such a different atmosphere in among the very bare trees but very beautiful. We could see that after our extended time exploring the dairy farm we were not going to be able to complete the route and get back before dark so we took a more direct route to complete our days amblings. We were tired but pleased with the day and enjoyed a quiet evening.

Next day we braved the learning experience of topping up the water supply on board. We were not sure if we needed to but as we had managed to empty the first gas bottle already we thought it wise to do and there was plenty of room to manoeuvre the camper to load up. The gas bottle had been switched over but we would need to find a place to fill the empty one before we returned the camper. Perhaps our hot nights were because we had the heating a little too high. Oh well, that was what it was all about, finding out. By the end of the week Jos had the hang of the adjustments for the heating system.

We were relaxing and enjoying ourselves so much at this point that we extended our time with the camper from Thursday to Saturday. With another trip to Utrecht and Light Therapy it would make things more relaxed.

With Jos more rested it was time to move on. We did our first real pack IN the camper, trying to make sure everything had a secure home. We weren’t travelling far but still we didn’t want things tipping over etc. It was a lovely sunny day, inviting walking or biking.

30 minutes later we were in Landlust, our next camp. No one around to check in with so we picked a spot handy to the toilets etc and set up the camper. We ate our brood, feeling very satisfied with our morning’s efforts and the new site. The sunny day was calling and Jos had seen something about the smallest ‘city’ near by so we climbed on our bikes and rode off to find Bronkhorst.

I was totally charmed and Jos was unexpectedly surprised at what we found. It was a Sunday and there were several different buildings around the village that were marked out for visitors to check out. The first we saw was the last on the list; trust us to go backwards.

It was a gallery selling sculpture from stone and wood made in Zimbabwe. The owner apparently visited Zimbabwe regularly and bought from the local or sold on behalf of here in NL. It was beautiful and elegant work.

Next we discovered an old barn that had been turned into a candlemakers.

It had all sorts of Xmas ‘natural’ decorations and pieces for your home to look more homely. Lovely cashmere rugs and shawls not to mention various styles of candle lanterns. I was in my element wandering around and would happily have bought half the shop but we were on the bikes so instead I bought a wooden and shell star and a special Angel candle windmill.

We walked to the site of an old castle destroyed in 12th century. There was a model of it in the clearing of the bos.

The story was told on metal plates on the top of the fence posts beginning in 600. We had a drink - hot chocolate milk for me and coffee for Jos - at the local hotel. Christmas lights are starting to be put up and walking through the small cobbled streets gave a feeling of another life being lived here. Altogether it was a really lovely couple of hours we spent exploring the town.

Of course, the sun was setting as we biked back. Unfortunately we inadvertently left Jos’s front bike light behind but it was not a busy bike path and my light did it more or less for us both. The perfect end to a perfect day. And then we went back to our little mobile home and ordered a meal from a local restaurant that agreed to bring meals to campers. It was delicious dutch cuisine. Stamppot with boerenkool and beef stove pot. With the bread and salad accompanying it we decided that one meal was enough and we left the Stamppot for the next day. Sooooo lekker.

Glorious sunny day today as we packed up, hopefully making sure that everything was secured and found the Provincial roads that could take us to Utrecht, the idea being to be able to stop along the way for our lunch. I filmed and snapped photos from my vantage point in the passenger seat of the camper. I’m testing to see which works better when photographing while driving, my camera or my iPad. I won’t be able to check the camera till we return home but so far the iPad does a great job with video clips.

We travelled through Renkum, Wageningen stopping just in Elst, by the side of the Nederrijn. There was a ferry boat taking cars, bikes and walkers across and bringing others to our side of the river.

Back and forth he went. Without fuss, a few more would be ready to cross by the time he came back. We ate our brood in the camper looking out on the beautiful river scene - this is the life. There were many quarries along the river and there was one directly across from where we parked, with large trucks coming and going. After this, we turned around and headed for Utrecht and my session of Light therapy.[/float]

It all went so smoothly, that I bought us a special ‘natural’ ice cream from the shop at St Antonius. We sat near by the highway to enjoy them before heading onto the highway and going north to Nunspeet, and a Camp called Camperplaats De Zwaan, part of a group of camps called Bij ons.

11_20 Landlust Bij Ons

11_20 Nearing Nunspeet

We pulled in just after dark at 5:20pm. It is strange exploring a camp site when there it is night time. It was a cute site in the village. The owners also ran the Toy Shop. They were very strict about the hygiene and so no doing dishes or washing clothes or brushing teeth inside and the shower was 50cents which was a bigger problem as how do you find or get the correct change? But, the toilet block etc was lovely and warm and looked very new. It was quiet and this time there were only 2 others there when we arrived. It was going to be a cold night as the sky was very clear.

After the business of the day we both spent several hours reading quietly.