Sert Day 4

Sun, Sea and Sand...

Schiedam - Ouddorp - Aartlesaar (Antwerp) - Bastogne

Distance: 253 Miles

Before we set off, late morning, we took the time to grease the window runners and install the door trims and window winders, which we had packed in the realisation that we were not going to get them fitted before we left.

Our biggest loss of the trip occurred as we drove down past Europort. The high speed and buffeting from the constant stream of artics we passed was too much for the slightly last minute and ad-hoc mounts for the passenger door mirror, last seen dissapearing under an artic on the N-15. Oh- well, nothing precious, I'll just have to buy a new one with the correct mounts..

The sun was blazing hot and the open roof gave us the best possible views as we drove along the dykes and over the miles long sluice gates regulating the sea level "In-Land". We made a quick stop for provisions in Ooudorp and found the nearest beach, a long and fantastically sandy one. The cold waters and mild swell of the north sea provided welcome cooling before we headed onwards towards Belgium. Here's a quick in car shot from the A-58 on Zeeland.

Our next planned stop was Nova Tech in Aartlesaar just south of Antwerp. During my time in England I had worked closely with these guys, sometimes under tough situations but the times I was visiting them and when they were in England we always had a good laugh. When I made my surprise call that morning it was good to speak to one of the guys but sad to hear that two of the others were out of town.

By the time we had run out of petrol 4 Km from Novatech (I cadged a lift off a very kind Belgium man to the nearest petrol station and had to walk the 1.5Km back) we arrived much later than planned.

After an hour of remminissing, some coffee, some Dutch cheese and biscuits, we set off at about 7:30 p.m. towards our final destination of Bastogne, but not before our French speaking friend had helped us book a B&B.

Our route took us around the Brussels ring and onward through the heart of the french speaking part of Belgium. On the way there were more than a few one horse (or is that one whores) seedy towns, with a worrying quantity of red lights... We did not stop.

We finally arrived at the grand old farmhouse that was our B&B at the late hour of 10:30 p.m. Our room was large and very fine complete with on-suite divided by just a curtain.

MIL's Tintin Shelf

Don't ask, my very dear Mother in Law enjoyed here 70th birthday during last week. Although it involved a little work we were delighted when she requested a shelf for the Titin cars that shes been collecting. This request saved us from thinking about what to get her.

After some highly detail design work (including some very good advise from Mrs VL after my first design was deemed way too fancy), there was a brief interruption in progress while I travelled to Finland with work for a couple of days.

A short afternoon in Partner in Crimes basement produced this flat pack kit.

A bit of Routing and glueing in our basement produced this.

A bit of Sanding, varninshing and a very enjoyable party during which I mounted it on the wall and here it is, in all it's glory complete with the very fine art work which it is built to disply.

SERT Day 3

Cube Houses and Cheese...

Distance: 0 Miles

Day three was the first of three days off driving. We began the day by sucessfully entering the boot, removing the trim inside the back of the car and working blind through a small hole to undo one of the boot hinges.

We also popped in and bought some wonderful chocolate from the "Chocolate Art" Factory and shop which we were staying over.

After this we hopped on the tram into Rotterdam which was our main sightseeing destination. A quick bite of Chinese and off we set to look at Rotterdams rather special and bizarre Cube Houses, designed by one Piet Blom, seen here with the slightly more normal Pencil house in the back ground.

One of the cube houses was open as a "Show Cube", so we paid a visit. The conclusion was that it would be fun to buld furniture for, the cats would love it and after that you'd probably get fed up with it..

After that we walk along the river with it's constant flow of long, laden and low barges transport their cargos between Europort and deep into mainland Europe.

We saw some more architecture and sights, and quite by accident stumbled upon a ship museum, including a fantastic workshop which I was allowed to have a little peak into. For the benifit of Partner in Crime here's a photo, I believe a suitable phrase is "Green With Envy".

Next stop was Gouda, a 20 minute train ride from Rotterdam. We were sadly too late for the market but not to late to enjoy a walk around this fantastically scenic town and visit this fantastically cheesy shop

After much tasting and debate we left with a selection of cheeses as an after dinner offering for our evenings meal. These included a Gouda which had matured for over 2 1/2 Years!! and very tasty it was.

A quick local beer by, predictably enough another canal and it was back on the train to make our way back for the evenings meal and some very enjoyable company. Dinner, as the weather was fine, turned out to be a roof top Bar-B-Q.

Good food, good drinks and excellent company. Many thanks to our kind hosts, make sure we can return the favour, feel free to come and visit...

Just so that I'm not accused of biasing the men in my photo's, here's one of the happy ladies also...

Wild Chanterelles.

The shortning evenings and misty morning signifying the rapid approach of autumn bring with them an exciting harvest from the forest. Exciting for two reasons, because they're very tasty and that there's no gaurentee you'll find any.

Not long after I got home from a brief work trip to Finland on Friday evening we were out "hunting" for these little treasures in the forest. During the past couple of days dog walking Mrs VL had spotted a few here and there so our hopes of success were good.

And good they were, never before has one trip yielded such a harvest. Over the weekend we've enjoyed Chanterelles on Toast, Chanterelle and Crab Claw Sandwhiches and A Chanterelle omlette. All thourghly delicious. Here's a quick taster of the first pickings, hopefully there'll be a couple more like this.

SERT Day 2

Rain, Rain, Rain

Kiel - Itzehoe - Cloppenburg - Scheidam (Nr Rotterdam)

Distance: 391 Miles

Still unable to enter the boot, but not smelling yet as we forunately had with us our washing gear and a change of undies in the cabin we headed off the ferry onto German soil at around 10:00 a.m. Our nagivation skills failed us immediately as we headed out of Kiel on the most North Westerly road available instead of the Autobahn due south to Hamburg as originally planned.

The weather was so foul that, on discovering our mistake, we decided that the Autobahn wouldn't be much fun and a more cross country route was chosen. By the time we reach Itzehoe our stomachs were ready for lunch, so a quick stop at a super market before continuing onward to eat our German delicacies on a ferry accross the Elbe, although I don't think Mrs VL thought the smelly cheese was all that delicate!!! We didn't get out and was pleased that the hood kept out most of the huge amounts of spray as the open ferry crashed into the waves.

During the journey my mind was desparately churning on how to get into the boot with the minimum amount of damage. A plan was hatched and we stopped in Cloppenburg to purchase a very shiney 13mm ratchet spanner (1/2" was not available and the comprehensive tool kit was locked in the boot). We took advantage of a slight let up in the torrential rain and refueled ourselves with a very traditional German "Subway" after a good leg stretch around the town.

By now, it was clear that our planned 7 p.m. arrival time was optimistic and even more worrying that the number we had to contact our hosts was clearly wrong. This problem was solved by using the Saw Sharpner as a middle man and our hosts were informed to expect us a little later.

A couple of hours of motorway driving completed a long 12 hours on the road and we arrived outside a very fancy choclate shop beside a canal. Over which our host for the next 2 days, the Chemical Spaniards, have a wonderful flat.

Spitfire European Road Trip (SERT) Day 1

Easy Start.



Haugtuft - Sande - Oslo Ferry Port (Colorline)



Distance: 67 Miles


After an early and slightly drizzly start to complete our packing we got underway behind schedule at about 09:15 a.m. After popping in to the In-Laws Chalet to show of the more or less finished car before anything had a chance to fall off or break we headed, with top now down, on our pleasantly sunny way towards the ferry port, arriving at 12:30p.m in good time for our 2 p.m. departure.


We had such good time that we were able to attach the sun visors whilst waiting to be board, much to the amusement of some of those waiting.

Our largest problem of the whole trip started not long after boarding when I locked the boot for the first time and we couldn't get it unlocked again.

The crossing was a little rough so both food and drink consumptions were a little subdued.

We're home

After 1936.5 miles we've arrived safely back home. The car has been superb the whole way and we managed all our visits and stops as planned.

Only time that we got stuck was the one time we ran out of petrol and the only times the bonnet was opened were to check fluids, tighten the fan belt, cleaning and showing off....

Anyway, here's a little taster picture. More detailed report to follow as, mainly for our benefit rather than your boredom, I'm planning to write a daily dairy in the near future.



Oh, and sadly there was no Nurburgring, it had to happen on the Second Monday or Tuesday but the circuit wasn't open for the public until the Wednesday at 5 p.m at which time we needed to be 500 miles north of Nurburg.. Oh well, another time.

Tour report.

It's day 5 of our European tour in the Triumph and we've covered over 800 miles. Whilst, up to now, we've been free from major mechanical problems, there's been a few little 'events' along the way.

We arrived in good time for the ferry in Oslo on Sunday, and the crossing to Kiel was good. However, almost like losing one's baggage on a flight, we were reunited with our 'stowed' luggage in Rotterdam on Tuesday morning. After locking the boot for the first time it didn't unlock again. Remedy, remove trim from inside of car, reach in and undo hinges. All this with the 13mm spanner purchased during our wet and windy drive from Kiel to Rotterdam on the Monday.

On Tuesday, a day off driving, we went into a cube house in Rotterdam, bought cheese in Gouda and enjoyed a bar-be and some belgian beer with our kind hosts.

Yesterday, the car gained the inside doortrims, lost a wing mirror at speed beside Europort (fell off all on it's own) and we found the limit of the fuel guage. Otherwise trouble free, we drove over Hollands dykes, swam in the sea, popped by for coffee in Antwerp and settled for the night in Bastogne, sunshine and top down all the way.

This morning found wet seats and the Triumph badge on the floor after losing it's battle with gravity combined with some help from the heavy rain washing away the adhesive during the night. After learning of Bastogne's war significance, a short day of a little over 100 miles has taken us to Remich in Luxembourg in the Moselle Valley. On the way we stopped at Chateux de Bourschied, a magnificent 1000 year old castle perched high on the hill side.

Tommorrow it's the Moselle valley and onto Ingelheim am Rhein near Frankfurt.

It's a pleasure to enjoy my Triumph again after all these years and it's all thanks to the many who have had a hand in helping, to all I am very grateful, but thats another story and another post.

Pictures Later.