LOADING AT BRECHT

On all good things come an end.

After a few days of rain driving from Ypres to the proximity of the port of Antwerp we had a sunny day for preparing the vehicles for shipping.

So may more places and events had been visited than reported on this site. Everyday had its highlight and my body is still buzzing with impressions.

After helping the Aussies and NZérs load their vehicles,

The boss drove me on to Apeldoorn in Holland.

We could not believe that after 5000 miles we arrived 100m from our final destination to see the veterans day celebrations on the Market place.

Willy just joined in for the fun and phoned a few friends to welcome us back in our new home.

The trip has been very succesfull and the impressions need many more months to sink in.

Many thanks for all who looked after us in the last weeks.

But for now I leave it and I am looking foward to short trips during my retirement

It has been a pleasure informing you about our progress in the last six weeks.

To all, the very best and hope to see you soon,

Willy, 12 June 2009

Many thanks to all in the group who cared for me. In the end a flat tyre and a starting motoe was all that failed. And that a t my age of 67 !!

ST QUENTIN CABARET

After Dieppe , Amiens we left for St Quentin Cabaret, where Graham has an uncle buried who was killed in May 1917.

It is believed that he was the first relative to visit this grave site.

We planted a hortensia which should last the summer.

It made for a very special stop on our trip to honour a distant relative whose live was cut short at the tender age of 21..

We also helped along an englishman who was looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack...

But our map with approximately 100 cemetries around Ypres helped him locate the one he was looking for..

Willy 8 June 2009

40th Wedding Anniversary

The co-pilot had his 40th wedding anniversay in Normandy.

Just the occasion for a big celebration with his family.

The tent was exchanged for a suitable villa and the off spring

with partners were all there.

A suitable speech was given by the pilot .

(The 40th couple are to the left on the foto)

We all enjoyed a great dinner party at the local golf club.

Willy, 7th June 2009

D-DAY 2009

What a day it has been.


In convoy with the poms to a beach East of Arromanche. Then we had to wait for low tide for a few hours.



The gendarmerie had blocked many roads for festivities and we had to use a few back roads and a distant beach to get a back door on to Arromanche beach.














The intention was to join a massive gathering of vehicles and craft on the beach at Allamanche.






Willy did not wait for low tide and waded through the sea wet sand to join the family, who were already waiting for a few hours. That gave us a prime spot on the beach, next to a landing craft.



There were still many real veterans and we paid our respect to them in style.






Wonderfull to see quite a few still in good health.

Old soldiers never die










Willy", 6 June 2009

FAMILY Gathering

The families of the pilot and co-pilot arrived in Port a Boissin early in the week and they joined them in some very comfortable accomodation.

I was unloaded to carry more passengers and all slept in grande style.

The co-pilot and his wife celebrated their 40th anniversary on the 7th, and the pilot has withnessed all 40 years.

We were joined by the children of both pilot and co-pilot which amde for a happening of 11 people.

What a unique happening. They took turns to make trip with Willy and waving to the other WWII vehicle drivers.

Willy, 7 june 2009

Congratulations Rene and Carla, many happy returns

Well done.

Will

NORMANDY COAST

I have a bit of catch up to do.

We arrived on the Normandy North coast last Monday and we have been really busy with visiting sites and getting the reception for President Obama and Sarcosy ready.

Visiting many hostoric battle sites and taking it all in.

One of the famous sites is St Marie Eglise , were one poor paratrooper got stuck on the church steeple. The poor bugger is still there.

WE also took advantage of the low tide and fine weather to drive on a number of beaches. Omaha beach here we come. A fantastic experience to be here and commemorate the landings .

Not good for Willy's under belly all that salt sand. But coming all the way one might as well.

Here is Willy with in the background some very smart looking Italians.

They brought a salut to us in respect of the distance travelled. They had heard from their friends in Sarponia about our trip .

News travels fast.

Willy, 3 June 2009

PERIERS

Not far from the Normandy coast destination , we were guest of an english family. True military vehicle enthousiast. Their vehicles stay in a nice new barn. Willy was quite jealous on that luxury stuff. Plenty to aim for , for the boss. He wished that he had a barn like that. It would be instantly filled with goodies.

The Coombe's organised a very nice barbeque for all of us. Great hospitality !

Trusty Mick having a good look at the coffee we were drinking.

We convinced him to join in.

See you next time.

Willy, 31 May 2009

A SPOT OF BOTHER

Who reaches for high result can also come down to earth with a thump.



This happened to me yesterday on the way from Mont St Michel to Periers.



Willy had to pull over to to let some old men do their business on the side of the road.



When I tried to make some more space to let a few vehicles in , my front wheel fell down a hidden french ditch.



I heard the co-pilot scream in panic "are you going to fall over Willy".

Naeh , I am all-right it takes a fair bit for that to happen. But the co-pilot made a hasty retreat , with some marks in his pants....







Even for good ole Willy this was a big task to get out off.

Low range, 4-wheel drive and first gear did not do the job.

Rather than straining my essentials, we enlisted some help from NZ érs.

So with the help of good ole Dodge , I was back on track in a jiffy.

All of this took less time than to read this, but it is still creating exitement for many of the others and some embarrasment for thge pilot.

Willy is still unmarked, other than some grass around the propshaft.

Willy, 31 May 2009

MONT ST MICHEL

Mont St. Michel lies on the coast of Normandy/Bretannie.It is a small rock linked with a causeway to the mainland.





It used to flood at high tide , which can be several meters in this part of the world. But the road was increased in height and the island is now accessable all day.



This has caused the surrounding marshes to silt completely full. The Island is therefor not an island any longer .

It is the intention to replace the road with an elevated train track on pilons and remove the road.
This is supposed to make it an island again.

Anyway this is all too complicated for Willy.


Willy, 30 May, 2009

WILLY at the ARC de TRIUMPH

Before setting off to The coast, it was decided to honour the unknown soldier with a salute at The Arc and a run on the Champs Elyssees. So an early start and we were in the centre at about 07.30 am.





Then a run on the Champs Elysees towards the Place de la Concorde. The parisioners did not quite appreciate us slow coaches thundering down the main boulevard. But it made for an impressive sight.





Followed by a drop off of the photographers on the footpath and a salute at the Arc. Fancy standing in front of the famous Arc the Triumph !!!!


The police took an interest aswell and we had to make a retreat at last.

Were on earth would you be allowed to stand in front of such a monument with all traffic looking at you. (And the drivers shaking their heads)

It certainly was one of the highlights of the trip to provide this honour to the unkown soldier.

Willy, 29 May 2009

PARIS

It took a half day to get to Paris from Verdun.

The camp site was at Bois de Bologne and did create a bit of a problem to get there. As the grandslam tennis is on at Roland Garros which is at the Bois de Bologne.

The boss and the co-driver decided to go to the tennis and give me some well earned rest. But , unfortunately there were no tickets available at all. Only through some scalpers. They could see some of the warm up courts but they decided to watch it on the big screen in Paris .

At the Arc Le Triumph we ran into a group of veterans from Rouan providing honour to the unknown soldier. The traffic was suitably stopped and the old diggers marched to the Arc to lay a wreath. With a guard of honour of active soldiers and a band of the marines.

Then a quick tour of a few sites and a long day was closed of succesfully.

Willy, 27 May 2009

MULHOUSE - VERDUN

A pleasant drive through the beautiful Voges country side from Mulhouse to Verdun.

On the way we passed and stopped at the birth place of Jeanne dÁrc. Is the female hero of the french and shown on many of their coins.

A two day night at the camp in Verdun gives an opportunity for car maintenance and people maintenance. (washing and shower) I do not like dirty people on my seats.

Today a drive through the battlefields of Verdun. It is amazing what a stupid war the "Great war" was. All wars are stupid in my view , but this one saw a couple of million casualties. In Verdun alone it was 500,000.

It is amazing to see the landscape still pock marked with bomb craters. Even nearly a hundred years later.

Here I am in front of the memorial for the 120,000 unknown soldiers.

Unfortunately it started to rain quite heavily and we had to make our retreat later that afternoon.

Especially for the fans of the co-pilot, herewith proof that he is a real camper

.

It is true that two grown up men sleep in the smallest and oldest tent on camp Anzac.

I much rather sleep out in the open !

Willy, 25,26 May 2009.

LUZERN - MULHOUSE

Only a short drive to the french city of Mulhouse today.

Amazingly there is no border control in Switzerland anymore. No asking for insurance certificate nor passports. We cheated in not buying a Swiss motorway pass of 60 SFR. But still ran a bit on the motorways. Swiss police do not hand out tickest on Sundays ...

In the city of Mulhouse we went to the Schlumpf museum. There is the biggest collection of Bugattis in the world. The boss tried to swap me for one of these french fancy cars but the offer was rejected. I would not have minded to be retired in a french museum.

A nice airconditioned stable and the admiration of men and woman alike.

Willy, 24 May 2009

SIMPLON PASS - FURKA PASS

From the Lago Maggiore it is a long 25km up to the SIMPLON PASS which is at 2000 m. The drivers were so lucky with the weather , being an unseasonably 30 degrees. But for us old vehicles it was a hell of a ride. There were casualties of the hot weather. Overheating , vopour lock and other misbehaving.

I did fine with only a bit of a temperature and left the peloton behind me and was first at the top. It had been snowing the week before so there was still lots of it at the top. The water running of in the rivers was wild as the temperatures had been so high in the last few days.

From the Simplon the route was to the Furka pass. This one is closed until mid June and the only way over is on the roll on , roll off train.

Beautiful scenery was enjoyed by all.

The Furka tunnel is 15km long . Drivers stay in the vehicles . The noise for Willy's drivers was deafening. It was also quite cold. Willy never went this fast as the top speed of the train was around 100km per hour. I have never moved this fast....

THen on to a small town near Luzern were we stayed on farm land near a Marahisja conference centre.

At night the pilots got an introduction of the science of enlightment. I was glad that I could go to bed early.

Willy, 23 May 2008

LAGO MAGGIORE

Today a relatively quiet day . We stayed two nights at the campground and wanted to drive around the lake today.

Too late we realised that the most northern part of the lake is in fact in Switzerland. To enter one needs the passport ,but those were kept as collateral at the campground office !

Therefore we only drove to the border and back. There are some very nice towns around the lake .

Some of the mansions are classic Lake design. Many Porsches and Maserati's were looking at our old bodies with envy....

None of the old fellows in those cars beeped or waved, Like many others do. They must have been jaleous.

The boss and co walked in the various towns and left us in a carpark. Sofar they have been lucky. The Italians here seem honest. Tomorrow a quick dash into Switzerland to keep this record clean.

Willy, 22 May 2009

TORINO - LAGO MAGGIORE

Last night we went down to the city, as the campground was on a hill just on the skirt of the city of Torino.

A nice city but we stayed too short to get a good impression.

The city is very much like many old european cities. Wide boulevards lined with covered shopping arcades. And then the various squares.

We went to the Piazza Castello and had a very generous buffet for the lowest price imaginable including a beer. The boss was very pleased and so were his mates.

Today a relatively short drive towards the southern tip of Lago Maggiore. To morrow we are going to drive around the lake and see what it really looks like.

Reports about that tomorrow.

Willy, 21 May 2009

PISA - GARLENDA- TORINO

After an early rise we took off to the famous leaning tower and had our pictures taken. Entry was made despite the closed road signs !
The Carabinieri were not impressed but did not interfere.
They let us have our day in front of the Leaning Tower.

We left the appropriate oil spils on the pavement and then left for Genua. (Garlenda)

I still did not like the new co-pilot and had him push start me a few times.
The boss then borrowed a new starter motor from Tony and we are flying again without getting Rene out of breath.

Along the coast on the Autostrada to Albenga and then the small town of Garlenda.
Here the FIAT 500 friends of Lang and Bev had put on some festivities.
We paraded behind the local brassband throught the town. All traffic was stopped for the occasion. We caused some exitement with the local traffic.

Then into the FIAT club museum and off to the tennis club for a giant italian meal. The food just kept coming.

Today a run through the hills up to Turin.

The weather is getting warmer and I am running quite a sweat. But a bit of extra water and oil and I am in bussiness. Until the next time.

Willy, 21 May 2009

Scarperia - Florence - Pisa

This morning a solo run with Marielle to Florence. The others took the train from Scarperia, but Marielle had to catch the plane back to Amsterdam.

We drove through the centre of Florence and then on to Pisa.

Had a good look around the sites and then to the airport to drop Marielle off and pick up a new co-pilot (Rene).


I did not like the looks of the extra weight , compared to Marielle. So I took revenge and refused to start at the airport.

So Rene had to push start me before he could even get in the first time.

We got that fixed when we got to the campground. The campground was very difficult to find. Some have not arrived as yet (it is now 11 PM)


Willy, 18 May 2009
welcome on board Rene (post photos tomorrow.)

ANCONA-Urbino-Toscane

From the ferry we drove to URBINO. An absolute marvel of a town. World heritage we believe. It was by accident that we got there as the arrangements were with a campground which was still closed for the season.

Walked up to the centre of town at night and had a drink in the square. A place to go back to!

Then on the pilots birthday drove to Scarponi crossing Toscani from east to west. A hilly slow trip. Following basically the "Gothic Line" from WWII . Motorcycle territory. Not made for Willy. I was struggling with the hills and sharp corners. The co-pilot had to hang on tight to stay on board.

Scarponi bid us a welcome and we were allowed on the main street, which is normally closed. They opened some the old town hall for a special visit. All very nice and welcoming.

Willy, 17 May 2009

Happy birthday Hans

IRAKLION - ATHENS - PATRA

Time to leave wonderful Crete and go back to Athens.

On the warf , before boarding customs found stow aways in the back of two vehicles !!!

Unknown to the drivers , people had jumped in the back to hitch a ride to Italy !

On the ship again where the pilot na co-pilot had a nice and comfortable bunk.

Whilst "Chuck" and "Wagon" had a restful night on a comfortable chair.

In Athens we drove quickly back into the cityto meet our good friend Bram . It was his birthday ! We enjoyed breakfast with him. Then raced to The Acropolis for Marielle to have a good look at it. We met with Bram again at his office for morning coffee with birthday cake. Great to have seen you again after so many years. Next time we hope to have time to meet your family.

We then left the big smoke passing Piraeus , were being unaware the heritage Ford was having major ignition repairs. Whilst calling the radio did not provide response we went on the way to Patras

Arriving there at 4 PM we decided that we did not want to stay a day and a half under a bridge and continued on to Olympia.

A solitaire overnight at a nice and quiet campground were the co-pilot made some old fashion pancakes.

The next morning an early start to go to the original very impressive OLD OLYMPIA.

This is where (3000 years ago) over a period of nearly 1200 years (every 4 years) 289 Games were held. Wthout missing one ! An the records of the names of the winners have been preserved.

Now on the ferry again on the way to Italy.

All about that tomorrow

Willy, 14/15 May 2009

Happy Birthday Bram and Chris

KNOSSOS -SPINALONGA - AGIOS NIKOLAOS

From Skafia back to the North coast of Crete.

Some narrow winding and steep roads. A lot of grinding oif the gear teeth and a bit of sweating of the radiator.

The day was finished with a visit to KNOSSOS. A 4000 year old city of which a fair bit still remains.

A good nights rest was had just east of Hiraklion. In the morning an early runs to PLAKA were the drivers took a fishing boat SPINALONGA. I stayed on the Quay just watching them disappear, wondering what was going on.

SPINALONGA was a Leper colony until 1953 . A very interesting place. Marielle had read a book about it and was very well informed.

I could just see the island from my kitchen box

From there we went to AGIOS NIKOLAOS . \Quite nice but a bit of a tourist trap. Full of the well known souvenirshops.



Then we raced back to Heraklion to board the ferry back to Athens

Willy, 13 May 2009

(happy birthday Danielle)

HORA SFAKION

Today is a rest day after a hard drive over steep country side.



I had to stop for goats.


Fancy hitting a one of those. The goat will lose against my solid front.











Hora Skafion or Skafia is a very pretty port on the south coast.





From here the Australian and New Zealand troops evacuated to Egypt after they were pushed out by the Germans'in May 1941. They got their revenge eventually.








I am standing next to the memorial with some friends.


The memorial commemorates this evacuation.











Today we will wonder up the coast a little and have a swim in the Aegean Sea this afternoon.


Willy, 11 May 2009

IRAKLION/ CHANIA / Crete

After the ferry we met at a lookout to hear about the defence of Iraklion or Heraklion during May 1941. The Australian and NZ forces held the Germans off at a couple of locations across the island of Crete from Heraklion to Xiania. But the failed at Malene on the westrern side of the island. The German's took control of the airfield and flew in reinforcements. Unfortunately the defence was badly organised and the german's forced the allied forces to retreat to Skafia on the south coast where they were evacuated to North Africa.

Willy took control of the old airport today with a few of his mates.

What a beautiful little fishing town.

Staying overnight at the local campground with fresh bread in the morning we set off for another day of adventure.

Willy, 9 May 2009

CRETE

Sailing the Crete was at 9.00 PM, but we got there already at 4PM.

The others were already waiting in the port. Loading started at 6.30 PM and I got locked up on a hot deck full of very big trucks. I felt a bit humble among them . They respected me and did not bump into me.

The pilot and co-pilots (Jan and Marielle) came on board. They had a lovely meal of fish and chips. and then settled in a nice cabin. Early start as arrival in Heraklion was at 6.00AM
Others slept in "airline" style chairs.

We dropped c0-pilot Jan in Heraklion at a car rental station. We have not heard from him since. I suppose that is a good sign.

In the morning we drove in convoy up a steep hill overlooking the airfield. This is were the Aussies and NZ'ers held off the German parachuters.
Convoy with a group like ours is not a good idea. It is slow and despite that everyone still got lost.

The afternoon was used to drive to the west of Crete. Now resting in Chania (Hania).


Willy, 9 May 2009

(photo's when we have access to WIFI again.)

ACROPOLIS / Athens

Willy stayed at the campground whilst the pilot went to Central Athens.

With a bus and then the subway is just as easy. No parking in Athens for foreigners like me.

The Acroplis remains an incredible site. Imagine buildings that have been there for thousands of years. It all stands out so prominently in the skyline. It is build on a hill over looking a very large part of Athens.
At night it is beautifully lit. We could see it from the campground (with binoculars)

They only had the morning to visit Athens, as a new co-pilot was arriving at 2PM.

And she was spot on time. After an SMS to let her know where Willy was was, she arrived withing 30 seconds. The pilot was still sorting things out and she knocked on the door.


Great to have Marielle on board.


Willy, 8 May 2009

ATHENS

This is one of my mates in a tight situation along the way.

A long way to Athens from Volos.

It is getting much warmer and the mercury hit 22 Degrees today.

Other than traffic jams we have not seen much of Athens.

Tomorrow another co-pilot arrives (Marielle). Thus the ring road traffic chaos again to the airport and then the back to Pireaus.

Jan hooks off . He will come with us on the ferry to Crete and flies back to Brussels on the 13th.

The group is looking forward to some decent cooking. So Marielle will have to show off her skills.

Tomorrow night on the ferry to Crete. Looking forward to some rest again.

Willy, 7 May 2009

South of Thessaloniki

The route from Northern Greece to Athens is rather uneventful. It is a long way for an old fellow like me. Slugging along at 45mph is about right. The rest of the traffic is not much faster. I got stopped at small villages and we visited the odd chapel. The boss took advantage to get the protection of Saint Christophorus. Who now adores the dashboard.


They also lit a candle for the living and the dead in the family and beyond.















Today arrived at Volos a rather unassuming town and we will be on the way to Athens tomorrow.






Weather wise, I have been getting wet. But fortunately when packing up in the morning it has been dry.
The temperature is still pretty cold and my temperature is running low . Even going up Mt Olympus. The gods were angry thatr night as we heard a great thunderstorm. Zeus did not like Willy ?

So you next in Athens.

Willy, 6 May 2009

Around Thassos

Willy went around the Island today. It was a fair distance I would say half a tank (100 miles).

It was worth it. And the weather was brilliant sunshine . Still a bit cold as the pilot and co-pilot are sitting all rugged up in me. The doors were out so they must be happy.

We are staying at the Golden Beach campground on the East side of the Island.

The population is small only about 12000 for a fairly big Island.

On the south side there is a small monastry for nuns.

The west coast is less interesting.

We stopped at a lovely fishing village were they repaired netting in the very old fashioned way.

Tomorrow will be a long day for the old buggers .I am pretty noisy and the seats are medium comfortable.

Sofar we are getting there each night.

No updates tomorrow , but then again on the 5th again.

Willy, Golden Beach 3 May 2009