Route map

4,000 miles round Europe. 38 days, and one broken arm later.

Last gasp

Final drive along the coast through archetypal Dutch scenery. Makkum, Workum, Hindeloopen and Sneek. Boats and water everywhere.

The satnav gave us a nasty final moment. With time running out to get to the Amsterdam ferry, she left us at a dead end in the middle of an industrial area, on the wrong side of the waterway. Once again Googlemaps on the iPhone sorted us out, but not without a few more grey hairs.

Ferry overnight to Newcastle, then across to Cairnryan for the last leg home. Somewhat sorry to finish the trip.

Peaceful day in Harlingen

After the long drive yesterday it seemed a good idea to give the patient patient a rest, so we stayed put. Plenty to supervise, and a pretty town to stroll round. Our hotel is the white building where the waterways meet. Perfect.

Change of scene

Reunited with beloved SL, the open road beckoned. Don't you just love these older cars. Having surprised me with a differential failing, it teased us today. Temperatures were in early 30s to start, and reached 38. To keep Maire cool we put the roof up, and then the aircon decided to have a break. Roof down again, and gentle breezes (well, 130 kph gentle) and all was well.

Made it from deepest Middle Germany to the Netherlands coast - a real change of scene. Watched yachts coming in, through the lifting bridge, and surveyed Harlingen (briefly).

Thunderstorms and rain now just to complete the change of scene.

More repairs

Having tested the German system for the repair of 'older' cars, we had a busy day testing the system for human repairs. (Decided not to repeat that bit about 'older'). Maire tripped and fell, and unfortunately broke an arm. Now strapped up with a fiendish sling that will keep her in order.

Eisenach was bright and sunny. As if someone flicked a switch the street cafes came to life and the square was buzzing.

Who knew that Eisenach was once important in the motor industry? BMW might just have been EMW. We might have been talking about yer man and his Eemer. Also home of the Wartburg - now alas defunct.

Carry on regardless

Really enjoyable time in Goslar, in Wernigerode, and generally round the Harz.
Suspect the Michelin a Green guide is prone to superlatives, having had the
'Most important castle in Germany', 'the biggest wood church', 'the finest half-timbered building in Germany', 'the most admired building' (no 74 in photo).

Spare parts for the sick car did not arrive in Eisenach while we were off elsewhere. The race against time is on. Plans B, C, and D looking more and more likely, with various permutations of hire cars, trains, foot passenger on ferry, flying back for car later, all under consideration.

Harz National Park

Hire car trip north through the Harz park to Goslar. Hire car seats not the same as beloved SL seats!

However Goslar well worth the trip. Old half-timbered houses and slate frontages with great square for sitting watching.

Martin Luther

Sad but efficient day today. Phone call to the Mercedes service garage at 07:08 resulted in "Can you be here in 15 minutes?" By 08:00 the car had been tested and diagnosed. It was the differential. By 09:00 they had located the necessary part, printed the contract, and I had signed up for the work to be done. So efficient you almost forget that it is the price of a small car.

RAC organised a replacement car delivered to the hotel. Mondeo Man! Full of gadgets. It even parallel parks automatically.

But back to more historical things, we visited Wartburg Castle, ("the most important castle in Germany") where Martin Luther was kept safe while he worked on his translation of the New Testament and avoided the Church hierarchy who had unpleasant plans for him.

Bach's birthplace features strongly in Eisenach, and the Church where he was baptised was on today's dripping itinerary.

Photos are of Georgenkirche, corridor in the castle, and Luther's study.