Richard's GBS Zero: The road to Norway

The M.O.

The target point is Norway, but no race, the beauty of the Zero is infinitely large view all the time.

The outbound trip with a longer UK leg from our start point in Wales to Harwich.

Then 3 days across Netherlands, Germany and Denmark before the ferry across the Skagerrak on Friday.

The planning limits each day to around 300 miles absolute tops and mostly more like 270 so I can enjoy A and B roads rather than motorways. Toll roads turned off on the satnav, I want to see the places on the way as well as get to the destination.

Languages - I only have a little French which won't be any use on this trip.
My general approach is a clear 'Hello' which hints where I'm from then plenty of alternate smiles, thank yous or sorrys (in English), pointing and thumbs up.

The car usually puts most people we meet in a good mood for starters and the above simple protocol combined with friendly locals gets us by.

Tools of choice

Google maps for finding waypoints
Booking.com for the majority of guesthouse and hotel booking
Tripit.com for managing the overall itinerary
Google maps, with offline maps saved for all route navigation

Tripit is really excellent at double checking each day has an overnight stop by just emailing the booking receipt email. It generates a schedule which I can keep an electronic copy and print out for simple low tech reference en-route - the last thing I want is to be beholden to a mobile phone battery being charged etc to find the next place to sleep.

Google maps navigation was a test, I also had an old copy of copilot on the mobile phone however since they removed useful car profiles (selecting road types etc) I'm phasing it out.

I also carried a paper map but we would have struggled to find all the overnight stops if we had to resort to working from a large country scale map.

Monday - Monmouth to Harwich ~221 miles

Monmouth to Harwich, the ferry is early in the morning so a leisurely drive across the UK favoured rather than an overnight dash and then spend a few days catching up on sleep.

Weather is reasonable all day - wander on the beach at Harwich - interesting light house, light ships and the port cranes visible in the distance. Hotel selected for discrete parking, excellent pint in the local pub and evening meal in the Indian.

Tuesday - Ferry to the Netherlands ~89 miles drive, ~126 mile ferry

Relatively early start to check in for the ferry around 07:30, onboard by 08:00 and due in to The Hook of Holland around 17:25.

A nice lazy crossing, sea like a millpond: Take in a movie, eat, sleep and prepare for the ~80 mile run to the hotel in the Netherlands. As we get close to Holland perhaps 20-30 ships sitting offshore, large container ships most appear to be at anchor presumably waiting for their next cargo.

Arrival around 17:25 (local time) in the Netherlands

Half a tank of fuel later, but seemed like an age along interesting, but very slow roundabout laden roads and some interesting ones past canals - the first night is a hostel type establishment on the coast near Patten.

Breakfast an informal coffee, croissants and fruit on the beach under blue skies.

Today we start the trip proper across the European mainland.

Wednesday - Netherlands & Germany ~275 miles

Mostly motoring through the Netherlands, via the causeway along the top of the inland Zuiderzee. Theres not a great deal to actually see - the west side hidden by a sloping sea wall to the east water!

A chance to pause right in the middle.

Lunchtime we aim for Groningen and the park to the west of the city. A little calm to escape the road and watch the walkers, runners, dog walkers.

The route takes us across the Elbe via the ferry. A long wait though - cars tailed back for miles and approx 3 hours before we finally cross. I always like to include a ferry where I can for interest - but mental note made to go the long way around via Hamburg on the way home.

Nearly there... next boat will be us..

The tide is low by the time we cross, four ferries in operation each waiting their turn for the deep water channel.

Just across the water our B&B, the owners are very friendly and offer their garage for the Zero. Saves me a step of covering up - also,

what an awesome garage/barn...

Bit of a challenge to find an open restaurant so we settle for a liquid meal in the local pub + accumulated stores of snacks and sweets. Wewelsfleth an interesting place - cranes and boat building on the edge of town.

Quick run into Gluckstadt after breakfast to find a cashpoint - need some local currency to pay the B&B. A little more time and we could have probably spent a morning here - typical European town square, interesting buildings/church etc.

Thursday - Germany & Denmark ~305 miles

One country, one day 300 miles - this leg is all about being setup for the ferry on Friday.

We start along the satnav prescribed fast motorway, but making good time divert west towards Viborg later in the morning, smaller more interesting roads for the rest of the day.

Denmark was wet, by mid morning I was getting soaked too! Water jetted from the front wheels onto the rear wheel arches off my forearm and slowly soaking down my right leg. Its not so much being wet - its more the cold of fresh rainwater all the time.

Lunch at an excellent cafe near Ulbjerg gives me a chance to start the soak up/wring out process of drying the car. My outboard leg totally soaked!

RL13 doesn't mind the rain, but there must be a better way to stop the rear arches flicking water up into the cabin...

Schnitzel & chips for me, fish and chips for Anne. Both in good spirits ready for the run north.

Silly selfies always good for a laugh and almost as fun as old fashioned camera timer based ones.

The landscape is predictably flat but reasonably fast - a switch from open country to forests mid way, a much more open and empty country than I expected.