In May 2016 my wife and I moved back to the Netherlands after a four year stay in India. One of the very first car events I participated in was an World Record attempt to bring as many Mercedes W123s together.
We were successful and a new world record (323 W123s) was entered into the Guinness Book of Word Records. It was the second time such a world record was done. The first one was organised by the Germans quite some time ago. At the time they managed some 200-220 cars, not quite sure. The Dutch world record was organised by a guy who owns and operates a workshop specialising in (old/classic) Mercedes. It was very well organised and we were very lucky with the weather.
I did a write up at the time
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/beyond...ld-record.html
About half a year ago I got a notice from the German W123 club that they wanted to break the old Dutch record! I immediately enrolled, because these things are a lot of fun. Also, I had no doubt the Germans would be able to bring many more W123s together as it’s their home turf so to speak. In all honesty I was a little perplexed about the first world record with only 200-220 cars. That was in Germany too.
Last weekend the world record attempt took place in Tarmstedt, a little town just east of Bremen.
I decided to drive up to Bremen on Saturday, stay overnight and drive to the venue early Sunday morning. Then afterwards drive back home in the late afternoon/evening. I had to get back home as I was due to fly out of Amsterdam to Stockholm at 06.50AM on Monday morning. In the end it all worked out spendidly.
I had never been to Bremen, so I thought it would be nice to spend and afternoon/evening there.
In my thread
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-do...-spider-7.html you can see that I have been quite busy with all sorts of jobs on my W123. New exhaust, lots of new trim and rubber seals, a bit of respray here and there etc.
But here we are. At the beginning of my journey. The TomTom tells us it is 06.47AM, 367 km to go to my “Gasthaus” in Bremen, ETA 10:05am. Notice, the TomTom also shows a speed camera coming up! As you can see, my tank is about 1/3 full. I wanted to make it across the German border before filling up. Petrol in Germany is easily Euro 0,25-0,30 per liter cheaper then in the Netherlands. So on a full tank (55l) that does make a difference.
Essentially all the way motorway to Bremen. Here a typical stretch of Dutch motorway:
I was in no hurry, so I cruised easily stopping several times. In the end I had to stop for Petrol in the Netherlands. Not enough petrol to make it into Germany. So I only added 5l and with what was left in the tank made it into Germany and got a tank full of cheap petrol. Petrol stations along the motorway in Europe are a little bit more expensive than in rural areas. But they do tend to have very good facilities, Coffee, tea, proper restroom, restaurants, shops where you can buy just about anything from a Mars bar to spare light bulbs for your car or a can of oil.
My wife thinks Motorway driving is boring, but I quite enjoy it. Especially if I am in a nice car of course! And every time I drive my W123, I marvel at it. This is a 36 year old car, but you would never guess driving it. Sure, it isn’t particularly fast accelerating and a bit noisier than modern cars, but it just keeps going, no rattles, no creaks.
I arrive around noon in Bremen and the tomTom guided me, as usual, to the exact address of my Gast Haus. A Gast Haus is essentially a sort of German Bed & Breakfast. Which means the rooms are small, but clean, everything works, good WiFi, and a very simple breakfast. Euro 45 per night, Breakfast was another Euro 6. And I had arranged for a parking place for my W123 in their garage, another Euro 7. But it was a very appropriate parking place!
After checking in and dumping my bags in my room I walked into town. It is a little old town on a river and Bremen is actually a sea port, although quite a way land inwards. On my way to the city centre I came across this view:
Not exactly what I was expecting, but still, quite pretty. In Europe if you find yourself in a town/village with a river, you will find that the city centre will always be near or at the river front. So just make your way to the river front because there will be lots to see and do. Restaurants, Cafe’s, shops, people enjoying the sun etc.
I had a bit of lunch whilst reading the various tourist brochures I had given by the Gast Haus. i love the water and if possible I will always go on river / harbour tour. I was lucky as there was one departing just about as I finished my lunch.
These are sizeable boats, take several hundreds of passengers, have a bar and cafetaria on board.
So a few images of the water front as seen from the tour boat.
If you look closely at the little tug boat you will notice it is showing a Dutch flag. It is Dutch tug boat. There are still several hundred of these sort of tugs around. Most of them are privately owned and are used purely for pleasure boating. So this is not a working tug anymore. The owner is probably just on a nice cruise trough Germany along the many rivers and canals.
I was a bit disappointed by the actual harbour. It was huge, but completely empty, no sea ships at all.
A few more shots along the river
After the harbour and river tour I walked into the little town. Just an impression through a couple of images:
I can say many German little towns are very similar. They usually have some sort of central large square. Usually around a big church and or the old City Hall. There are always shops and restaurants, terraces where you sit, drink and eat.