Krusa to Lauwersoog.

Sunday 30th July.

282miles.....454km.

Krusa is not the cheapest of campsites but the facilities are good and it has a good park that the boys love. Logan has stated that it is his favourite campsite as both times he has been there he has made friends, that is just Logan down to a tee. He is a people person, always wants to be outside and even more so if there is someone to play with. Callum has also definitely enjoyed other kids company too, they can both make friends wherever they go. 

So, we were not away early this morning, as soon as breakfast was finished they were out in the park playing on the zip slides and climbing frame and waiting on the big inflatables to be blown up for some bouncing action. They had also befriended a boy from the Czech Republic called Oliver, he had a really fast remote controlled car and the boys had some fun playing with that also until a pin or clip coming adrift put end to play with the car. His dad did not have the spare part with him to fix it.

We grabbed a "speed shower" as they are charged in 3 minute blocks and we got Bessie ready for the road. This all takes a wee while as everything needs to be tidied to the correct place, water needs filled and the loo needs emptied. Joyce is the tidier mostly and I am the loo emptier amd water filler🤪.

At 11:30 we left Krusa camping,  filled up with diesel and went to the nearby shop for supplies. So it was midday before we properly hit the road south through Denmark. Upon checking Miss Sat Nav we figure there was at least a 30 minute hold up at Hamburg and we were keen to avoid that, there's nothing worse than sitting in traffic wondering how long your gonna be delayed, so as in 2019 we made the executive decision to take the ferry across the Elbe from Gluckstadt to Wischhafen. So, we were soon off the boring E45 motorway and onto much nicer roads through villages and towns down to Gluckstadt. It was about a 2 hour drive and went without hitch. 

I had feared that the queue for this ferry would be bad with lots of other people might be having the same idea but in fact it was not bad at all. In total we waited for about an hour to get on the ferry but that was perfect as we needed a stop for (late) lunch anyway, so lunch was prepared and eaten as we inched our way towards the ferry. It is actually a really interesting place if you are at all interested in birds, the were various types of geese which I have never seen before and also a lot of Avocet which I had also never seen. It would be a good place to spend the night as parking appears to be allowed and bird spotting/photography could be very good. Hopefully I have some decent shots of the different species.

Soon enough we were on the ferry, the crossing takes a good 20 minutes if not a little more, its a busy stretch of water. At least 3 ferry's were running, it's had to keep a track of them and other boats were also plying their trade in the estuary. It cost is 29 euros for the crossing....2 adults, 2 kids and the van. This is the second time we have used this route and I would not hesitate to again the next time we are here. 

After the ferry its more of smaller roads and towns but there's no delays and the route west towards Gronnigen is considerably shorter than going down through Hamburg...so the ferry cost balances a bit with the saving on fuel. Bessie is also better on rural roads than motorways, the slightly lower speeds see a better fuel consumption figure....every little helps. She has given us a consistent average of 31mpg or 7.6l/100km for the whole trip so far. We do not travel fast, but we have covered a big distance. Motorway travel is her worst enemy, she only has 100bhp and although she can easily sit at 70mph the fuel economy is seriously affected at that speed, especially if the wind is not favourable, so we generally sit at about 60mph/100kmh and that is a happy speed. I have really enjoyed the driving.  She can go faster but there is simply no need.

We remembered the name of 2019's last camp spot, it was a tiny and lovely little motorhome parking area near Ems in Holland and we considered going there, it leaves around a 2 hour drive to Rotterdam and was very easy last time round. But we also wanted to revisit Lauwersoog where we spent our first ever night on the continent in the van and that is where we elected for. The site was busy but the campsite owner is very chilled and found us a nice space. We now have a 3 hour drive tomorrow and around an extra 100km but that should be no problem at all. It will also allow us to travel around the Ijsselmeer lake via the man made causeway. Its 30km long and I don't think the boys remember it from 2019. 

I took the boys for a wander to let off a bit of steam after the drive while Joyce made dinner. After that Logan was victorious at the dominoes and everyone is tucked up in bed ready for our last day, beading towards Rotterdam. 

Me....I am already planning 2024😁😁

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