Overland to visit The Great Escape Museum in Poland

[XCovlov70]

Overland to visit Stalag Luft III.

Drzonkow to Bohm.

Nearly made it this morning to be up with the sunrise, but we were on the road by 08:00 for the trip into Germany via one of the lesser used crossing points, while first we had to get off the campsite which was easier by going back down the sandy road we came up when we arrived! ….




As we then make our way to the barrier and the exit we see the reminder of the horse activity in this sports complex….


Then it’s out the gate and onto initially the narrow lanes through the little villages….


As we then get to some decent tarmac road….




Then into a different region of Poland….


Former ‘Fire Station’ now converted into a Automobile Tyre Outlet….












Last stop to fill up with fuel as this was very close to the Border while all the ‘Garden Ornaments’ were looking for a new owner….


A little bit further and we are in….


Then just a short drive further on and we come to these ‘Cooling Towers’ which were going full blast, but it was not a Power Station it was a production facility with something to do with Lignate?….


The it was cross country through the small villages….






Just about to cross a railway line while these wagons are lined up to offload or take on that stuff you spread on your body when you have Sunburn and it dries white so you look like a ‘Ghost’ and they call it Calamine Lotion!….










As we then get to our next overnight place which is a ‘Stellplatze’ that takes caravans….


With this 40+ Year old Fendt Tractor that is still working and is annually used to cut the grass with the ‘Cutter’ that is standing upright on the left of the picture and is driven by 2 ‘belts’ from the front of the engine!....


Time for the sun to go down, after which the black clouds came over and it hammered for around 3 hours and continued as we then packed up to move out….




While this nice horse was out in it all night long!....


Back on the road tomorrow further west into Germany and the weather forecast is not good.…

[XCovlov70]

Overland to visit Stalag Luft III.

Bohm to Eisenach.

As the ‘Stellplatze’ was having some re-modelling carried out the construction team were on site at 07:00 this morning even though the rain was coming down, so after breakfast we were able to depart earlier as the compound gates were open, while the rain continued to pour down! ….




WOW! A dry bit as we went under this large viaduct….


Then the heavens started the next downpour as the speed of all the traffic came down rather rapidly as the spray was very intense…




A ‘Solar Panel Wall’ but not much good in this lot!....


Then it was off the ‘Autobahn’ as we headed for ‘Jena Camping’….


Passing the former ‘East Germany’ blocks of flats….


While the ‘Trams’ still roll along….








As we travelled along you always wonder when going along the tram lines if there is one behind you!...


With the ‘Jenzig’ mountain up in front is wasn’t much further to the campsite and when we got there the place was virtually full, while Reception did not open until 16:00hrs….




So it was a case of drive around the road inside the camp looking for a pitch and with none available we headed for the entrance and off to Erfurt after looking up another campsite….








Got back to the Autobahn for a few miles then we came off again, made another ‘pit stop’ for fuel and then on to ‘Erfurt Am See’





As we got to ‘Erfurt Am See’ I went to check in and found that it was going to cost us a startling €28/Night and we are not into ‘High Season’ yet! The lady on reception was not very happy when I told her that the price was too expensive and I was not staying so we left. Our average so far is around €13/Night….




Still we did see this wonderful field of Poppies as we came away….


Then it was back to the Autobahn and on to Eisenach and Wohnmobile Waldheim which is another ‘Stellplatze’ with full facilities but no Internet access, while passing these two Castles as we roll along the Autobahn....




With rather ‘full’ looking clouds which was about to drop another lot of rain down!….


While it was nice to see some ‘Flower Power’ in this old VW Camper….


Sunset was not much tonight but the sunbeams pouring through the holes in the clouds made a nice view….




Let’s see what happens tomorrow!.…

[ssicarman]

Glad that you were able to get the tin tent out of the wall.

I am beginning to think that you should start renting yourselves out as rain makers. You seem to attract it.

[XCovlov70]

Glad that you were able to get the tin tent out of the wall.

I am beginning to think that you should start renting yourselves out as rain makers. You seem to attract it.

You are not the only one who was glad to see the 'TinTent' back with us, as we forgot to pack the Canvas Tent as a 'backup'!!!

I did look on 'Ebay' to see if there were any rainmaking instructions 'on offer' but no luck and then I thought 'well really we don't need them as we are doing very well as it is with the very inaccurate forecasts from the 'Professionals'!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to visit Stalag Luft III.

Eisenach to Eisebachtal.

Up with the larks this morning and on the road by 07:30 and with it being Sunday the traffic was expected to be a lot lighter as only certain heavy goods vehicles are allowed to travel in Europe on Sundays!….

Our place in Eisenach for the last 2 nights….


While this morning the place was nearly full, but we were the only ‘TinTent’….


Clear roads, how nice!….


A derelict castle alongside the Autobahn.…


As we come to the exit for….!


While a bit further along the Autobahn is this very LARGE man made hill of what looked like crushed limestone....


WOW! Roadworks that were clear….


Passing this old monastery….


With the village on the other side….


Hmmm! Looks like someone is going on Holiday!


As we come off the Autobahn and enter the small villages at nearly the end of the journey for today….






132 miles and we come to the campsite entrance, which is also an ACSI listed campsite, (GPS: 51.002084 N 10.327485 E)

We previously came here 2 years ago when my good lady’s Mum passed away suddenly making a fast return home from Croatia. When I explained to the campsite owner our reason he said to me, “In that case you are my guests” and would take no payment for our night’s stay….

I can only truly confirm as other people have said previously, that he is a real gentleman while his campsite is a very interesting place to stay at….

Eurotunnel on the other hand showed no compassion and still required quite an amount of money to change our travel date for just a few keystrokes on a computer screen….






The play area for children….


One area of the campsite with the pitches either side of the road….


Off for a look around one of the close by villages tomorrow if the weather is kind!....

[XCovlov70]

Overland to visit Stalag Luft III.

A day around the area here at Eisenbachtal Campsite.

First job was some laundry as we still have some time before we are back in the UK, while after that it was over to a ‘stand-alone’ garage for a fill up of Diesel as here in Germany they are considerably cheaper when you are taking onboard 30litres, or more when compared to the ‘well known’ outlets!….

Then after that it was over to the town of Montabaur for a look around, and having arrived and found an ‘out of town’ parking place we hoofed it back down the road to the town centre! ….


Coming firstly to this church which is known as St. Peter in Kettern….


As we then walk down Kirchstrasse with these old timbered buildings on each side of the road….


Then we see this very LARGE Shoe which is called “Hände” while a bit later we find out that there are 27 of them around the town all with different designs and ‘names’ as a reminder of Montabaur’s shoe making tradition.…


With this rather ornate street nameplate pointing the way to….


As we then move further down Kirchstrasse & into Burgstrasse....




As we then come to another of the large shoes named “Zitate” outside a Men’s Hairdressers….


While in the window of the Hairdresser’s is this old bicycle with two flat tyres and what looks like a good tyre pump, while on the rear of the bike just under the saddle is a 4 digit number and the Swiss Flag, sadly the person in the shop did not know the history behind the bike….








As we come into one of the Great Market Square….


Then turning left we head down to the Tourist Information Buro and pass this next large shoe, named “Quartier Süd”….


As we then get into ‘Konrad – Adenauer Square, and the metal sculpture of the Cobbler’….


While this sculpture had no name or plaque….


This sculpture mounted up on the wall was called “Cobblers Lad” and is doing what it would seem according to the Tourist Information Office, many citizens would like to do: on every quarter hour he taps his forehead in the direction of the Town Hall, the German way of suggesting that they are not quite right in the head!

I think we need more statues like this one in a lot of places looking in the same sort of direction….


While here we have a couple of daydreaming children….


As we then came back out and into Kirchstrasse lookin back up towards the church....


As we then move further down we come to the ornate Town Hall….


Then inside the Town Hall we see a ‘Town Twinning’ certificate with a UK town of Brackley in Northamptonshire….


While the different flags represent part of the history of the town as it was occupied by both the French & USA when the Allies took over the administration of the former territory of Nassau….


While tucked under the Town Hall stairs is this 1894 Eisenbachtal Fire Engine….


Back outside and more or less opposite is this water fountain which stands on the site of an old well, while on the central pillar the symbols of the 13 town gates and 13 mediaeval guilds are depicted, also an outline history of the town is to be found there….


Then looking to the right of the Town Hall are these rather nice buildings….


With this view looking across the ‘Großer Markt (Great Market Square)….


As we turn through 180 Degrees and head off up the hill towards the Castle….


With this shoe called “Stadtansichten” at the start of the route….


A short way up the hill and we come to this place and these two houses that identify an area that is called ‘Rebstock’ (The Grapevine) as it seems there is some evidence that there was a vineyard at the foot of Humbach Castle….


While up to the time of the Nazi persecution there were a great nuber of Jewish residents living in this part of the town….








Then as we get to this house there is a short poem on the front of the house, which basically reads as if the ‘House’ is talking, and it is saying that it had been there for a long time but was burnt down twice, once in 1491 and again in 1534, but having been restored it hopes to be around for a lot longer now!....


While this is the house….


The we get to the Castle entrance which for the last 5 years has been occupied by a company who are using it as their business headquarters and a hotel….




Then we see this man running around the roof with what looks like a Lawn Mower!....


So I went up and around the back to find him cutting the grass on the roof!!....


Then coming back down but still inside the outer gate we make our way up the inner roadway….


As we pass what looks like a covered swimming pool….


It turns out to be a ‘Restaurant in a Glasshouse’ as we look through the entrance doors!....


While through the archway and inside the courtyard are the Hotel Rooms….


With this old water well, that has been closed off and planted with flowers. Don’t dare to think how long the flowers roots must be to reach down to the water in the well!




Rainwater drain pipe….


As we move back then to the outer entrance gate….


Just outside we get this view over the old town centre….


The it was back down the hill to find somewhere for a bit of lunch….


As the ‘Shoe’ theme was presented in this shortcake biscuit which came with my coffee and lunch….


While now the rainclouds have once again rolled over and stopped overhead as we get yet another downpour which from looking at the sky would seem to be here for some time to come this evening!....

Back on the road tomorrow as we leave Germany and head just over the border into Holland….

[XCovlov70]

Overland to visit Stalag Luft III.

Eisenbachtal to Vaals.

Up and away this morning by 08:00 as we have a run mainly on Autobahn to get through but this section on previous trips has always been fraught with long queues of traffic due to ongoing roadworks….

As we left the campsite to join the Autobahn we see this ‘Barbie’ coloured BMW in front….


Then on the Autobahn we pass that nice town of Montabaur….


Then on the opposite side of the Autobahn is the Castle with its ‘Kaiser Bill’s Hats’ ….


Further along this ‘Pit Head’ appears above the tree line.…




As the High Speed Railway Line runs parallel to the Autobahn we see two ‘ICE Trains’ as they pass each other going that fast we nearly missed them!!....


One of the bridges over the river Rhine as we circle Köln….


As this extremely LARGE load which we could not get all of it into the picture, is just about to come onto the Autobahn it was a case of drop down a couple of gears and accelerate hard as I didn’t fancy the idea of getting stuck behind it!….


Then after a continuously moving trip, even though we passed through sections that were being worked on. The traffic thinned out on the road from Köln towards Aachen and to possibly brighten it up a bit various small groups of trees had been planted each year at different points along this secton….




Not far now to our ‘Ausfahrt’ (Exit) for Aachen and then the Nederlands….


As we come off the Autobahn and get onto the road into the city we come behind this ‘Bendy Bus’ which surprisingly is in 3 sections as we have only ever seen a 2 section Bus….


Then we see it’s 25 Meters (over 75 Feet) long!….


Into Aachen….


Well not quite as we turn right towards ….


With the Border in 1000m….


Then we are travelling down the main road in Vaals while there was no visibility of the actual Nederland Border sign!….


Market day in the centre of town….


A very nice floral display on the traffic island....






As we then exit the town of Vaals but the campsite entrance is just ahead….


As we turn into the entrance road you are really hoping as it is quite narrow that there is no one coming out at the same time as I don’t think you would be able to pass each other!….


As we get checked in at reception which is only open from 09:00 till 12:00, if you come later you have to call their Mobile Phone number to get them to open up, we then spot this rather interesting and very old caravan….




More tomorrow as it just started raining again!....

[XCovlov70]

Overland to visit Stalag Luft III.

A day out in Aachen.

Set off this morning using the ‘Pedal Transport’ to ride into Aachen primarily to see the Aachener Dom.
It was virtually left alone during the World Wars, as it was used by the RAF as a location marker during their flights into Germany….

It wasn’t very long before the pedal pushing brought us to….


While just around the corner is Aachener Dom….


With this strange looking creature on one of the corners as we make our way around to the entrance ….


The model of the Dom and the recognition of it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.…


Then we see this sign about the cost of going inside the Dom which I think puts to shame some of the places in the UK whose ‘entrance fees’ are beyond comprehension….


As we then enter through the front doors....


Inside your breath is very nearly taken away with the stunning view….




The ceiling of the outer section….


The view looking up inside the domed roof….


Looking through to the altar….


The ceiling inside the domed roof….


The windows behind the altar….




















The organ just right of centre….


As we then come outside and around the corner we see the first of a number of ‘beggars’ in the city….


We then make our way to a large rectangular area between the Dom and the rear of the ‘Rathaus’ (Town Hall)….


Which is called the ‘Katschof’


While the back of the ‘Rathaus’ is at one end the ‘Palatinate’ was on the left side….




The front view of the ‘Rathaus’ (Town Hall)….


The view from the top of the ‘Rathaus’ steps




The brass ‘Bird Bath’….


Another water fountain with small brass figures on that could have their limbs ‘bent’ into different positions….




The young book reader….


A children’s play on sculptor….


We then spotted these large brass plates in the floor, while in certain places there were 3 as shown below….


Then a bit further away there was just 1 of them. The Tourist Information Office explained that if you follow them they will take you on a guided tour of the city….


As we then saw these brass figures around the pond of water….


With this view from the other side back to the Dom….


Then we spot what looks like a large ‘cage’….


While inside it is a different story….




Then we get down to the ‘Elisenbruhnen’ which is a Spa Water Outlet but not suitable for drinking, while it was that big it took two pictures to fit it in!....




As this young man was having a lot of fun trying to send the water into different shapes as it came up….


Strange little telescope, that didn’t work….


While outside a café was this statue of a girl and a large cake….


Time to get back on the bikes and head back to the campsite as we set off through this park with some nice floral displays….


Then on the small lake in the park we see this Heron and two Terrapins on a small pontoon in the centre of the lake….



Just to prove we were on the bikes and using the Cycleway….


Looks a bit like a Highland Cow….


While the Travelling Circus is now setting up….


With a stop at this stall to buy some fresh Asparagus….


If the weather holds up we will have a trip into Vaals tomorrow for a look around there….

[XCovlov70]

Overland to visit Stalag Luft III.

A trip into Vaals, and one heck of a Thunder & Lightning Storm that night!

First place to look for as we got into the town was ‘The Border Crossing’ which on the Dutch side was a bit difficult to find being partly covered by a tree and set back from the road….


While this is the street that is the ‘Border’ so presumably if you stand in the middle you are in ‘No Man’s Land’! ….


While the Germany sign is just on the other side of the Aachen – Maastricht main road, which is at 90 degrees to the Border road, that Border road stops at the front of a Supermarket!….


As this nice little garden welcomes you into Germany, but it’s on the left hand side of the road as you head into Germany while you drive along on the right hand side!! .…


Nice little floral displays as you walk back into Vaals….


As we then walk around part of the older area of the town we come to the....


Which is where metal items were made in years gone by….






Getting back to the main road we see this rather strange piece of ironwork bolted to the front of a shop….


The main road through Vaals….


Beef Tomatoes, but never seen them this shape before!….


Next was the main church in the town….






The old church clock mechanism….








This was the scene last night at 20:30 hrs when it should still have been daylight outside.
As the daylight disappeared a large flock of birds went flying across the campsite preceding this very ominous and very large black cloud as it moved in and covered the sky, I think those birds knew what was coming!


A couple of minutes later the Lightning erupted across the sky and while the storm had started, it lasted for over 2 hours as it passed through while I had never seen anything like it….


Surprisingly we had very little rain during the storm as I was stood outside for a good while trying to get some good pictures, while these are the best of the 204 pictures that the camera took!....
























Back on the road tomorrow but it is for a very short trip, while we hope that the weather at least lets us pack up with no rain in the morning!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to visit Stalag Luft III.

A very short trip from Vaals to our next stop in Colmont.

First thing we see on this short ride was a Railway Signal decorating a traffic island!....


As we then went under the bridge and into the small village with the narrow streets which seems to be a ‘feature’ of quite a bit of this country….




Strange sculptor in the middle of the traffic island and still cannot fathom out what it was!.…


Just glad it was quite early as if there had been vehicles parked on the left hand side, getting through could have been ‘tricky’!….


Same thought as we went down the right hand side of this church….


As we then after some ‘hill climbing’ which is a bit of a novelty in Holland came to the campsite entrance and reception for Camping Colmont (ACSI Campsite GPS: 50.85216 N 5.93445 E)….


After checking in and paying the required €50 ‘Deposit’ for the Security Barrier Key Fob, we passed the swimming pool and made our way to the pitch we had identified after a walk around….






Remember that Thunder & Lightning Storm that we had last night on the other campsite? Well it seems that it hit this place and left a considerable amount of damage after is passed through, as we found after getting set up and walking around the rest of the campsite!….






A large branch came off this tree and damaged the caravan & awning….


The tree itself was later cut down, as the loss of the branch had weakened the trunk, so the campsite owner was taking no further chances….


Seems like we were rather lucky staying in the other campsite as this storm went through….

Tomorrow if the weather is OK we are going to head into Maastricht and have a look around….