THE GREATEST HIGHLANDERS WIN AND HOLWERD AND COEVORDEN

Our van had been sitting without electricity for now over 3 weeks and we discovered that the batteries for the van had run out so we needed to head off to a campsite where we could recharge the batteries and get 3 weeks of washing done plus move closer to Scandinavia.

Before heading out on Saturday the 4^th July though, there was a particular game we had to try to watch online – the final of the super 15 rugby which happened to be between Highlanders and Hurricanes – in effect South Island vs North Island – Vicki vs Scot (game of the decade really).  We couldn’t find anywhere to watch it and couldn’t find anyone on line live streaming it, so we had to settle for 2-3 minute updates which was nerve wracking especially since the Highlanders were winning all the way.  HIGHLANDERS then won – yay to my team, but very disappointed we hadn’t been able to watch what would have been a spectacular and very close game.

It was a very hot day again – mid thirties and we headed off to Holwerd, which is close to where the ferries leave to go over to Amerland – a large 25km long island sanctuary that a lot of people go over to as they have beaches where you can swim.  We arrived at the campsite and parked the van.  Then we had to start it again and shift it on to the ramps to level it up but when we turned the van off, the fan in the engine kept going.  We figured it was so hot that it just needed to stay on to cool the van down.  We headed off into the little village to get a baguette for lunch, but on returning to the van the fan was still going.  Eventually Scot had to disconnect the battery to stop it as it would have just continued to run.

We stopped here for two nights and it rained on the day we were there or else we may have taken the ferry across to the islands, but it was stormy with thunder and lightning all day.  We did bike out to the ferry just to check it out later in the day but we got caught in a rain squall coming back and got soaked.  We did manage to get 4 loads of washing done whilst there and dried plus charged the van back up, but when we went to leave on the Monday the van wouldn’t start.  Crap!  In a very small village with nothing close by, what bad luck.  Then we found there was a small mechanic shop in the heart of the village, so we engaged him to come and jump start us.  We had also had a problem where one lot of our van lights were blowing a fuse everytime the fuse was replaced.  So after the van started we drove to Groningen where we had found a campervan repair shop who should be able to check the lights for us.  We also figured if the van wouldn’t start there again, then we would have someone who could have a look at the battery and at least get us started again.  We have learnt though, that if you phone ahead, a lot of these places will plead too busy to help you and will say to go elsewhere, so we now just lob up and hope they can help within a day or two of seeing them.  The place in Groningen were unable to help but phoned a place in Coevorden who said they could help us the next morning.  Coevorden was travelling the wrong way – back down south east, but we wanted to get the lights fixed, so off we went.  We found a lovely little camping ground about 8km east of Coevorden where we are staying.

The camping place was indeed able to help fix the lights which ended up taking no time at all and at little cost which was fortunate (mostly because we pointed out which light we thought it was) as we had worried that wiring issues tend to be very difficult to find and very costly like our very expensive reverse lighting wiring that we had fixed in Westkapelle. They also checked our battery which was ok.

Later this morning we received the very sad news that my mother had just passed away, so currently we are staying put just outside of Coevorden until the funeral  which is on Monday 13 July so we know we can get good wifi to be able to watch it via live streaming.

Amongst the very sad circumstances there have been some positives for us.  Staying where we are has meant these people have leant us a ladder (which no one would do so far due to legal liabilities) so Scot can clean and de-mould the roof of the van which has never been done and we will be putting a wax coat so that water will just run off.  He also was able to use the ladder to silicone up another couple of areas that required it.

We will also ride across the border into Germany on one of the days and go down to Coevorden for the Haven boats and carnival that is on at the same time.  Even though we would prefer to be heading north, due to the circumstances, at least we can do some exploring around the local area.

Coevorden is the sister city of Vancouver, as in the past, Coevorden pioneers travelled to North America and founded the area of Vancouver.