Hello Ludwig and Heidrun again....Goodbye Ludwig and Heidrun and Hello Holland

 Saturday 27th March, 1982                      fine and sunny and warm

Up to another lovely spring day - Heidrun tells us this is May weather - March or May we are enjoying it - barmy lazy sunny spring days.  

Camping on the Rhine at Bacharach

Walked into Bacharach along lovely old streets then off along the Rhein to Boppard - no chairlift - so on to Koblenz - stopped and filmed the Lorelei.  Lunched near the monument - the German corner - where the Mosel and Rhein meet - then went for a walk around.  Saw 2 well dressed gentlemen riding a bicycle - looks so funny.  Broke Lee up.  On along the Rhein to Remagen where we bade it goodbye and headed inland, where we became lost in the road works maze - incredible network.  A dog walker put us on the right road through Latenschoppen, Wormesdolf and Essig onto Eiskirchen - where we were greeted warmly by Ludwig and Heidrun, but we threw them into utter confusion by our numbers.  John and Sandra, Marie and Lee, Heidrun and Ludwig went out to dinner after a lot of confusion.  Sean and Brett went to town on a bike to collect McDonald's for the kids.  Good sleep after a late start.

Sunday 28th of March            overcast with no sun

Well we have had our three days of sunshine so who's complaining.  Boys left in a.m. to visit a radio station - lunched, then off to Bad Munster Eifel - better day than last overcast.  We walked around the village, crowded today - then right around the wall - home to afternoon tea.  Walk to town - Church at 6:30 p.m. and as we were having a German potato tea we brought the kids chicken and chips to eat on the way home, then when we did arrive back - late of course - Heidrun's German dish was potato fritters so the bigger kids had to force some down.

No such word as “nein” in this house.

Later in the evening an American friend of the Zopinski’s and his wife, Don and Elizabeth came over.  We had an interesting evening until Ludwig went to bed, then one by one the adults disappeared and we were left to entertain till midnight.

Monday 27th of March                       cold and raining

After breakfast, all females off to town to shop - the men minded the kids - the boys kept finding me.  Marie and Sandra tried on every pair of jeans in town - one place we marched out of!  Brought coffee sets, linen and Marie a blouse.

Had lunch in Pinocchio restaurant, house insalada - beautiful - a big salad of lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, ham and grated cheese.

Home to cuppa - walked back later for chickens in the rain.  Sandra feeling guilty offered to take all the kids - well one by one they refused till we were left with Yulia and when she realised she was the only one walking with us she took off home.  Blow me if chickens weren't ready so we had to return without dinner.  John - no he refused - the girls went and bought at other places - and after Essen had a pleasant evening talking - Heidrun likes the boys company - girls a little fed up with the fluttus - naturally the boys like it.  Bet Marie and Sandra will explode before we leave if they aren't careful.

Tuesday 30th March, 1982                       normal Germanic

Breakfast by candlelight - farewell to Ludwig - off to Evoluon - no explosion.  Ludwig woke us for 6 a.m. breakfast - farewell Ludwig.

Evoluon, Eindhoven, Netherlands

Packed up and off on road.  Stopped at Evoluon for lunch - passed by the towns of Gelder -Malsam-Beesd-Nevwegian-Ijesselmeer and Utrecht.  On the way we noticed Shetland ponies and beautiful windmills.  Hello Holland.

Arrived in Amsterdam after an afternoon at Evoluon - quite an impressive place - built like a flying saucer.  It had all technical knowledge -TV, radio, record making - and man and his problems from A.D. to now and his future re food and energy.

As soon as we arrived at the camp we all felt so free, decided to have a drink - well what a funny evening - a knock on door -"come in" says Marie.  An Englishman in gas trouble so boys fixed him - then about three drinks later another knock on door.  "Come in" cries Marie - and through the space appeared poor little fellow - half Indian, half Jew and whole Dutch "I'm alone" he says in bad English, so Marie introduces him "this is Lee Allen, John Allen, Pat Allen, Sandra Allen" well he kind of took over when he discovered Sandra could understand a little French.  His name was Bob - Allen was alone - laugh- we were in hysterics - he disappeared and bought in his family album instead of a photo of his wife as we expected -poor beggar was lonely, wanted a match and company but it was 9:30 p.m. and the kids were tired.  Well after about 1 1/2 hours we got the message through and he left, with Sandra promising him coffee in a.m.  To bed after an hysterical evening.

Was a surprise to drive in here and see so many people - tents, caravans and vans.  We usually are the only ones in the camp areas - about two dozen tents ring the area.  Spring is here the grass has riz the people are on the move!

Wednesday 31st March, 1982                  fine but windy

Slept in till 8:30 a.m., very tired, Marie, Lee and John went into town to find a diamond ring for Marie.  We took children in about 1 p.m. to meet them - walked along the red light area.  Couldn't believe it does happen.  Amsterdam is so full of punk youth - on the way home we nearly collapsed on seeing a ? girl with shaven head, dressed in a silver frosted costume like something from out of space.

Had chips and coffee at McDonalds for afternoon then walked the pedestrian mall looking at the passing parade.  Home by tram.  Salad and to bed.

Have never seen so much way out youth in beautiful Amsterdam - anywhere else except of course London - we also noticed increased numbers of police cars.

John left his run too late and had a cold shower.  Aussie pair Liz and Rob (met in Rome) arrived this p.m..

Thursday 1st April, 1982                fine and sunny

Boys off to Heineken's brewery - lazy morning then lugged all the washing in green garbage bags to laundromat - what a sight Marie with two bags, San with two, Rae and I with one each -paced the 1 1/2 kilometres to the Wasserette only to find, after putting our wash through 4 x 5  kilograms we couldn't dry.  I don't think she liked us - firstly we left the door open (an old Australian custom?) Second I brought two bags and she didn't want to give me a separate change.  I could see her Dutch brain thinking of how to punish us - so she wouldn't let us use the dryers - so off we went with semi-wet clothes which were twice as heavy instead of an anticipated half and dragged ourselves home.

Then when we arrived who should be waiting for us but Sandra and Marie's friend Bob, wanting a drink - Sandra told him "no go away" hopefully he will stay away.  Laughed at Marie she walked into delicatessen and asked for Devon.

John and the boys back - washing strung around the camp.  Met Lee earlier - he had a rotten migraine so tried to sleep whilst we kept children quiet.  About 4 p.m., Lee feeling better, the girls decided to investigate a little more re diamond rings.  So the four of them went into town to window shop.  Home by 6:30 p.m. had dinner - I visited an Australian couple Jim and?  For an hour - Liz and Rob came in for drinks with Marie and Lee.  Warm night.

Friday 2nd April, 1982                       fine and sunny

Lazy morning - leisurely breakfast - John and Lee played big poppas to four young Aussies and got their van going for them - door had fallen off to begin with, then it wouldn't start.  Lots of Australians here - three Top Deck buses arrived, 2 training and one on tour.  Sandra didn't insult her little Dutchman Bob, he came over last night with a pot of water to boil - poor fellow he is lonely.  Into town for a canal ride - hot and sunny - so enjoyed it.  

Waiting for the canal ride in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Lunch at the burger and beer - and the girls walked up to Bonebakker and bought their rings -Sandra brought a lovely nine diamond .3 carat.  Looks great!  Marie brought 2 nice rings then home - sun gone - raining.  Sandra, Brett and I walked around to Ann Frank's house - very moving.  

Ann Frank House, Amsterdam

The kids had been watching a fair being erected at Stationplein and when we arrived they are on the way home, it was blowing and raining so Marie, Sandra and I took off for the camp for washing and tea.  Kids had one miserable hour there.  The lovely sunny weather has gone.

Sandra, John, Lee and Marie went into town after Lee decided he wanted to see the city by night.  They hitched a ride in with a Top Deck bus crew - walked the red light area but were a little apprehensive of the passing unsavoury crowd, so went to a bar then home.  Weren't overly impressed.

Bacharach to Amsterdam