Holland To Portugal 2023

20th September For an overnight we chose Port en Bessin Huppain as the Aire there had water as we needed to fill up for a shower. The town itself is a working fishing port with many resterants. Although we only stayed one night, it is marked down as a future place to spend more time.

18th September. We walked into Arras to see the buildings that were destroyed in both world wars, rebuilt in the original style.

17th September One place I was keen to visit was the Wellington Caves in Arras, or to be more precise, under Arras. Arras was originaly built using the local stone mined from arround ans under the town, these excavations were later used as store rooms, but during the 1st world war they were used as accomodation for the troups. To extend and join up the mine workings New Zealand miners were brought in and so as not to be confusing, named the tunnels after towns in New Zealand as if a map of the country was laid over the ground. The main entrance being at the relative position of Wellington. The caves played a significant part in the Battle Of Arras in the WW1 and provided shelter for the local inhabitants in WW2.

16th September We were in no hurry to get to the Monastry, as it didn't open until 4pm, so I decided to head for the coast, a bit of a mistake, it wask heaving and no were to park. Tried to get back on the main road but the Satnav kept sending us to a blocked road. Navigating by the Sun I set off parallel to the coast and found Middlekerk with a large carpark for 3 Euros. Cycles off the back and of to the promenade, to be confronted with a large number of farm machinery and stalls and people, It was a local farmer's show. We struggled through the crowds and the sea front was all ours. At the far end we came across a very interesting art installation. A excavator and trailer manufactured form laser cut Corten steel, the details in the steel plate and the design was based on Gothic archetcture. Cycling back, the buildings on the front were obviously holiday flats, but just reminded me of battery hen cages.

16th September Visited the Trappist Monestary for just a try of their beers and ended up with a sharing platter for two and more beer, no problem, we stayed overnight in their carpark.

We stopped overnight at Beernem and cycled into Brugge. The aire is right on the cyclepath along the canal. Filled up with water, mains hookup, tanks and toilets emptied. The cycle into Brugge was 40 minutes but once again along the canal, flat and quiet apart from the odd canal boat. Brugge is beautyful, lovely old buildings along the canals. Very picturesque and also busy with tourists. We decided to have lunch out. Mussels and chips.

Thursday 14th September. Camping at the Aire at Schelderei, which is the closes we could find at areasonable price for Antwerp. Still a 40 minute cycle in, but along the canal on a very well maintained cyclepath. Beautifull and quiet until we approached Antwerp, but still good cycleways all the way into the centre, just allong busy main roads. The centre of Antrewp was picturesque, but very busy and industrialized as one can imagine for a major city.

From the Aire at Tholen we cycled to Fort Roovere and the "Moses Bridge" a sunken walkway through the moat of the old fort. Fort Roovere is a Vauban designed fort very similar to hundreds across Holland and Belgium. We also climbed up the Uitzichttoren Pompejus a modern lookout tower of steel and wood giving a marvelous view of the surronding countryside Before we left the fort we had to try the Dutch Apple pie and coffee.

We had a good trip across to Ijmuiden and travelled first to a Jumbo supermarket just outside Utrecht to get some shopping in. Since Brexshit, and the UK government not wanting to keep our food standards in line with the EU, we are not allowed to carry any animal products into the EU. BUT nobody checks in Ijmuiden. I don't know if that is the same at all EU entry points. We don't intend to spend much time in Holland this time, we have done a lot in the past. So Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal this time. Our first stopover is Tholen, at the harbour.

BAAFest was very good, a must for next year and handy for the Newcastle to Ijmuiden ferry. We travelled from Bellingham to Tynemouth and parked on the Spannish Battery Car Park and walk into the town centre for some bit for lunch. Eventually headed to the Ferry Terminal and straight onto the boat. Even though we booked early for the ferry we missed out on the cheap cabins and ended up with a double bed rather than the single bunks, hopefully we get a better night's sleep, the bunks are a little small.

BAAfest is nothing to do with sheep but is the Bellingham All Acoustic folk festival. Our last planned festival for this year. Then Monday ferry to Ijmuiden in Holland.