Balve & Medebach

In to Germany then and our first port of call is Balve

Not been here before so expectations were mixed tbh

Having parked up at a stellplatz next to the swimming baths we wandered in to town on what was my actual birthday thinking we could grab a couple of celebratory beers

After numerous coffee/cake shops were spotted and lots of walking later we knew for sure this town just doesn't do bars on their own

Not to worry coffee and cake it is then...

Next day we ascend the hill at the back of the site and begin our return to walking regularly with a good day's excursion through the hill to Sorpesee

Sheer distance to the dam using just our legs meant once we reached the actual reservoir we'd done enough for one day

Perhaps on another occasion we'll come on the bike and walk the shoreline to reach it

'Dambuster' enthusiasts will of course know this location as being bombed by 617 Squadron but alas with little detrimental effect 

The history of Operation Chastise makes good but grim reading as forty per cent of our guys perished in the raid (sadly along with a whole load of civilians and POWs)

Allied morale took a huge boost but the Germans were 'business as usual' after a fortnight

After a few days we move on to a favourite town of ours, Medebach

Beers are downed and a meal at 'The Piccolo' Pizzeria run by a friendly German couple topped off a great first day

While we are here we go walking every day as there's so many routes to take locally and the scenery is just beautiful

The weather is great and we visit the local village of Medelon and its coffee stop via the hills on two occasions

Romantic eh?

Atop a hunting gallery

She didn't know it but it led eventually the wrong way adding a good half hour to the walk

Dated memorials are tucked away all over the woods here

We are informed that some parts for the RV have arrived back in the UK and are about to be shipped out to us over here

Fritzlar seems a good delivery address so thats where we are off to next...

The Bus departs..

We leave The Dell and make our way down to the port of Harwich and park up overnight as usual next to the waiting area

After a wander to the local Morrisons to stock up on tea and other 'can't do withouts' we manage a good night's kip before loading next morning for the sailing at 9.00am

In with the lorries and other Mohos

Very few people on this Saturday ferry to the Hook of Holland so we are tucked away in a corner with loads of space

Our first night back at our usual Vianen stopover

Some local signs we spotted later regarding the erection of fair equipment the next day had us relocating to the other aire here as we didn't want to get blocked in all weekend

Vianen church and some beautiful windows

Next day we trundle off to The Old Inn at Ottersum just a few kms from the German border and occupy a large corner of the car park

Technically my Birthday tomorrow but this place has all the right credentials to bring the celebrations forward one day

The best fillet steak I've had for years...

Rounded off with a few of the 33 Belgian/Dutch beers available from the BeerKarte

Nobbies Reunion

Its been quite a while since 'The Nobbies' got together

Born in Portugal and affectionately used to describe the group of Russ, Lynne and Us, the term Nobbies springs from many impromptu tekky talks that Russ & I have had over the past few years

From Solar to toilets, waste gate valves to the quality of Alentejo wine, you name it we've disected it!

The good guys at South Lytchett Touring Park rearranged our weekend so that we could spend a couple of days down in Poole so off we trotted

No photos here but drama awaited of course!

Having assured us that they could take RVs easily I was agast as I parked up outside their entrance gate..

You're kidding me right?

"No worries, where's the tradesmens' entrance?"

"This is it Sir"

Amusingly we are now blocking the short approach drive to the site off the busy Poole road and a guy with an Autotrail MH towing a car insists he's gonna bend it around the front of our van and wind it through the opening at an acute angle

I watched as he narrowly missed ripping off the back of his van by just the one inch!

How I wanted the Prat to come unstuck!

Out comes one of the wardens and is so relaxed its unreal

I assure him there's no way we'd fit through there chum...

He assures me they've had several RVs through it and after he's doctored my mirrors all will be well

I'm a little agitated at this stage as he sets about altering the offside mirror with some allen keys he's produced. Didn't I just say its a non starter mate?

Oh well, go with the flow...

(not me I know)

A few minutes later and I am being cautiously led through the opening after the guy has scaled the ironwork to declare I have a foot spare up top

Mirrors are readjusted once they clear the gate and I see I have a mere 2-3 inches clearance either side of the RV and I'm watching the overhanging canopy metalwork the whole time

Phew! We get through and plonk ourselves on the big pitch next to the shower block and are instantly the source of much attention

This is something we are going to have to get used too I'm afraid 

After many years touring we prefer to park up out the way and keep a low profile but there's no where to hide now I guess and I will have to work out a cheerful patter when confronted with the now familiar obvious questions

Russ & Lynne are called and they soon turn up to get the party started and Nobby gets his guided tour

Next day they return in 'Bertie" and take us out for the day which is bright, sunny and very cheerful

A stop off at Corfe Castle sees us buying pasties and strolling around the tiny village

'The Nobbies'

The local train station on the Isle of Purbeck is a great find

Straight out of a Sherlock Holmes movie this station at Corfe had been lovingly preserved and is in full use today

We are blessed with the arrival of the steam train that runs this route several times a day

A lunchtime drink (or two) are spent at The Square and Compass at Worth Matravers and we take in the stunning views of the Dorset coastline

We have our walking shoes on and off we trot over the downs to the shore

The old Winspit quarry right at the sea's edge has us all amazed at how the guys extracted the stone from here years ago and didn't get buried in the process

Only the guys would dare enter the caves

Awesome!

Girls!

Makes you think doesn't it?

A lot safer than hanging around inside me thinks

What a great day!

After another watering stop looking out to the estuary at Poole we are driven through the delights of Poole Marina after having taken the chain link ferry at Sandbanks

Russ reckons this is the fourth most expensive real estate area on planet Earth and we can believe that easily as there are many vast mansions that look too expensive for footballers tbh....

A hearty meal at the nearby Saint Peters Finger hostelry with complimentary wine courtesy of the touring park rounds off a lovely day spent with very good friends

As its not far from the RV garage in Somerset we make a note to visit this area again in future years as its just beautiful and there's lots to see