Nina's Blog - Friday 11th August 2023

Friday 11th August 2023, 08:10

At Rade, south west of Hamburg charging the car. If the cars navigation system is correct and I should be at IKEA north of Hamburg by 09:00 which is an hour too early, they don't open until 10:00.
But the traffic in and around Hamburg is usually horrible so I don't expect to get there at the predicted time.

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

You sat-nag's time calculations are realistic? They depend solely on distance and speed limits, not conditions, traffic, etc!

I rarely need mine and then usually use it only for the part of the journey where it is necessary. I don't think it's even set to the correct time of day, but I have never believed its ETA sums even allowing for that!

Bring back the England - Scandinavia ferries! (I know the port authorities and city councils on both sides of the North Sea have worked hard to try to persuade new carriers to revive the services.)

Though I think the Summer-only, Bergen - Iceland ferry calls at the Orkney Islands.

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

@ninalanyon A traffic aware driver is even better!

I don't know, but it may be most modern lorries have cruise-control anyway.

Cruise control is fine, but while making it respond to speed-limits is one thing, a driver who needs a box of electronics to make the vehicle aware of the traffic, should not be driving.

ninalanyon · 70-79, T

@ArishMell Modern lorries have conventional cruise control I think but I don't think many have traffic aware cruise control. My car automatically maintains a three second spacing to the vehicle in front regardless of speed. And of course like many modern cars it has automatic emergency braking, something else that should be compulsory, especially for lorries.

ninalanyon · 70-79, T

@ArishMell

Bring back the England - Scandinavia ferries!

We will re-establish an all-year direct high quality, cost-efficient, low emission cruise-ferry route between Norway & England (UK)

See https://bergencruiseline.no/

There is a freight ferry from Brevik (near Larvik on Oslo fjord) to Immingham, that takes 48 hours, that would be willing to take private cars if only the UK border patrol (or whatever it is called0 would not insist that only professional drivers be allowed through Immingham. I asked DFDS about it a few years ago and they were very apologetic and said that they were perfectly willing to accept private vehicles if they had space but that the UK would not allow them to land private drivers. Perhaps i should set up a transport company (sole trader status doesn't cost anything) here and deliver some Norwegian goods to someone in the UK.

ninalanyon · 70-79, T

Friday 11th August 2023, 09:13

At IKEA Hamburg-Schnelsen. Arrived exactly at the predicted time. Road works still seem to be pretty much the same as the last time I drove through here but the traffic was relatively light and flowing well. Never slower than 10 kph below the speed limit, no stops at all.

Killing time until IKEA opens at 10:00 by charging the car at the free charger. Charging rate is about 50 kph, on this 16 A, 239 V, 3 phase charger from ABB. So I'll be back up to 75% charge by the time IKEA opens. Then I'll move to let someone else use the charger. Theoretically I'm only six hours (including charging time) from Hirtshals ferry terminal so if I can book a ferry for this evening I should be home early in the morning, about 04:00 perhaps. I'll wait until IKEA opens and use my laptop to do the booking in comfort.

I'm not the only early bird here, here were two other cars charging here already when I arrived, and a couple with small children has just got out of a car on the other side of the car park.

turbineman40 · 80-89, M

Do drive carefully Nina
You are awesome Lady
I am going to get some sugar waxing done this morning so I will be really quiet

ninalanyon · 70-79, T

@turbineman40 Does that hurt?

turbineman40 · 80-89, M

@ninalanyon The sugar waxing is not as painful/uncomfortable as hot waxing.. The sugar waxing is warm but not burning hot. It does remove the hair to be so smooth and clean afterwards

It tends to be expensive but very clean and smooth afterwards.

ninalanyon · 70-79, T

@turbineman40 I think I'll stick with shaving for now. Only need to do it for another few months then it will be winter and I'll be wearing thicker tights so it won't matter anyway.

ninalanyon · 70-79, T

Friday 11th August 2023, 09:41

Just checked Color Line's website for the ferry booking. They want 1 565 NOK for tonight's sailing and 1 820 NOK for tomorrow lunchtime!

Going the long way via Sweden will be 270 DKK for the Storebælt bridge plus 490 DKK for the Øresund bridge.

If I wait until tomorrow night the ferry is only 1 075 NOK which is about the same as the bridge tolls.

Driving via Sweden would get me home by midnight so I think I'll do that.

ninalanyon · 70-79, T

Friday 11th August 2023, 11:15

One last few pictures before I set off on the next leg of the journey, to IKEA in Sweden just across the Øresund.

Today's outfit is a short canvas skirt, a top made of tee shirt cloth.

I put a light jacket on to walk from the car, not because it's really cold, I just like wearing it.

Time to finish my coffee and set off on the last few kilometres of unrestricted autobahn before Denmark.

ninalanyon · 70-79, T

Friday 11th August 2023, 10:33

Having the cheese breakfast, 3.95 EUR

ninalanyon · 70-79, T

Friday 11th August 2023, 18:36

Last café stop before home, IKEA Taastrup,near Copenhagen. I was going to have a hot meal but there were about fifty people in the queue and I hate queuing, so I just grabbed a roll and sweet bun.

The restaurant here is much quieter than the other IKEAs I've been to recently, lower ceiling with acoustic tiles.

NativePortlander1970 · 51-55

Just be careful that it's not SCP3008.

ninalanyon · 70-79, T

@NativePortlander1970 I'm bypassing Sweden!

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