Day 10 29/6/19 Etten-Leur, Netherlands Cuxhaven, Germany.

Day 10 29/6/19 Etten-Leur, Netherlands Cuxhaven, Germany.

Artwork in our bedroom, you can decide who it is

Outside the BNB

About a 5 hour drive today to get to Maritta’s relatives in Germany. We decided to not take the direct route but added a half hour and drove up through Holland so we could cross the Dike built to tame the Zuider Zee.

We did take a minor detour when we went off the motorway to take a short break and discovered the only way back on again was to travel about 10Km through a large town and a number of small villages, was very pretty though, traveling beside a couple of canals.

Tree lined streets are a feature of Dutch villages

Most of the country is very flat as you would expect

Some of the intersections can be challenging

There are some very interesting bridges

Bicycles rule here

FLAT

 The dike spans from Den Oever in Wieringen to Zurich in Friesland and is 32Km long, 90M wide and rises 7.25M above sea level. It was proposed by Cornelius Lely in 1891. After a number of smaller dams where built, construction of the main dam began in 1927 and was completed by 1932. The dam is currently being upgraded and the new pumps being installed will be able to transfer 400-600M³/s, the equivalent of draining 12 Olympic size swimming pools in a minute.

Sluice gates on the Zuider zee dike

View from the walking bridge across the Dike, Ocean on the right, dam on the left, guessing about 5M in height between them

Local, they have the same instincts everywhere it seems although these aren't quite as aggressive as Aussie ones

Interesting foot bridge

Through one of the many tunnels

 From here we proceeded into Germany.

More wind turbines

Day 9 28/6/19 Netherlands

Day 9 28/6/19 Netherlands.

We went for a drive in a circle today to see some of the Netherlands, especially the coastal area’s. We did notice our GPS measuring 26M below sea level and this is clearly not correct as the lowest point is 7M below. Having said that, we did go somewhere near this point and probably spent most of the day at or below the sea and didn’t get wet once. (GPS measurement of elevation is really only a rough estimate anyway)

We travelled west via Arnemuiden, then north via Seroskerke and Roggenplatt, then east on the return trip via Bruinesse and Helwijk to Etten-Leur for the night (see map below). The route took us over a number of large waterways via bridges, tunnels and dykes.

Today's route

The overall terrain is very flat, as you would expect. The roads are very good although narrow if you get off the major ones, which we did a couple of times when we missed a turn. The GPS doesn’t always react quite as quickly as you expect so it can be easy to take the wrong road. Its also hard to judge where the off ramp may take you because they twist and turn in unusual directions sometimes.

Antique plane sculpture near Etton-Leur

Typical Dutch building

Obviously a windmill

Street flower arrangement

Parking area near Banjaard Strand

The beach at Baanyard Strand, north of Seroskerke, chairs and shelters can be hired and extensive boardwalks keep you out of the sand. 

Locals enjoying the sun

Transport for getting your hire "lounge" delivered

Interesting garden ornaments

Extensive sluice gates

Got a bit confusing as to where cars could go but we think it was OK to drive here although we did have to backtrack at one stage because a crane blocked the way, we didn't get arrested.

Interesting building with two towers

Not sure what they where up to, repairing the roof or getting it ready for thatch?

There are some very big tractors

This is a bridge, up at the moment and you drive around it, not sure why

Wind turbines are everywhere

The smallest room in the house is REALLY small.

Plane jet stream glow in the setting sun, (above and below)

Just an interesting shot from our courtyard