Thursday, 24th September, 1981 rain and cold
Winter has reared its head again today - outcome the long johns and jumpers, raincoats and hats. We were awake and dressed by 7:30am waiting to commence our journey to Canterbury but disaster - flat battery! We rang the RAC and two hours later they arrived - a few minutes later and we were off to the garage but once again disaster - couldn't do 9000 miles service in full today so back to Crystal Palace. San and John went off to town to pick up lost credit cards. Sean prepared our route and checked the water and oil and Rae and I went up town to buy rolls etc for lunch. We ate, played games and cooked tea.
And so at 2:30pm and here they are, and we’re on the road again. Car booked in for 9:30a.m. in Canterbury so we trundled on to M2. Diverted to Northfleet to video some scenery for Marie’s father then on to Canterbury - so here we are all inside whilst wind howls outside.
Friday, 25th September, 1981 overcast but dry
We were up early, showered, breakfast and off into Canterbury to put car in for service. John and Sean dropped us in town whilst they delivered the van. Canterbury is a walled city mediaeval and Tudor buildings lining cobbled streets - many market squares. I loved it. We had about six hours to fill in. Had my glasses fixed again, strolled around town enjoying the architecture - the great river Stour flows through and under the town.
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| Canterbury, UK |
One row of houses is right on the canal and you can hire a
boat to see the sights. The cathedral is
not as well-kept as others we have seen.  |
| Canterbury Cathedral, UK |
Whilst there we saw the Archbishop of Canterbury being
photographed. There were no great crowds
to see him. After shopping we met John
in van and headed for Dover - and
the white cliffs. I am excited about
being here and tomorrow we're off to the continent.
Saturday, 26th September, 1981 a.m.
Gale force winds and rain p.m. fine and
cool
Well awoke this morning, our last awakening in England for a
few months. Had a dreadful night with
Gale force winds and rain. What a pity after all beautiful weather we have had
to see this black raging morning. We
were all nervous but valiantly prepared for the crossing.
We had camped all night in a car park behind
a sports centre. John had asked if we
could have a shower and was told "yes I'm kind to foreigners just pay your
20p" so we had marched in thinking every moment to be asked to go, however we had lovely hot shower. At last we
were ready and off to the docks, through the toll only to be told we hadn't been
booked in but to go through and wait. Oh
woe is me that every guide waved us on and placed us in line beside the tour
buses. Aboard at last, and first at that
at the head of the long line, then upstairs and great excitement as we found a
table and settled down for a long rough trip.
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| White Cliffs of Dover |
The boat quickly filled and right on 8:30a.m. we left Dover and headed for open
seas -everything looks so bleak and wet but couldn't dampen our spirits - the
Townsend Thoresen headed for Zebrugge.
Coffee could be purchased, also liquor. The Duty-free shop displayed all sorts of ware but no postcards of the
ship. About 9:30 a.m. a call for the
cinema "Superman 11" so it filled in two hours for the kids and kept
Rae's mind off her nausea. But five
minutes after she returned to her seat it got the better of her.
The weather lessened in ferocity as we neared the Belgian
coast. We stood upfront to watch the
Townsend Thoresen float into the harbour then we went down into the car. We were the very first off onto Belgian
soil - through customs and cleared we headed for Bruges.
Good roads - John had to remember to drive on right side of road.
All of Europe is metric so
it's back to kilometres again. We forgot
to change any money so we had to find bureau de change. Belgium is a flat country sparsely
populated. The only fields which have
fences are the ones with animals. All
corn, vegetables and fodder are unfenced.
The houses so far have a Dutch flavour, brick stumpy windmills are
common.
Into Bruges Market Square and found a park near
canal and walked. Oh! the shops are full of delicious food. The smell of meat being cooked outside was
too much - we haven't had barbecue since we left home. We bought weisswurst on roll with mustard and
a tub of chips cooked whilst waiting - delicious.
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| Bruges, Belgium |
We had difficulty with the francs - 42 francs to one dollar
Australian. Lots of laughs but
managed. Everyone is so friendly. Can't get over us coming so far to
visit. Well here we are snug in a
camping area - Voorhout - (our first European one). The weather had cleared, the sun
shone late afternoon, we had to put our watches on one hour.
This camp has a large entertainment area where everyone meets - so friendly service, beer, coffee, entertainment for children. We are off on a bush walk with some people tomorrow. Goodnight
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| Crystal Palace, UK to Voorhout, Belgium |
