I would just like to say

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Forrest Gump said:
Yes mate , Brize is quite a big airbase for the UK. Transport hub etc and a training school for parachuting. Few different types of aircraft based there. No Hercs anymore, a brain surgeon in the MOD decided to punt them all, bit silly if you ask me. Very good aircraft.
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Thanks for reminding me and that my memory isn't entirely sozzled!
Vivid memory of our woodwork master, a real hard case bloke with a bust nose, sitting in the VC10 which was as smooth as butter clutching a sick bag as if he wanted to fall into it!
This was at about the time that some yank grunt decided he'd had enough of service in Europe and decided to nick a Herc and fly it back to the States. He took it off, as after all that is the easy bit, he wasn't a pilot at all, got halfway across the Atlantic then lost his nerve, flew around in circles for a while then disappeared off the radar.
A bit like that squaddie that got fed up of service in Germany and decided to take a Stalwart for a swim, he got over halfway across the Channel then chickened out and headed back to the other side!
 
Stanleysteamer said:
Thanks for reminding me and that my memory isn't entirely sozzled!
Vivid memory of our woodwork master, a real hard case bloke with a bust nose, sitting in the VC10 which was as smooth as butter clutching a sick bag as if he wanted to fall into it!
This was at about the time that some yank grunt decided he'd had enough of service in Europe and decided to nick a Herc and fly it back to the States. He took it off, as after all that is the easy bit, he wasn't a pilot at all, got halfway across the Atlantic then lost his nerve, flew around in circles for a while then disappeared off the radar.
A bit like that squaddie that got fed up of service in Germany and decided to take a Stalwart for a swim, he got over halfway across the Channel then chickened out and headed back to the other side!
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That story was in the news again just a couple of years back. People are trying to locate the wreck to see if it was shot down. Some reckon it was shot down. Guy had been in Vietnam and wanted to just go home, must have just had enough eh. Brize Norton is actually a huge place. Biggest one in uk I think. Lot of history and stories out of that base.
 
Well we went up to the Lac for the firework display, took two bots of wine with us and a load of snacky type stuff as we got there well before it was due to start, as in 3.5 hours before.
Enjoyed simply sitting there enjoying the view across the lake and people watching. Listening to one of the Dutch marching bands that had been doon the toon for the Fanfares that we missed going to last night cos W was too ill to be able to stand up for the required time.
This time we were sat in comfy chairs and got talking to peeps around us, one lady right next to us with her husband turned out to be classic car nuts so that was brill, we were even able to give them a glass of wine.
Then about 25 mins before the display was about to start W felt unwell enough for us to have to leave.
So we missed the fireworks. she was dreadfully upset and that was that.
Boy are we hoping that the surgeons will be able to sort her out.
Sleep tite folks!
:):):)
 
DanClarke said:
OK this is what happened (with any gory details removed).....

A small update, with a definite "glossing over" of the worst bits.

My friend Paul & I met up in Maasluis after landing at our respective ferry ports (Hook for me, and Rotterdam for Paul).
After some refreshment we cycled to the Erasmusbrug bridge and took a ferry (25Km) to Dordrecht.
image.png


We had lunch in Dordrecht and then travelled to our first campsite.
I had a major financial disaster at this point on this first day (I lost my wallet with all my money, cards etc. etc. as it fell out of my pocket onto the road somewhere) but with help from my family at home and some frantic calls to my bank(s) etc. a bank transfer of funds and Paul's assistance we managed to overcome things.

Paul and I learnt how to climb on top of a picnic table to get out of the rain-puddle growing under our feet.
A very nice Dutch lady saw us shivering in the cold and wet under the pergola and invited us to come and take Coffee with her and her husband and we spent about 2 hours with these charming and delightful people.
Our intended campsite in Tilburg was full when we got there towards the end of the day and we frantically called around to find another place.
We were rejected out of hand by several potential campsites for no good reason we could fathom but one lovely lady at "Camping Petit013" took us in and it turned out to be the best site of the tour.
image.png




We did manage to meet up with our Dutch friend Emiel in Hilvarenbeek for lunch on the Saturday :) . Another friend (Maddox) was sadly Hors-de-combat with Covid :(.

We achieved all of the goals that we set for ourselves regarding Islands, towns/villages visited and total of 287 miles (459Km) were e-assist traveled by me, and wholly manpower-pedaled by Paul.

My biggest battery (20AH) failed on our longest single trip (82Km 51.6 Miles) from Hulten to Melissant (via Ould Tonge for dinner) ) we were towing our fully loaded trailers and we limped along and arrived after dark and pitched our tents by torchlight. We were both rather exhausted I think.

We stayed here for 2 nights and then made our way back to the port area via the Krabbeplat and another campsite for 2 nights.

image.png


I arrived back at Harwich on this morning's 06:30 ferry.
As all I had was my phone and the contactless payment it offers, no cards, not even the car parking ticket to try and get a price from the car park machine at Harwich I was worried they would not let me out of the car park as I could not pay or that they would slap loads of charges on. But.....After a 2 minute call to the number on the machine I was instructed to "wait there" and in 5 mins a lovely lady popped out of nowhere and handed me a car park exit pass and said "Here's your 'get out of jail free' card" and I escaped without paying the £8.60/day charge OR the £85 lost ticket admin charge. Success!
40 minutes later I was home with my lovely wife. :D



Everywhere we stayed we took the opportunity to visit as many of the local places we could.

The weather was the worst I have experienced in any of my four my trips to Holland, there were very few Sunny days and most of the time we were dodging rain showers or storms. A lot of card playing was done in our evenings while we watched the rain falling.

Verdict:
A good trip with both highs and lows, some wonderful cycling and some abysmal weather. Ha! Ha!
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I know the Dutch like their cycles but this sounds like an epic undertaking. Good you completed it despite the problems.
 
Stanleysteamer said:
Is this in GB or frogland?
Cos in Fland a Brocante is most certainly not a flea market, it is basically an outdoor antique market where they may be flogging off the hard-to-sell stuff a bit cheaper. But your missus sounds like mine cos she too finds good stuff among the muck and rubble!

Have a lovely time!!:):)
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Bishops Waltham. They're going for the French vibe I think, but you do get all sorts. Is a nice village anorl, herself is looking at houses (as if..) :D
 
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