Zeeland
The delta province.
After leaving Wales, and crossing England from one side to the other, we arrive at Dover, where Dover Castle defended the coast for nearly 1000 years.
The White Cliffs of Dover, one of the most recognisable parts of the English coast, where the chalk hills are plunge abruptly into the sea - funny how long it would be before we would see hills again.
You may remember these from many films, including Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (where they miraculously managed to walk the 250 km to Nottingham "by nightfall").
The cliffs from part way to France. On a good day, they can be seen from the French coast.
The French coast looming in the distance.
Wind blowing the tops off the waves in the English Channel.
French dunes.
The fields of Belgium. Flat, endless fields.
Belgian farm.
Wind turbines in Belgium. There was also a traditional windmill too, only we didn't see it until the return journey.
Coming up between two dikes, as we enter the Netherlands (or regions).
Turbines. Rows and rows of turbines. Rinse and repeat.
De Hoop in Middelburg (our first camp), the most common name for all the windmills we saw, and the first we saw on the way. Actually, we missed two on the way, and one in Belgium, but we were not yet trained up in the art of spotting windmills partially obscured by trees. What a welcome.
Cormorants drying on the floating bird houses.
Ducks on the canal shore. These are absolutely everywhere - the Dutch equivalent of sheep.
Seismolen, the second windmill in Middelburg, making this a four windmill journey through Zeeland.
Heron in Middelburg. At home, these are rare, but here they are everywhere, one per field, minimum.
Sint Jorisdoelen, a very old building in Middelburg.
Zeeuws Museum.
Lange Jan, the highest point in Zeeland, at 90.5 metres.
Locks in Middelburg.
Lock mechanism, completely different from the designs on our canals, using a capstan and chain.
Sunset over the campsite.
The final remains of the sunset.
One (also called De Hoop) ...
Dropping into a deep polder.
40 metre high sluices at the massive Delta Works, made around 50 years ago to control the flow of the rivers to ensure the delta would remain drained, and that the massive storm surge floods would not be repeated. These extend for miles and miles along the coast, spanning multiple vast esturies.
Turbines on the dike islands.
The endless flat fields of the Netherlands. Flatter than flat. Even flatter than that, covering almost the entire country.
Flying in formation.
... two, and so we pass ...
... the industrial mess of Rotterdam.
After leaving Wales, and crossing England from one side to the other, we arrive at Dover, where Dover Castle defended the coast for nearly 1000 years.
The White Cliffs of Dover, one of the most recognisable parts of the English coast, where the chalk hills are plunge abruptly into the sea - funny how long it would be before we would see hills again.
You may remember these from many films, including Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (where they miraculously managed to walk the 250 km to Nottingham "by nightfall").
The cliffs from part way to France. On a good day, they can be seen from the French coast.
The French coast looming in the distance.
Wind blowing the tops off the waves in the English Channel.
French dunes.
The fields of Belgium. Flat, endless fields.
Belgian farm.
Wind turbines in Belgium. There was also a traditional windmill too, only we didn't see it until the return journey.
Coming up between two dikes, as we enter the Netherlands (or regions).
Turbines. Rows and rows of turbines. Rinse and repeat.
De Hoop in Middelburg (our first camp), the most common name for all the windmills we saw, and the first we saw on the way. Actually, we missed two on the way, and one in Belgium, but we were not yet trained up in the art of spotting windmills partially obscured by trees. What a welcome.
Cormorants drying on the floating bird houses.
Ducks on the canal shore. These are absolutely everywhere - the Dutch equivalent of sheep.
Seismolen, the second windmill in Middelburg, making this a four windmill journey through Zeeland.
Heron in Middelburg. At home, these are rare, but here they are everywhere, one per field, minimum.
Sint Jorisdoelen, a very old building in Middelburg.
Zeeuws Museum.
Lange Jan, the highest point in Zeeland, at 90.5 metres.
Locks in Middelburg.
Lock mechanism, completely different from the designs on our canals, using a capstan and chain.
Sunset over the campsite.
The final remains of the sunset.
One (also called De Hoop) ...
Dropping into a deep polder.
40 metre high sluices at the massive Delta Works, made around 50 years ago to control the flow of the rivers to ensure the delta would remain drained, and that the massive storm surge floods would not be repeated. These extend for miles and miles along the coast, spanning multiple vast esturies.
Turbines on the dike islands.
The endless flat fields of the Netherlands. Flatter than flat. Even flatter than that, covering almost the entire country.
Flying in formation.
... two, and so we pass ...
... the industrial mess of Rotterdam.