|
|
Belgium 2003
|
2003
Day fifteen 16th June
The last leg of our 2003 trip meant passing back through Belgium to get to Holland and the port at Rotterdam, so we decided to have one night in Belgium.
The last part of the trip from Épernay on the A7 was uneventful, until we went to go into a service area but took a wrong turn and ended up at a large supermarket, saved us having to look for one. The van was only half full of beer so we needed more. In the supermarket I could not concentrate to work out the prising system, so we went for some food from the slowest, fast food restaurant in the world, a McDonalds. Back in the shop I soon fathomed out their pricing system, and found many new beers, also some buy so many pack and get free glass offers. Was supposed to get cigs for a friend but defiantly could not work that one out.
 |
Camping Druivenland Overijse Nijvelsebaan 80, B-3090 OVERIJSE |
The site is in the back of beyond and was just about empty of tourers, so we had the choice of anywhere in the field.
I asked at reception if there was a bar or restaurant near by and was given directions to the village. I set off on the bike to see if it was in walking distance, well I never did find a village with a bar or restaurant and gave up. We managed to trip the electrics (hairdryer & kettle) for first time but as the site was empty, I just swapped to another outlet and it was a long walk to reception. We spent our last night drinking in the van and although it had been very hot during the day, the evening was rather cold.
I wish I could say more about the area but we weren't there long and there was nothing to photo.
Day sixteen 17th June
On the the A4 and then round the Brussels ring road the R0 onto the A1 to Antwerp. At Antwerp the A1 changes to the A1/A12/ then back to the A1 as we exit Antwerp and then changes again to the A16 as we enter Holland, then finally on to the A15 for Rotterdam. Sounds easy doesn't it? Well its not that easy, the roads are a lot busier in Belgium and Holland, we got stuck in two sets of road works and we got it wrong at Antwerp and ended up in the city. I think we got onto the ring road going west instead of east and as I couldn't see a way to get back to right way, I took the first tuning off the ring road.
The way off the motorway was quite a long road and I couldn't see the way back up, to go back where we had come from. By the time we found somewhere to pull over we did not know exactly where we where (something GPS has fixed, with that even when you are lost, you still know where you are, if you know what I mean). We studied the AutoRoute map but still could not work out exactly where we where as there were no road signs to be found. So we carried on along this road until we decided we were getting nowhere and tuned off to check the map again. We spotted a large shopping centre and thought this would be a good place to find out where we where, so we parked up but could not find it on the map, eventually I spotted a road sign over a dual carriageway and ran over to read it. Eureka, there was a road name so we could find it on the map but there where still a couple of problems to overcome.
We could not get out of the car park, all the exits had height barriers, we drove all over and I began to wonder how we got in. Eventually I drove over a grass verge and curb to get out. Then back at the motorway I could not find the way on and drove round the same roads several times, before I eventually managed to get in the right lane at a set of lights, at a very dodgy junction, this enable me to get onto the motorway slip road.
Only problems from there was a massive traffic jam, we had given ourselves plenty of time but I did start to worry we would not make the ferry but just then, it all cleared and we arrived in plenty of time. The driver of road sweeper had a bit of fun with us, on the way into the port, as he had Netherland plates and RHD and we had GB plates and LHD, shrugging his shoulders and pretending to be confused, then he started laughing.