Next stop Sweden

Currently updating ourselves courtesy of McDonalds wifi in the suburbs of Copenhagen before setting off across the Oresund to Sweden. Here's an updte on our trip which I prepared earlier.

We set off on Wednesday evening and had a smooth ride to our planned overnight stop near Great Dunmow. In the morning we decided to go into Colchester for a quick look round and to make one last-minute buy – some travel sickness pills, just in case ... That left us plenty of time before the ferry, so we had time for lunch by the sea at Walton-on-the Naze before heading off. The crossing to Esbjerg was rather (no very) rough – we thought, though the crew told us that the storm force 4 winds were “nothing to what we do get”. If that's the case, we would not like to be to be crossing the North Sea when it IS rough!! Glad we went shopping in Colchester!

We have now been 4 nights in Denmark and have had quite a good 'run round', ending up this afternoon in Copenhagen in the City (Motorhome) Camp – which officially doesn't open until 1st June, but which has 6 motorhomes in on reduced facilities (and terms).

Our impressions of Denmark so far are

• The Danes seem to have a relaxed approach to life, no doubt helped by not living in an overcrowded country as we do

• The country is very green – they obviously have plenty of rain!

• There is arable farming everywhere (except Copenhagen); we have seen a few cows, even fewer sheep and surprising to us – even fewer pigs. In fact we have had just one sighting of half-a-dozen pig 'houses', but no pigs!

• It is, as reported, a very clean and tidy country. This was summed up for us by seeing in a churchyard ( a must-do for us when visiting new countries – OK we're strange!) a neat storage tower containing watering cans, broom, rake and secateurs. You wouldn't see that in many countries, as they would soon be misappropriated! This seemed to sum up a tidy, well-ordered and law-abiding nation.

   

  

It also seems as though there is now, and has always been, greater equality than in many nations, as there are few mansions or even 'Manor houses' – an few 'posh' houses and cars today. If anything this could be the only criticism – it is maybe a bit bland. But the Danes do have their coast with plenty to go round for everyone, with shore-side holiday and second homes abounding and marinas enough, we suspect, to house a boat for family, if not for everyone!

We are doing fine, as is Sally 2 (and the cold that Edward started on the ferry – first he has had in years – so why then??!!) has all but gone.