Where's Bertie? He's at a commercial Stellplatz in Wilhelmshaven. It costs €10 to stay. We opted not to pay an extra €3 for electric and the same again for use of the toilet and shower.
A run on the same cycle route along the Elbe as we walked yesterday started my day. It wasn't dreadfully exciting compared to many of the places I've run over the last few months (mainly because there was a flood defence between me and the river), but it did the job. Breakfast preceded showers then gradually we hauled ourselves into a fit state to move on.
Our planned destination for today was Sande, just outside of Wilhelmshaven, but that plan went awry when we found the relevant motorway junction to be closed. It wouldn't have been many extra kilometres to double back from the next junction, but we were almost in Wilhelmshaven by then, which was where we intended to visit tomorrow.
I suspect that Wilhelmshaven isn't a popular destination amongst British tourists, but it held a special interest to us as Mick went to boarding school here between the ages of 11 and 13. Thus, once we had installed Bertie into Slot No 7 at the Stellplatz, and had a spot of lunch, we went off in search of the bits of town that Mick remembered.
We failed in that mission, in spite of walking 10km. However, further internet research this evening, combined with poring over the map has given us another possible area to look at tomorrow.
As well as failing to find the site of the school, we also failed to find many of the points of interest on the town-tour leaflet given to us on arrival. The leaflet looked good but was a bit imprecise as to exact locations, so, for example, whilst we walked quite comprehensively around Kurpark, we failed to locate the entrance which "leads through the beautiful, brick Hindenburg Gate". With a bit of trouble we did manage to find a mural by local artist Buko Königshoff:
Back at the Stellplatz we found we had a new neighbour to our left. The whole time I've been typing this it has sounded like there's a carousel, playing its traditional sort of music, with a strong umpah undertone, as the occupant has been playing his accordian. A bit surreal.
A few more snaps from our wanderings (not because they have merit but because I have wifi tonight!):
On the sea front, just along from the Stellplatz, are rows of these wicker canopied beach chairs.
A few old naval ships and a submarine outside of the German Naval Museum had us convinced that it will be worth the entrance fee to pay the place a visit tomorrow.
The duck pond in the Kurpark
Bizarre, but interesting sculpture outside of the Kurpark
A run on the same cycle route along the Elbe as we walked yesterday started my day. It wasn't dreadfully exciting compared to many of the places I've run over the last few months (mainly because there was a flood defence between me and the river), but it did the job. Breakfast preceded showers then gradually we hauled ourselves into a fit state to move on.
Our planned destination for today was Sande, just outside of Wilhelmshaven, but that plan went awry when we found the relevant motorway junction to be closed. It wouldn't have been many extra kilometres to double back from the next junction, but we were almost in Wilhelmshaven by then, which was where we intended to visit tomorrow.
I suspect that Wilhelmshaven isn't a popular destination amongst British tourists, but it held a special interest to us as Mick went to boarding school here between the ages of 11 and 13. Thus, once we had installed Bertie into Slot No 7 at the Stellplatz, and had a spot of lunch, we went off in search of the bits of town that Mick remembered.
We failed in that mission, in spite of walking 10km. However, further internet research this evening, combined with poring over the map has given us another possible area to look at tomorrow.
As well as failing to find the site of the school, we also failed to find many of the points of interest on the town-tour leaflet given to us on arrival. The leaflet looked good but was a bit imprecise as to exact locations, so, for example, whilst we walked quite comprehensively around Kurpark, we failed to locate the entrance which "leads through the beautiful, brick Hindenburg Gate". With a bit of trouble we did manage to find a mural by local artist Buko Königshoff:
Back at the Stellplatz we found we had a new neighbour to our left. The whole time I've been typing this it has sounded like there's a carousel, playing its traditional sort of music, with a strong umpah undertone, as the occupant has been playing his accordian. A bit surreal.
A few more snaps from our wanderings (not because they have merit but because I have wifi tonight!):
On the sea front, just along from the Stellplatz, are rows of these wicker canopied beach chairs.
A few old naval ships and a submarine outside of the German Naval Museum had us convinced that it will be worth the entrance fee to pay the place a visit tomorrow.
The duck pond in the Kurpark
Bizarre, but interesting sculpture outside of the Kurpark
not popular - in the same way that Portsmouth is not a favourite of either French - or German - tourists either, I suspect !
ReplyDeleteTrue! In fact, I don't think I've ever been to Portsmouth except maybe on business and once to catch a ferry.
ReplyDelete