Val (Zebedee) Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Well, it's been a year (or 8!) since we last did the Dutch Rally & with it falling on Grumpy's birthday weekend, we decided to bugger off for a few days over there. Steve no longer has his Kawasaki Triple (motorbike) but he is still a long-standing member of the club. So he contacted the organiser of the Dutch Rally who was looking forward to "The English" being there. We went to Boston, Lincolnshire on the Thursday, 15th (Grumpy's birthday) so he could see 2 of his kids, had a meal, opened cards & pressies etc, then drove down to Dover to catch the 10:30pm ferry to Calais. We got there nearly 2 hrs early & paid £20 to change to the earlier ferry. 90 minutes later, we were in Calais, rolling off the deck & on to French soil. We decided to drive a while before looking for a motel / B&B for the rest of the night - could we find one? Could we heck! So at 01:30am European time we pulled into one of the many lorry parks they have at services, got the quilt out & bedded down for a few hours in the car! This was Friday. We carried on to the camp site, arriving there at around 08.30am. Closed. Pressed the intercom on the barrier "Please come back when we are open at 11:00am"! So we drove round for a few more hours (as if we hadn't driven enough already) looking for a cafe to grab a well-needed coffee - all closed till 10:00am at the earliest! So we drove back to the campsite & sat there till they opened at 11. We were put on a field that had caravans on (we had a tent) & we made it clear we were with the Kawasaki Rally - she nodded yes & told us to pitch in the corner. During the rest of the day, the club members turned up & were told to camp on the sports field, 2 fields away! We wandered over periodically & met the members as they arrived, Dutch and German. Then we went to the nearest village to find a shop for food. The nearest place is Baarle-Nassau, also known as Baarle-Hertog as the Dutch / Belgian border splits the place in 2! Even houses have one room in one country & another room in the other We went back with our shopping & chilled after a loooooong day Saturday - ride out day. The guy who organised the rally let us borrow one of his bikes, so Steve rode & I was pillion (not done that for at least 5 yrs since passing my own test!) but was great fun. Stopped in a few places, took pics while riding along. Then back for a BBQ at camp. Sunday - Breakfast with the group (as we did Sat morning) then they started to pack up - we were staying till the Monday so Steve helped them take their tents / gazebos etc down & pack away. So we were left to our own devices again and went to Antwerp sightseeing. All in all, a great break, the Dutch & Germans were so helpful & really made an effort to speak English (although I remembered more German than I thought I could from my school days) and included us in everything. Here's some photos from the weekend: Leaving Dover Arriving at Calais How far to where? Not sure who this is in Baarle Nassau Our home for a few nights Ride out through Breda Back at camp Reminder at Breda Our adopted pet Festival in Antwerp Going home again, Calais to Dover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 WOW that look like you had an awesome time, great pics. NOW . . . If Steve had been driving THAT when you got sideswiped. . . no damage to yours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val (Zebedee) Posted August 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Ha yes, it would be bye bye Punto! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val (Zebedee) Posted August 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 They are planning next year's rally in Northern Holland somewhere so we'll look at going to that, hopefully combine it with the German rally if it's the following weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.