East to Dresden - Part 3

Left Winsen Aller on Thursday morning after 2 nights and headed to Camping Prahljust which at 600 meters and is close by Clausthal-Zellerfeld in the Harz Mountains.  The journey took 2.5 hours.  We had already arranged to meet my brother Peter at the site so he he was there when we arrived. In March Peter commenced a one year solo journey around Europe.  Quickly set up on our terraced pitched and had lunch and then explored the site and the lake that we overlook.  Strangely for a Thursday the site pub/restaurant was closed so we went into Clausthal and ate at the Gluck Auf restaurant, really good meal and plenty of it so value for money. 

Whilst Peter was in Ostend another motor homer reversed into his motorhome and crushed his bike and caused some other damage to the rear.  Although Peter was not around other people on site told him that a French van had done the damage then drove off without a backward glance. After breakfast we went into Clausthal and brought him a new bike, courtesy of the Insurance Company. 

Went to Goslar which is a lovely old town with a nice pedestrian shopping area and in the Alt Stadt a large square with a variety of interesting buildings.  Went into the Rathaus to view the painted walls, slightly disappointed due to only being able to peer through a glass screen at the doorway! The paintings were from floor to ceiling and depicted biblical scenes.  Back to site and went for a long walk round 2 of the many lakes in the area.

Saturday – picked up Peter’s bike after which we went to Bad Harzburg, we were here in about 1955 and the only thing I recognised was the cable car going over the main road.  If you enter Bad Harzburg by route 4 from the south there is a very large free car park and next to it a MH stellplatz.  From the car park it’s only a five minute stroll into town passed the cable car and through a park.  Opposite the cable car entrance is the Tourist Information office with its free toilets (worth thinking about). Went up cable car and had a wander through the castle ruins.

Sunday – walked for about 8 miles in the locality, plenty of wildlife around, lots of birds and also evidence of wild boar, saw a couple of deer and red squirrels.  Made a return to restaurant Gluck Auf and all had the pork, green beans and bratkartoffel served in a frying pan!

Monday – This is the day where we go up the Brocken Mountain (3743 feet high) by steam train so drove to Shierke, parked at the bottom in the village and then walked up the 1 kilometre to the station which is 668 metres high.  The steam trains are narrow gauge at 1000mm and are mainly 2-10-2 tank engines.  Half way up the remaining 500 metres to the summit it started to snow and by the time we got to the out the train it was a total white out with high winds and -8.5 degrees C.  Not deterred we took numerous photos of the engines then went into the station bar and had thick pea soup with Brockwurst, lovely.  Our original intent had been to walk back down but due to weather, (we now also had thunder and lightning) we decided to ride back down.  We then went to view the engines at Wernigerode.  The railway has over a dozen steam trains which operate year round.

Camping Prahljust is a large site but relatively peaceful.  It has very good facilities which are spotless.  Showers are of the push button type.  Electric is by meter.  There is a large reception area and most of the staff speak English.  Wi-Fi is free; you need a new log on every 24hrs of use. There is a small shop, order your bread the night before, also a bar/ restaurant.  There is a gym, sauna and good size indoor swimming pool.  Due to the height of the site you can get very changeable weather, we had hot sunny days and also snow and frosts. I would definitely us this site again.