Mr Bug Goes Abroad
Mr Bug and I have been to Holland, to attend the Dutch Micro Car Rally
On August 25th 2004
On Tuesday I left home at 5pm to meet up with Richard Honeybun from Wimbourne at
Cheverly services near Newbury, we then travelled to Ivan Smiths home in great
Gaddesden, after going for a meal we all had a fairly early night as we at to be
up by 5am.
The next morning we were joined by Rory Lynas
from Birmingham, we then set of to catch the 10am ferry at Harwich to the Hoek
of Holland.
We arrived on time for the ferry and had a short wait then we were off
(that ferry is very fast).
At around 4:30pm we got off the ferry and set off to Appelscha near Assen
in the north east of Holland about 160 miles, and 348 miles from home, we
arrived at 9pm and after a meal put up our tents in the dark.
Thursday it had rained most of the night and in the morning it was still raining
so we went for a drive and ended up going to Assen TT race track and
watched some bike racing, on the way there we were checking the map, when a
police car pulled up and after a chat they gave us a police escort the the race
track and after taking a few photos they left there, we were still having the
odd shower of rain so we went back to the camp site, and we had only done
47miles.
Friday this was the start of the rally and quite a few cars had arrived all ready, it was very wet and was raining quite a lot so we went to a local museum and then we went for a drive and ended up going over the boarder into Germany and back to the camp site a trip of 90miles, and after a meal we joined the other for a drink and a chat and ended the evening off with a game of cards (I don't think Chris the Dutch man had played much cards but he new how to drink).
Saturday this is the main rally day and the sun was shining, we set off on the road run and visited a working windmill and many other sort stops for photos and tea ect. it was a trip of 54miles, back at the camp site and as today had been dry the field had dried up a bit we had just started to look at a few cars and we were told that we at to drive 3miles for dinner that was about the only time we got to see all the cars together after a very good free meal we ended up back at the tent for a game of cards and the odd beer or two.
Sunday a lot of people had already gone home and the sun was still shining we
done a short road run with about 40 others but you all travel in your own time
and only meet up at the stops this was a visit to a art museum, a short trip of
32 miles.
we decided that we would pack up and move down to Amsterdam a trip of 100 miles
we got there at 7pm.
Monday we gave the Bugs a day off and took the Metro into Amsterdam, it was a day of showers, we done all the sit seeing bit you know a bus trip, a boat trip, a red light district trip,
Tuesday went for a drive to Edam were the Cheese is made and then had a drive around the city of Amsterdam that was fun, a good day out and 107miles, we only had a little rain today.
Wednesday time to go home so we packed up and headed off to the ferry and the
sun was shining. we got the 4pm ferry home and we had done 653miles in Holland
not bad for my first trip abroad.
we got back to Harwich at 7:30pm and Ivan and Rory was going home but Richard
and myself was going to Leicester for the national rally, so we set off and
after about 50miles Ivan turn off and headed for home Rory travelled with us
until we got to Leicester and then he went home, Richard and me arrived at the
camp site (farm yard) at midnight, we were tiered and fed up only to find that
the field we were in had horses in as well, but as we had done 227miles we just
put up with it.
Thursday the sun was out and the horses had been moved so things were looking up apart from my air bed that kept going down that is. so we took it easy to day just done a bit of shopping and had a very good meal and a early night (I was in bed by 11:30)
Friday went for breakfast at Tesco and I also got a new air bed we then packed up our tents and moved 5miles up the road to the national it was now very hot.
Saturday we done a road run to Coventry motor museum about 86 miles round trip. the rally field was now packed so we had a meal then sat around talking and drinking like you do.
Sunday show day a very hot day as well after the prise giving Richard and myself were joined by Chris and Liz from Wales for the journey home we stopped at Stow for a cup of tea but the little chef was closed so after a drink and getting petrol we set off and Chris turned off for home and left when we got to Swindon I left Richard and went home I got home at 7:30pm.
I would like to thank Rory Ivan and Richard for taking me on this holiday I HAD A GREAT TIME so thank you lads for looking after me.
I done a total of 1235miles and used 150lts of fuel also 1pint of oil, the only time I done anything to the Bug was check the oil and water and sort out a damaged fan guard were I had hit a speed hump at speed.
I must also thank my wife Julie for letting me go on holiday with my mates and leaving her at home, (and I did miss her, honest)