A fair few miles to get through, with the overnight in the Netherlands, but on the way, based on a tip from a RhoCar member visiting the Dambusters Dams.
More chocolate box German half timbered towns and villages.
along with some nice sweeping curves and great wide open views.
The Dambusters attacked tMohne then Eder then Sorpe sequence - my sequence is based on my arrival traveling east to west.
Eder
Just before elevenses I arrive at the Eder, the winding road around the reservoir is an awesome drive in terms of views, but unfortunately limited to 50kph and not so great as a challenging drive.
However the Dam itself - fantastic.
There is a finess/cleanness and lightness (odd adjective for a Dam) to the design.
The tale-tale missing sluices and lighter stone work mid-dam betraying its past - the sluices were not re-installed after the re-build post Dambusters run.
You can imagine the bombing run, first using limited space to line up on the approach over the reservoir.
Then the pull up on the other side to miss the hillside, looks like plenty of space for a smaller plane, a Lancaster still with enough fuel to get home or even with its Upkeep bomb still in place for a go-around is probably a different challenge all together!
These places for some reason send a shiver through me - theres some memory of the history present in the location - the effort of one side to destroy, one side to defend, and the collateral damage. The feelings seem to remain in places even when the people move on.
Decent bit of engineering, and some style too, the structure has a really open/positive feel to it.
Sorpe
Different in design, the Sorpe is an earth bank - so not much to see; I just stopped for a couple of snaps and a breather. I believe this one was not breached, a bomb bouncing over the top - but the sink on the reservoir side and explode mid Dam was just not going to work on the sloped sides.
Mohne
This is the daddy. Compared to the Eder a more brutal design - really heavy imposing towers. The weather closing in a little too and helping the overall feel. Incredible build in the first place, and incredible that anything could damage this structure.
A memorial to the approx 900 civilians that lost their lives in the aftermath.
Notwithstanding the efforts of the allies and impressive achievement of the mission the only guarantee with war is everybody dies.
Early dinner in the restaurant overlooking the reservoir, and then on the move again.
Return to the Netherlands
The road east now a straight run for the hotel. A little traffic around Essen and Duisburg, and then virtually as soon as I cross the border into the Netherlands, more rain.
My patent waterproofing system - plastic bag + clothes peg - re-installed on the sat nav. Works well, the touchscreen even works through the bag.
...and another chance to give the wipers some exercise, at speed its not so bad,
... but the rain got heavier, and as soon as I slowed it covered the inside of the windscreen too!
Arrived at the hotel, opposite the church in Meijel. By the time I had her wrapped up for overnight and checked into the hotel the rain stopped! Its only water though.
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