Thursday 15th June

The aim today was a simple 2.5 hour drive to Dortmund to pick up the spare parts to heal Basil’s Palermo induced injuries and then 1.5 hours back to Cologne where we were due to do a guided tour tomorrow. It was all motorway driving, no problem we thought. 5.5 hours of driving and 6.5 hours in total since setting off we arrived at our Hymer dealer, Dürrwang. We had been frustrated beyond words by a motorway closure and mile after mile of traffic jams.

It was quick to pick up the parts but it was already 5pm and the thought of another 1.5 hours driving plus traffic jams to get to Cologne didn’t appeal. Luckily a man at the dealers suggested a aire next to a lake near Dortmund and so we drove a short way to a pleasant overnight stop and had dinner at a pleasant biergarten overlooking the lake.

Friday, 16th of June.

The failure of the Cologne plan required a rethink so we decided to visit Maastricht instead, which was almost on a straight line to Ypres, where I wanted to see the Last Post Ceremony before we went home.

We had a short two hour drive to Maastricht, where I had already booked a place on a 100 van aire. Booking was via an App, but paying seemed impossible and after discussions via an online chat I found out that we only get charged for our stay by an emailed invoice at the beginning of next month! Very laid back.

The air is next to the river Meuse and Skye has had much fun swimming and fetching sticks. There are many children also swimming in the river. 

In addition there is a small herd of Konik wild horses next to the river, much to Sarah’s delight.