Fredericia Kommune

The regular brrp brrp brrp of vehicles passing over metal joins punctuates the constant hum of engines and rubber on tarmac. We are parked close to one of the 120m high stanchions of the Nye Lillebæltsbro, a suspension bridge spanning the straits between mainland Denmark and the large island of Funen. Its name translates as New Little Belt Bridge, the 'Little Belt' being the 600m stretch of water between Snoghøj (where we are) and Midelfart on Funen. We don't mind the noise because it is a pretty impressive sight. The road even has heating so it can be kept free of ice and snow in winter! Not that it is needed today, the hottest of our trip so far at 31.8°C.

This morning we set off from Mossø and blasted down the motorway; the Midelfart LPG station our first port of call. When we discovered 4 days ago that there were only 5 LPG vendors in Denmark, Midelfart was the closest town to sell it. As part of this mission for gas we got to make the exciting journey accross the bridge to Funen. We soon found the station and sighed with relief when we saw that it did indeed have what we needed! We had a slight moment of worry when we'd attached the nozel and pressed the button but no gas flowed. A quick word with the attendant and we had sufficient LPG to fuel the fridge, freezer, hob, oven and hot water for another month! We'd had enough to last us perhaps another week, but we fret when we are running low on anything so it was worth making the journey to fill up.

Having noticed a small retail park nearby we dropped into the Jem & Fix shop (the Danish equivalent of Wickes), to try and find a new cover for the oven flue among other things. No luck this time but we'll try a caravan shop next. If we can't find one over here we'll have to order it online for when we return to the UK.

Travelling back over the Little Belt Bridge at 44m above sea level, we took the access road that swung round and dropped down to a large grass and gravel parking area by the shore. It was busy, with small speedboats, rigid inflatables and fishing vessels coming and going, using the launch ramp to join the large yachts, many from Germany, that sailed in between the stanchions. Mixed in with these were a few traditional sailing boats and a black, wooden hulled tourist vessel, loaded up with successive sight seeing parties. Although the channel was big enough, we only saw one cargo ship pass by.

It was too hot to do much, so Will spent the afternoon fishing and swimming while Vicky stayed with Poppy. The site was on the inner curve of a U bend in the straights, so water surrounded the land on three sides. The tidal current pushed the sea first in one direction, then in the other and the little boats not under power drifted with its not inconsiderable pull. Although Will didn't catch any fish, we reckoned it would be a good spot and in the evening we caught sight of what we think was a sea otter diving under several times in search of its next meal.

The following morning Vicky took a walk along the narrow beach where a mass of colourless jellyfish had been washed up. It was less busy than it had been the previous day and she got to see the fin of a harbour porpoise as it surfaced for air!Read more