Hello - yes we are all still here! (This mobile modem - dongle - is not always what it is cracked up to be!)

Thankyou for your well wishes - they are very gratefully received!

So .....we said our emotional goodbyes on Monday morning and left at 11am to the tune of "The Eagles-Take it Easy" - We will miss you all................

We found our favourite layby just outside Dover and caught the ferry on Tuesday morning. We were lucky enough (we think) to be upgraded to the VIP Suite. We had magnetic cards to pass through the doors (special offer through the caraven club!) We had unlimited access to all the food and drink and a whole lounge area with reclining and swivel chairs to ourselves! The children were not so impressed and wondered where the toys were?

We landed in France (Dunkerque) and were uninterupted through customs -Remember to drive on the RIGHT.......

We drove into Belgium and rather than 'Lost in France' we became 'Lost in Belgium'. It was not our sat navs fault, it would have taken us where we needed to go if we knew what to tell it but we were looking for a war memorial in Zeebrugge..... The whole place was (to us) a maze of train tracks and swing bridges crossing throught the road system without much warning and looking a bit like spaghetti junction! We tried for several hours to beat the system but eventually we had to admit defeat. The war memorial was of extra special interest as it includes the name of Phil's Great Uncle (Albert McKenzie) who was awarded (among others that day) the VC for taking his part in the raid of Zeebrugge. There were many brave men that day. We'll try to find it again one day - with the backing of more local knowledge.

We found a campsite at Brugge to have a bit of a break. We were obviously not overly impressed as we paid for 2 nights and only stayed 1! But we did find an adventure course in some nearby woods.

Next we drove up to the Netherlands and on into Germany. We found a friendly rest area for the night.....continued the trek out of Germany and into Denmark. We found a lovely friendly campsite (Mongeltonder camping). We BBQ'ed a whole leg of lamb - much to the amusement of our camping neighbours! and then it RAINED - well we ARE in Scandinavia! (Phil still has his shorts on-as promised!) There are go-carts to get around the site so Phil attached a Fosters umbrella to a doubler go-cart to keep our children dry!

We battoned down the hatches and watched a couple of episodes of 'The Long Way Round' on DVD!

On Friday we let the children loose in the heated outdoor swimming pool...up the steps...down the slide...up the steps... down the slide....needless to say they slept well that night!

We walked down to Mogeltonder - one of the oldest villages in Denmark and very worthy of its 'prettiest' title. It has a cobbled main street with lots of oldy worldy houses and shops. Phil thinks these must have been built before the spirit level had been invented! It is also home to the Royal Castle - Schackenborg Slot - now owned by His Royal Highness Prince Joachim.

On Saturday we went into Tonder and found a great street party with a market, vintage car show, beer and live music - who could ask for more?

Back at the pool, Phil surprised the children by climbing up to see the slide, in his shorts and T.shirt, when temptation got the better of him and he threw his T.shirt off and sailed down the water slide!

Which leads us to today -all this in not even a week! We are at Sunday 20th July 2008 - and writing this blog at the campsite reception before we move onwards and upwards - Copenhagen bound. We will endevour to add some photos for your interest next time if technology shows willing!

FACT-IOD- Some Danish Kroner coins have round holes right through the centre of them.

FACT-OID- The Danes only accept Danish Bank cards - thank goodness for cash points!

FACT-OID- In our experience- the Danish are the quietest people ever in the tiolets/washrooms - never a word is spoken!

Until next time ...........

Sunday, 20 July 2008 09:49:49 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [2]  Belgium