MY LITTLE CITY

Or as we say ‘Mien Stadsje’. We’re killing time in Harlingen. The weather is fine. The city is nice, especially now in summer. Olympics and F1 on television. It’s wonderful for cycling and walking. There’s really nothing to grumble about.

So I’m bored.

Harlingen 28-07-2024

TROMSØ

So yesterday we ended our little race around Senja, Vesterålen and Lofoten where we started it a couple of days ago, in Tromsø. Yes we drove a lot, in fact way too much to get a good impression of these islands. And beautiful it definitely is. There’s so much to see, so many different landscapes, mountains, fjords, woods, tunnels, little towns, ferry’s, waterfalls that you probably need more than a lifetime to explore it all.

I think we found our favorite, but to be sure we need to come back one day. With our 4wheelmachine in winter and with our beloved floating lady in spring. We just need to find some time.

SEE ONE LICENSE

Thanks to Vincent, Tamme, Leo and Kees i passed my C1 drivers license this morning. Now we can finally hit the road with our 4wheelmachine. And by that i mean, completely official. I can’t help it that we only last winter discovered the maximum approved weight of our camper was above the 3500kg. Besides that, the text on the registration certificate is really very, very small and nobody told us and we can’t read and never listen and we are stupid. And we’ve been very lucky nobody checked us.

So the circle is completed and confirmed again, luck is with the stupid. No argue on that one.

BUTJADINGEN – AS IN BUTJA THINGS

On my way back home I landed in Butjadingen at the Wezer estuary. Where? Butjadingen! But I’m not sure that’s the right name, may be the place is called Fedderwardersiel. I don’t know. It is between Klein Fedderwarden and Gross Fedderwarden, near Hollwarden, Syuggewarden, Langwarden and so on. Do you get it?

SYLT – HERRING

I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to go to Sylt, but my curiosity was, as always, unstoppable. Specially because the only way to get to the island is by train. I just had to experience that. And I got value for my money, driving about 200 meters backwards on a train because vans with roof hatches are only transported in forward position. Which is quite logical. What I didn’t expect were the locations of the train stations. Not directly near the coast, like a harbour, but in cities inland on both sides. I’m sure there is a reason for that.

I stayed for a couple of days on a little camperpark site in the south of the isle. If you like cycling and walking there are enough possibilities. The beach is about 40 kilometers long. I think you have to pay to get on the beach at some places during the summer. There is not much forrest on Sylt but surely some variety of nature and lots of dunes and heath. There’s enough to do and see on the island.

Despite it being early in the season, the little villages with lots of summer houses, are quiet but they are not extinct. Not all restaurants were already open, but more then enough to go out at least every day for two month or so. The main city on the island was ok for now. I certainly don’t feel the need to visit the island in summertime. In fact I would prefer a summer sleep in a remote cave somewhere at the end of the world, but that’s me.

What i noticed? Lots of Porsches, there’s a unique protected sea-area for porpoises, the sea ​​dikes have already been built according to the latest standards, also lots of germans and again I couldn’t find a ‘Currywurstbude’.

I think Sylt was ok, for now.

FÖHR – MISSION FAILED

There’s not much to tell about. It’s a very nice little island, perfect for a bike tour. And that’s what I did. If you go all around it’s about 48km, flat, hardly any dunes, but with good cycle paths and roads. It’s Germany, so it is organized, clean and …., well did I mention it is German? I enjoyed my ride, forgot of course that after 25km my knee stops cooperating. Then I had to stop anyway because of a flat tyre, which saved my enthusiasm for a couple of kilometers. After that I focussed on the first ‘Currywurstbude’ for some new energy and vitamins. I passed one earlier on but by the time I found another one in the little town of Wijk it was also time to board. And you should never rush eating a ‘Currywurst’, everybody knows that.

Even now this important part of todays mission failed, the isle of Föhr was certainly worth the visit.