Berlin-The Wasp Situation

We arrive in Berlin and settle in for a few days on a really nice stellplatz in Oranienburg next to a small marina

We break out 'Fozz' and make the ride in to Berlin amid darkening skies

It begins to rain but our spirits are high after parking the bike right outside the Reichstag and walking along the bank of the Spree river

The short walk to the Friedrichstrasse station, over the walkway, and soon ensconced on the terrace of one of our favourite bars…

Within minutes of sitting down Nina is dive-bombed by an outraged wasp for some bizarre reason and is stung just below her left eye

The drinks have arrived and we await the outcome of the event as there's no use flapping just yet…is there?

Very soon the venom takes effect and we are rushing to the chemists then the local doctors as her eye begins to close

The doctor gives her two cortisone injections and assures us it will go down straight away

So mild panic sets in as we are escorted to an awaiting taxi and despatched to the local hospital as its now spread to the other side

Poor Nina..

Not only is she referred to as 'Old Mother Russia' by the doctor but has to sit it out for four hours in A & E after having another four injections of who knows what in to her other arm

On a lighter note I am sent to reclaim 'Fozz' from the grips of possible traffic wardens at the Reichtag which means a jaunt on the busy U Bahn for a few stops

The walk back to the bike means I can take a few shots of the Spree in the evening sunset

After having sat it out at the Krankenhaus till gone 11pm we are quite 'Hank Marvin' so we grab a pizza and some sherberts on our long ride home

What a day!

Ever nearer to Berlin

Having spent a restful night in Coesfeld we decamp and relocate to this…

and possibly the longest 24hrs of our life..

Next door and not looking too sexy, hence no photo, is our night halt outside the motorhome dealers with which we prearranged some new wiring work on the van

I know it never ends…

Basically the van was wired with seven pin trailer connections but the world has moved on to 13 pin Euro standard. This jargon means the next day until 3pm was spent waiting for the guys to wire me up so the trailer's fog, reversing lamp, interior light and two new side light additions can all work as they should. Not cheap but it makes sense and should give the numpties behind me some idea whats happening when the reversing light comes on!

Salzhemmendorf next and that all important Therme where we unwind for two days

Time to do some chores and a nice campsite a few kms away at Bodenwerder sees us on the set of Aladdin in the wishy washy guise

All work and no play makes Wifey unhappy so she's whisked up to the campsite restaurant to await yet more Schnitzel und Pommes

With a nice flat cycle path following the river Weser timed breaks appear to have been factored in to the itinerary...

Whats new Pussycat….

Sheep stop 'Le Tour'

Dig dem wheels….

The ferry over to the pub ran by a very nice man who didn't mind me telling him he was making too much money. Half an hour later and on our return he insisted on signing photographed tickets as mementos 

And they say Germans don't have a sense of humour….

Latest ensemble back at the van creates..

Thuringian Bratwurst complete with Spätzle und gemischter salad

Eastwards towards Berlin down the Autobahn and we pick out Helmstedt as a good stopover

We are just out of town so 'Fozz' takes us in to the centre

We have arrived amidst the start of 'Kulturnacht', an evening of town centre music, drinking and merriment so stay a while to soak up the atmos

Bellies are soon a rumblin' and I'm caught in the act again….

Next day is another day closer still….

German Penetration

Next day we trundle a little further and find Altenberge near Münster

An evening walk in to town is in order to stretch the legs and we are soon dining out...

Starters..

Main course..

Dessert

Next day and its brewery visit time as it was closed on the monday (against its website info) 

Klutes Brauhaus near Havixbeck has seen our souls before on a previous trip so it would be rude to pass by without a visit

Its thick, its cloudy and its tastes just wundebar!

Can you see this Pat?

At mid way point in the afternoon we had the place to ourselves..

Strangely en route to Die Toiletten

A belly full of ale and some absorbent fayre means we have to walk it off. This is one of the local residents' houses

Because we are having a jolly time its apt then that the fridge catch breaks and leads us to a local Wohnmobile dealer and fridge fixer.

Here we are given the sales speech on how this Chinese off roader would change our lives…

We left with a fixed fridge…..

Moving on to Seppenrade and a quiet night on a stellplatz next to the rose garden is preceded by a long ride along the Dortmund–Ems Canal which, although impressive in its engineering might, is quite un-photogenic 

Beers to follow an active day..

On to Münster on 'Fozz' for the Girlie to get some retail therapy

Step away from the window..

And you can forget that too!

Not a warm day but far warmer than our last autumn visit

Right, enough shopping, lets visit this famous emporium

My kind of menu

Because we can, and its a target-rich environment here in Westphalia, we 'accidentally' discover a previous haunt of ours. Oh its another Brauhaus, well fancy that….

Just in case we lose our bearings

This random post is finished off with some pretties for the Girlies...