Germany

Munich.



Marienplatz's square. It was and still is the city's focal point. In the 1800's important public events such as tournaments or executions were still being held here.
The large column at the center of the square is known as the column of St. Mary. It was erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of the Swedish invasion. The statue is topped by a gilded statue of Virgin Mary. At each corner of the column's pedestal is a statue that symbolize the city's overcoming of war, pestilence, hunger and heresy.



I went to a crazy museum that was called Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum which is the "German Museum of Hunting and Fishery". Many exhibits are stuffed dead animals..



Not only did they have the REAL THING but a crazy exhibit of ......


WOLPERTINGER!
In Bavarian folklore, a wolpertinger is an animal said to live in the alpine forests of Bavaria in Germany. It has a body comprised from bits of animal parts — generally wings, antlers, tails and fangs, all attached to the body of a small mammal. The most widespread description is that of a horned rabbit or a horned squirrel. There are many scary stories about them.....

Walked in the Englischer Garten, German for "English Garden". It is a huge park in the centre of Munich and was created in 1789. There were hundreds of locals sun bathing.






In one part of the garden at the mouth of the artificial stream that runs through the garden, there is a standing wave. Surfers are out in force to surf on this wave for as long as they can.




Some of the sights near the art gallery





An amazing open air concert.


Whew.... And that was only two days!

Portmeirion Wales

For you who remember or know of "The Prisoner" TV series of long ago. Portmeirion is the location. I have always wanted to go and see it. It wasn't built for that reason ..... It is an architectural folly that grew and grew, basically into a tiny town.
You might recognise some of these shots.



The town square.



Number 1's residence




The shore and THAT BEACH number 6 is always trying to escape from!

Well... That's enough from me other than to say.....

I AM NOT A NUMBER I AM A FREE MAN

Belgium, Netherlands and into Germany

After resting up in Farnborough for a week where we were applying for visas and organizing the Russia to Asia leg we crossed once more to France. It was breakfast in England, lunch in France and we arrived at Josephine's and Frederiks. They live in Aalst just south of Gent in Belgium and we were in time for dinner!
Had a lovely time catching up and seeing all the work they have done and will do renovating their house.




Sitting outside catching the rays..... Beautiful weather and it is already September. Hope the weather stays good as they are camping in the garden until they have part of the house habitable.




Nor sleet, nor rain, nor sofa can stop the emails getting through!




The city of Gent.




Onto the Netherlands where we hoped to catch up with our lovely friends Benty and Jaap. But, it was not to be, they were away and we had missed them. Thanks to their lovely friend Art, we spent a couple of days in their house and reminisced about past times together. A phone call and emails and they were in Prague. Maybe we will meet on the way.








Cologne Germany.... With the biggest outdoor store we have ever seen. Ground floor a lake to try out your canoe.
On to Stuttgart to see Martina and Klaus, fellow Camino walkers.
Had a great time collecting apples, joining Julika at the stables and seeing the sights together. Wonderful food, wine and company.








Oh...... And the Porsche Museum!




Next stop Munich.......and the long awaited reunion for Ian and his riding buddy Mario.




A little nap after a long walk and a picnic beside the river Isar.




Antje, Mario and Ian striding across the bridge on the way to eat some typical Bavarian food.
Ian and Mario went for a ride into Austria and Italy through the alps for a few days and I acted tourist in Munich. What a place! Such history.... And such sights.
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Wales - walking Offa's Dyke

The original Offa’s Dyke earthwork is Britain’s longest ancient monument, named after the powerful 8C Saxon King Offa, who decreed a defensive earthen barrier be built as a monument to his greatness and to discourage the hostile Welsh Celtic tribes in the west raiding his kingdom and we were off to walk some of it.......




Found a long-term park in Prestatyn North Wales and tucked Little Blue up for a week. We set off walking about 1:00pm, all uphill for miles. We called a halt at 6pm and we camped in the Clywdan Hills with a fabulous 270 degree view.


On talking to some people, we found that there were no shops on the trail for the next 3 days and we only had muesli, so caught a bus to Denbigh. Ian bought trail food while I photo-copied the Offa's Dyke guidebook in the library!




Walked on over the next 3 peaks of the Clywdan hills, fabulous views over rounded tops but steep ascents/descents.



Reached a carpark with just one peak to go and were going to camp. Just then the rain poured down but my poncho was totally NOT waterproof. The rain just ran through. We got a lift from a local guy to the nearest caravan (only) park. The owner took pity on us and allowed us camp on his front lawn.


Up next morning and dried all our stuff in the tumble drier (including our sleeping bags which had been slowly accumulating moisture from weeks of camping). The camp ground owner took us to the nearest town of Mold where there happened to be a market,so I got another jacket.



After returning to where we were rescued from the rain the day before. We ascended and descended another hill to Clywd Gate and on to Llandegla. We put up the tent in the big shed behind the memorial hall. Walked in torrential rain to the Crown for a pint of cider and got a replacement spoon for Ian.
On the road after buying essentials from the Post Office, store and cafe combined. Up through a cool pine plantation and then out onto open moorland.




Crossed a huge scree slope below an escarpment where we had a sunny lunch.


Walked on to Abbey Farm (where there is a ruined abbey) Did the laundry and had Welsh Tea while waiting. Welsh Tea turns out to be the normal scone with clotted cream and jam plus a huge slab of Bara Brith (which is a fruit cake).



Walked in to LLangollen across the river Dee, then on in the rain along the tow path alongside the canal all the way to an aqueduct across the River Dee. Chatted with some of the narrowboat people as we overtook them. One was on day hire and he was ricocheting down the canal even on the straight bits. Screams from the kids each time they bumped into the walls of the canal.


The Telford-designed aqueduct was really cool, so far up!






Walked to Castle Mill in the rain and finally got a B&B. After a huge breakfast in the sun (with rain forecast) watching the ducks and chickens and off at 9:30 for what will be a big day (26km).



Finally walked on some of Offa's Dyke. It is quite an impressive earthwork considering it was done in the 8th century. Well the huge day turned out to be immense with packs (13kg for me and 18kg for Ian) and in rain except for lunchtime. We arrived at the Golden Lion (a pub with a camping lawn beside) at 7pm with no more than an hour for breaks all day. Absolutely shattered and nought but... Pasta for dinner. Into the pub for live music (Blues night). The band outnumbered patrons 6:4. Great guitar playing!



Hobbled out at about 9:30 shattered from previous day's walk. Only 15km today basically all flat along Offa's Dyke which is also used as flood control embankments for the River Severn then in the rain over grassy fields.
Up onto the canal towpath for lunch in the sun and then rain again all the way to Welshpool.


We organised a B&B at the tourist information and then walked up to it for a welcome shower and cuppa.
Back down the hill into town for supplies and a dinner of fish & chips in the setting sun, very nice.

That was the last day on the walk. We need to get along as heading back to Europe to be in Munich by 15th September.


Caught the train back to Prestatyn where little blue has been faithfully waiting.


Drove into Snowdonia, north-west Wales on the way to Portmeirion where they made the TV series "The Prisoner". It is a bit of a cult thing and I have always wanted to go there.It is a very cool italianate village set on the banks of an estuary in Wales.

See next post.....

Hello Fudge

Hello Fudge from Marg Meyle on Vimeo.

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Bonny Scotland

Finally got to Scotland late in the afternoon




......and camped in Innerleith by the river. Up in the morning and off to the highlands



The highlands and glens are fantastic! There has been lots of rain so the waterfalls and Lochs were spectacular.




Had morning tea in the sunshine on a bed of heather, wonderful.



We visited Culloden battlefield



and then free-camped on the shores of Loch Ness. We did not however see Nessie even though there was an article in the Scottish Telegraph about her (obviously not enough tourist traffic this year)




Came on to the Isle of Skye. Very rugged and picturesque.




Camped near Portree and spent an afternoon drying the small tent (which we used to free-camp) and doing some washing (Ian was on to second time round for socks). We camped under yet another sticky
tree (of a different variety) so the tent had about 20 wasps hoovering up the tiny droplets of resin.
We did a circumnavigation of Totternish (one arm of the isle). Since the "Small Cosy Tea-house was closed on Mondays we had to make do with a slap-up feed in the Arosay Tea-house in the quaint sounding village of Uig. No idea how to pronounce that without offending somebody.



Some of the amazing scenery we saw in Skye.





Slept in the same camp that night. Rained like mad and so we packed up a wet tent. There was a Polish motorcyclist there that we had met in the evening sunshine. By morning, he had his tiny tent draped in a large sheet of plastic and the motorcycle cover to try to keep dry. No actual sign of him when we left at 9:30 except an arm snaking out at about 8:00 to adjust his waterproofing.



Drove out of Skye and down towards the bonny banks of Loch Lomond. The weather was rubbish when we got to Fort William (from where you climb Ben Nevis, the UK's tallest mountain) and forecast for thunderstorms so flagged that.



We drove down through Glencoe through some spectacular scenery and eventually stopped at Loch Ken (not far from Lochette Barbie). Not much to report from there except no midges! The midges are fiendish in the highlands, tiny little biters that you inhale, ingest and insult. We had bought our geeky midge nets but since you can't eat, drink or read while wearing it, there is little point. 30% DEET is the story.



Drove on down via the lake district to the start of the Offa's Dyke walk at Prestatyn.


On the way we stopped at Gretna Green, famous for being where God-fearing Englishmen could nip across the border into Scotland for a quick wedding (post consummation I assume). Kinda like an English Reno except the business was done in a blacksmith's not an Elvis wedding chapel.



Now there happens to be an outlet mall full of outdoor stores! Berghaus, Outdoor Warehouse, Trespass, Sport Direct and Yeoman Outdoor. Since we reaaaallly needed some waterproof overtrousers for the walk we stopped. We are now Berghaus replete. Hence when we passed through Windermere, where almost every store was an outdoor store, we could laugh in the face of temptation. Ha ha