Pathfinder III
An Overlanding Tour through Germany.
Every year we are looking for a trip we can do for our vacation and this year we were thinking due Covid-19 that we shouldn’t go that far away from home.
And far away is more like, not many border crossings, less the distance.
We asked a friend who does know his way around in Germany what he could recommend to us.
He said, try to drive the Trans Europe Trail The Trans Euro Trail from founder John Ross.
Together with some tracks of his own he said we would be at least two weeks on the “road”.
So, I started to have a look on You Tube and more to see what it looks like. A pleasant surprise it was, as it was a mixture between tarmac, tracks and cultural places.
So, that was settled rather quickly,
The TET Germany starts at Bellingwolde at the Dutch/German border. And we do know Bellingwolde. That is the village were the parents of our friend Elsenoor lived. And we visited her there some times.
As she lives now near Assen, we decided to make the first stop at her place.
Well, a campsite nearby, but having dinner and some walks together was the plan.
Then we should go to the start and head East.
So, the plan was born. Then as we looked at the route, we noticed it came very close to a little village called Schlichting in the northern part of Germany. And as Frederiques surname is Schlichting we decided to make a stop there.
Then I checked like all the places there are along the route, so we could pick our daily stage start and stop.
Little things were found and some were more known as other ones.
After the plan grew more and more solid, it was time to make some preparations for that trip.
First the Trailer had to be cleaned and all stock needed to be stocked up.
Little repairs were done and so it was ready to go.
Then the Jeep was made ready. As it is well maintained not that much needed to be done. But there are always some things to do.
A bit of light for the trunk, cleaning up, checking all the brakes, fluids and more.
So, that too was ready soon.
And so the day of the start of this journey came nearer and finally arrived. Frederique needed to work an half a day, so I was preparing everything on the Thursday, the day before.
And in the evening we both did the last things, and at the end of the evening the Jeep and Trailer were good to go.
Lets Go!!.
Day 1, 17th of September.
After we had our lunch we headed out for our trip. First stop was of course just across the border for filling up fuel. This as there fuel prices are lower as in the Netherlands.
So, after filling up, we headed back to the Netherlands and up towards Yde de Punt. That is a little town just above Assen.
The trip was not very specteculair as it was just highway.
Arriving at the campsite and setting up camp was of course very easy. And so after a little while were able to head out for a walk towards the house of our friend Elsenoor.
She walked towards us, so greetings were done half way. Her dogs, Pip and Duke greeted Skai happily and we walked back together.
Having good talks and some good food during the evening made it a perfect first day.
Late that evening we walked back to the campsite and then it was time to go to bed. Preparing for the first real day of heading East on “roads” never travelled before.
Day 2, 18th of September.
Good morning world and happy standing breakfast. We cant wait to hit the route and getting on the road.
From Yde to Bellingwolde was fairly easy, but that part we tried to use roads as small as possible without delaying the real goal for that day.
We wanted to arrive at Leer by noon so we could visit its old city center.
And it was worth it. After a nice lunch in town at a good restaurant we headed into town.
Frederique is a fan from Geocaching we did a Lap cache through the center.
Lap caches means finding answers and such. And that means you will find some interesting information about the area that the Lap cache covers.
Wandering through that city was enjoyable and also a good start of the cultural part of the journey.
We saw many nice buildings, but sometimes the little things that you find are the ones that you will keep in mind. Like those little treasures at the docks. Nets and mre from fishing boats, stuff to ship goods over water and such were so nice to see.
In the evening we finally used our new Cadac Cooker for the first time and it worked like a charme.
Day 3, 19th of September.
After a good night sleep we went to one of the castles of Leer and had again a good walk around.
The garden of it was very nice and it looked great from the outside.
We didn’t go inside as we had to hit the road.
Hitting the road was fun, even as it was just tarmac, but driving across the most narrow bridge in Europe, taking the oldest hand driven ferry and seeing the oldest still in use floating ferry made the day actually very pleasant.
But not only that, some old towers, war relics we found along the way. It was just a great day to drive.
Today we first encountered some nice tracks, good fun when you are driving the little roads less travelled.
A bit late, at least to late to have a nice trip on the oldest working floating ferry in Germany we arrived at Hemnoor and did have a good view at the ferry contruction.
After that we drove towards Gluckstadt and found a campsite.
We weren’t very fond of that campsite but it wasn’t that bad so we stayed the night before we took the ferry next day across the Elbe.
Day 4, 20th of September.
Queuing the next day for the Elbe ferry which was fairly expensive. But ok, we did it and I think it was cheaper as driving south and up north through Hamburg.
We decide to leave the TET for the trip up north and going as much as possible along to coastline. We found a nice spot to do a lunch and we have a walk to some lock constructions. I think that kind of buildings are always very interesting.
Next there was a Geocache at a lost place. It was an old radio station that made connection with the 2WW submarines. It was used for similar use after that war as well.
The next stop and most northern stop we made was a little village called Schlichting. Yes, its name is the same as the surname of Frederique. So, we went there, took some pictures and had a drive through and went on.
At a campsite near Breiholz we stopped again for the night.
We were the only campers, except for some nice holiday apartment. In big Wine barrels they made some small stays and near the river there were some nice apartments. Even on the river were some floating apartments/house boats.
Every year we are looking for a trip we can do for our vacation and this year we were thinking due Covid-19 that we shouldn’t go that far away from home.
And far away is more like, not many border crossings, less the distance.
We asked a friend who does know his way around in Germany what he could recommend to us.
He said, try to drive the Trans Europe Trail The Trans Euro Trail from founder John Ross.
Together with some tracks of his own he said we would be at least two weeks on the “road”.
So, I started to have a look on You Tube and more to see what it looks like. A pleasant surprise it was, as it was a mixture between tarmac, tracks and cultural places.
So, that was settled rather quickly,
The TET Germany starts at Bellingwolde at the Dutch/German border. And we do know Bellingwolde. That is the village were the parents of our friend Elsenoor lived. And we visited her there some times.
As she lives now near Assen, we decided to make the first stop at her place.
Well, a campsite nearby, but having dinner and some walks together was the plan.
Then we should go to the start and head East.
So, the plan was born. Then as we looked at the route, we noticed it came very close to a little village called Schlichting in the northern part of Germany. And as Frederiques surname is Schlichting we decided to make a stop there.
Then I checked like all the places there are along the route, so we could pick our daily stage start and stop.
Little things were found and some were more known as other ones.
After the plan grew more and more solid, it was time to make some preparations for that trip.
First the Trailer had to be cleaned and all stock needed to be stocked up.
Little repairs were done and so it was ready to go.
Then the Jeep was made ready. As it is well maintained not that much needed to be done. But there are always some things to do.
A bit of light for the trunk, cleaning up, checking all the brakes, fluids and more.
So, that too was ready soon.
And so the day of the start of this journey came nearer and finally arrived. Frederique needed to work an half a day, so I was preparing everything on the Thursday, the day before.
And in the evening we both did the last things, and at the end of the evening the Jeep and Trailer were good to go.
Lets Go!!.
Day 1, 17th of September.
After we had our lunch we headed out for our trip. First stop was of course just across the border for filling up fuel. This as there fuel prices are lower as in the Netherlands.
So, after filling up, we headed back to the Netherlands and up towards Yde de Punt. That is a little town just above Assen.
The trip was not very specteculair as it was just highway.
Arriving at the campsite and setting up camp was of course very easy. And so after a little while were able to head out for a walk towards the house of our friend Elsenoor.
She walked towards us, so greetings were done half way. Her dogs, Pip and Duke greeted Skai happily and we walked back together.
Having good talks and some good food during the evening made it a perfect first day.
Late that evening we walked back to the campsite and then it was time to go to bed. Preparing for the first real day of heading East on “roads” never travelled before.
Day 2, 18th of September.
Good morning world and happy standing breakfast. We cant wait to hit the route and getting on the road.
From Yde to Bellingwolde was fairly easy, but that part we tried to use roads as small as possible without delaying the real goal for that day.
We wanted to arrive at Leer by noon so we could visit its old city center.
And it was worth it. After a nice lunch in town at a good restaurant we headed into town.
Frederique is a fan from Geocaching we did a Lap cache through the center.
Lap caches means finding answers and such. And that means you will find some interesting information about the area that the Lap cache covers.
Wandering through that city was enjoyable and also a good start of the cultural part of the journey.
We saw many nice buildings, but sometimes the little things that you find are the ones that you will keep in mind. Like those little treasures at the docks. Nets and mre from fishing boats, stuff to ship goods over water and such were so nice to see.
In the evening we finally used our new Cadac Cooker for the first time and it worked like a charme.
Day 3, 19th of September.
After a good night sleep we went to one of the castles of Leer and had again a good walk around.
The garden of it was very nice and it looked great from the outside.
We didn’t go inside as we had to hit the road.
Hitting the road was fun, even as it was just tarmac, but driving across the most narrow bridge in Europe, taking the oldest hand driven ferry and seeing the oldest still in use floating ferry made the day actually very pleasant.
But not only that, some old towers, war relics we found along the way. It was just a great day to drive.
Today we first encountered some nice tracks, good fun when you are driving the little roads less travelled.
A bit late, at least to late to have a nice trip on the oldest working floating ferry in Germany we arrived at Hemnoor and did have a good view at the ferry contruction.
After that we drove towards Gluckstadt and found a campsite.
We weren’t very fond of that campsite but it wasn’t that bad so we stayed the night before we took the ferry next day across the Elbe.
Day 4, 20th of September.
Queuing the next day for the Elbe ferry which was fairly expensive. But ok, we did it and I think it was cheaper as driving south and up north through Hamburg.
We decide to leave the TET for the trip up north and going as much as possible along to coastline. We found a nice spot to do a lunch and we have a walk to some lock constructions. I think that kind of buildings are always very interesting.
Next there was a Geocache at a lost place. It was an old radio station that made connection with the 2WW submarines. It was used for similar use after that war as well.
The next stop and most northern stop we made was a little village called Schlichting. Yes, its name is the same as the surname of Frederique. So, we went there, took some pictures and had a drive through and went on.
At a campsite near Breiholz we stopped again for the night.
We were the only campers, except for some nice holiday apartment. In big Wine barrels they made some small stays and near the river there were some nice apartments. Even on the river were some floating apartments/house boats.
