23/02/2007 - BELGIUM - FLANDERS LRC VISIT

Event Location:

Belgium

Event Format:

Camping/Green Laning/Site Visit

Organisers:

Bunny

Winner:

N/A

Last year one member of the Twinaxle made it to the Winterbivy, but this year, well, I was hoping to have ten vehicles and 20 members. The morning of Saturday the 24th had nearly dawned and I found myself sat at Eurotunnel with some friendly and familiar faces! The day had arrived and we had all booked in at silly o'clock to board our train. The adventure had begun.

After a safe crossing, we found ourselves in Calais at 7am GMT and 8pm French/Belgium time. We had 140 miles to cover and map co-ordinates to find out Flemish friends. We set off, great roads, good convoy drills and my TomTom working perfectly. We arrived at the co-ordinates without a problem. What a great field to meet! But where were our Flemish friends! Several phone calls later and we found Marijn in Binche. The real fun was about to start.

We followed Marijn and found a group of our new friends parked at the top of a very muddy bank. Was it a test? We nearly all made it up! Then it was hot mulled wine (Gluwein). We joked with our 4x4 colleagues and then followed off a Series III on the start of our laning adventure across Belgium, or was it France? No, I think we were still in Belgium. We crossed muddy field after muddy field. Were we really eighteen vehicles in convey (this would not happen in England). Then over a hill and parked on the road, straightening a tie rod, were more of our Flemish friends. More laughing and hand shaking! What great people the Flemish people are. We tried to help, but they knew what they were doing.

Tiredness had begun to set in, we had been up very early. Yet our hosts seemed more tired! Why? Soon the truth was told. They had eaten all the meat and stayed up to 4:30, the time we had got up, and got very, very drunk. They all looked as knackered as we felt. Yet, still, Ruth managed to look damn fine ;-) A few more miles of laning and we arrived at our campsite! Perfect, full of mud and well arranged, with fire, loos and large tents.

We had our tents up and were drinking beer in no time. God, this Belgium beer is good. The light faded the fire grew brighter and the drink flowed. Brits chatted with the Flems and Flems chatted with Brits. All was friendly and fun. All the guys from the Twinaxle had loved the whole day. Now to see if we could stay up all night?

Then the food! Wow, it was tasty! It was perfect! It was hot! Then more drink and out came the cigars! Stavie found me and offered me the best smoke I've had in years! Thank you Stavie. Tom arrived! Great, then the shots came out! Suddenly I was not tired. What a great evening. Belgium songs, Belgium beer and Belgium laughter missed with British humour and laughter. Perfect. We went to bed at 2:30am with eight Brits plus Tom and Stavie staggering towards our tents.

Morning broke and breakfast was cooked. The ladies had out done themselves and prepared egg and bacon with baguette and coffee. Then tents down and off to our site for a days fun! We arrived at the site, water everywhere. Off we went to play. We had hours of fun just splashing around and getting stuck. Everyone helped everyone. Fun with capital letters! I should have taken the tow ball off Kelly. But, hey, at least I had a plough. What a great day, all we missed was a toilet. But far to soon, it was time to say goodbye to all our Flemish friends.

We set off again. My TomTom died and Peter led, then it was over to maps. Then the TomTom worked again. People wanted to stop at Supermarkets. Could we find one? No! We arrived at Eurotunnel and sat for over an hour and talked about our weekend. Everyone agreed we had a brilliant weekend and most do it again soon. We also decided we would make the FLRC visit to Flimwell even better than last year. Tiredness drew its knife and we were all pleased to get home safely. What a perfect weekend.

Thank you Flander's Land Rover Club, thank you, and we will see you again soon.