We had done many things so far on our journey, but one thing was still missing: beachside and swimming - so we aimed now purposely for the coast. Although the drive was long, landing us just past 6:00 pm at an apartment-hotel within a stone's throw of the shore, hours of roasting away in the car made us quick to jump into our bathing suits and race out the door.

The North Sea was a brilliant blue, the sand just the right toe crumbling texture, and the beach now near empty - although its stretch of back to back cabanas suggested a couple of hours earlier it would likely have been a different story. We joined the few remaining frolickers in the shallow waters, quickly adjusting to that first icy sensation and frolicked along accordingly.

We spent the rest of the evening on our private balcony watching the swallows swirl overhead and enjoying the various birdsong as the sun set over the horizon.

If only….we could have had….one more day. But another long drive awaited towards Denmark.