Took Stena Line ferry from Gothenburg in Sweden to Freidrichshaven in Denmark. The 3 hour crossing for £55 was fine. They even had a dog lounge! When I showed my surprise they said that in Scandinavia dogs have rights too. So I took Sacha into this lounge but actually she felt uncomfortable as a couple of the dogs were trying to get to her. I remember the feeling! I took her back to her bed in the van where I know she will just sleep until there is some action.
It was nearly 10pm when we landed. I had telephoned Bunken Strand campsite and they said that it was no problem arriving late as they lived on the premises. The 30 kms drive was unpleasant because it was dark and raining.
It was a lovely site. The shower block even had underfloor heating. Sach enjoyed running up and down the dunes. Consequently I stayed 3 days. I needed to relax and read and enjoyed Victoria Hislop's book 'The Return'. Although it is melancholic and sad.
The weather was very changeable - thunderstorms and sunshine.
On leaving I visited the pleasant town of Skagen. Near the harbour away from the main tourist area, I found delightful fish shop and I bought a pancake stuffed with a great chunk of salmon and spinach. Also some fish cakes. All delicious.
Then went on to the tip of Grenen where the two seas meet. This is also the northernmost point of Europe. There was a huge concrete old bunker that someone had written on 'Zimmer frei' meaning ' room available'. My next backpackers hostel? See photo.
Obviously a popular spot but not too crowded.
I continued on to Lokken which I had chosen randomly on the map. What a find. Firstly I managed a shop at Aldi and then found that you can drive right along the big flat beach. Further along there was a picnic table. Perfect for all the goodies I had just bought and my flask of coffee. Unfortunately it was windy and the sand got into everything. Still it was good.
I also went onto Rabjerg Mile which is a magnificent 1000 metre long and 1000 metre wide pile of sand 40 metres high. This was formed in the 16th century. This migrating dune travels 20 metres a year. There was a bunch of school kids having a whale of a time rolling down a particularly steep section. Needless to say Sacha was in her element.
Because Denmark doesn't allow any wild camping they have a system called 'Quick stop' where you can stay cheaply overnight if you arrive after 8pm and leave early the next day. I stopped at a campsite advertising this and no one was on duty. In the morning they wanted to charge me more than I would pay with my Acsi card normally. I needed to point this out and his response was that they are going to put up the Acsi prices next year anyway. When I looked on the website for reviews - there weren't any at all.
Went to buy diesel and my card was rejected again. Nearby another machine gobbled up euros and that worked. Thank goodness the people are helpful as the writing is only in Danish and I would never be able to work it out.
I also managed to drive north instead of south for 10kms before I realised. Not that I am saying it was featureless maybe I just miss the slight nuances.
Now in a campsite near Tonder not far from Germany. I have never heard so much birdsong.
I have a streaming cold! I never get colds so I don't what has changed. Maybe it is an allergy or the consequence of having been in a smokey atmosphere.