Family reunited and a busy time

We had finally filled up with diesel after a nail biting trip down the mountains from La Brigue which sits high up in the Alpes-Maritimes of Southern France. 

It was such a relief as we honestly thought we were going to run out of fuel in the middle of one of the hundreds of narrow hair pin bends that we’d driven down. 

Now we could sit back and enjoy the fabulous views on the way to Grenoble where we had an appointment at the Ford garage to have our French camper van examined for the contrôle technique certification. 

As we drove along the Auto Route de Soleil (A7) we became aware that there was a fierce wind blowing hard and it was quite a job to keep the van from drifting. 

Soon the traffic had slowed down and eventually we ground to a halt and then crept along at snail’s pace for a long time. 

We noticed a couple of motor cyclists who were driving along between the lines of cars signalling to us. It looked like they were telling us to change lane which we were thinking was very strange and maybe rather rude!  In fact they were kindly letting us know that the plastic cover that we protect our bikes with had ripped in the high winds and was flapping dangerously. 

We managed to stop at the side of the road and Jonathan took it right off.  Soon after, we passed a car which appeared to have been lightly sideswiped – very likely due to the ferocious winds and the reason for the hold up.

We later learned that the high winds were due to Storm Boris which had caused not only gales but also horrific torrential rain and subsequent flooding over Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic. 

Once we have taken the turn off for Grenoble the wind seemed to calm down and we were treated to a lovely moon rise and a mystical mist that floated across the mountains. 

That night we parked round the corner from the Ford Garage in an outlying suburb of Grenoble. Luckily the neighbours were very quiet (we were parked next to a cemetery!)

The certification process took considerably longer than we had hoped. When we arrived back at the garage after a long walk and some lunch we were told that we needed new front tyres and our front brake discs replaced. So off we went for another walk and then after a bit of a wait in the Ford car showroom, we were finally reunited with our home on wheels. 

The following day we made it to one of favourite stopping places – beautiful Metz. As we have been there several times and described it in previous blogs I won’t go into details. Suffice to say we loved being back!

We were up early the next day as we were anxious to get back to our daughter and son-in-law’s place in the Netherlands as our son Ben and his wife Sarah, and Sarah’s Dad, Mark, were arriving there for a lightening quick visit the very next day!

As always it was great to be back in what has now become our second home – Pijnacker. 

Autumn was in the air but the weather was still sunny and warm – perfect weather for welcoming Ben, Sarah and Mark who were on a European trip that was instigated by a wedding in Scotland and which ended up as an amazing whirlwind tour of Edinburgh, London, Paris, Brussels, Bruges and various places in Iceland as well as a wonderful few days in the Netherlands. 

Ben had joined Sarah and her Dad in Paris and had brought a fabulous but distinctly oversized gift. It was Hannah’s old rocking horse which they had renovated beautifully (it was very ancient when Hannah inherited it so probably over 50 years old now). 

Ben had carted it all the way from Australia through France and Belgium to the Netherlands in a capacious swag bag. By some miracle it arrived more or less in tact ( just a small repair required). 

We had a fabulous few days together – it was just so good to reunited as a family after almost two years. We managed to pack a lot in, including a visit to the lovely farm that Pieter works for which has a fabulous farm shop and lots of cows that love a scratch. I think Sarah made a fuss of each and every cow!

We also spent some time in glorious Delft and while taking in the sights indulged in a traditional and delicious Dutch delicacy – Stroopwafels. These iconic treats are made with thin, round wafer-like sweet and doughy biscuits in two layers held together by syrup filling! You can buy freshly cooked (still hot) giant stroopwafels and if you have a sweet tooth they are the perfect indulgence!

Coincidentally, the day before Ben and Sarah arrived one of Hannah’s great friends from Australia also arrived to surprise her. Ella and her husband Angelo were on their honeymoon and decided to make a quick side trip to the Netherlands as Hannah and Pieter were unable to attend their wedding. 

Later that day we had lovely barbecue dinner with friends and family in Hannah and Pieter’s back garden. 

The day before Sarah, Ben and Mark departed for Iceland, we went on a really pleasant boat trip through the canals of Leiden. Hiring a boat is such a great way of seeing this picturesque city with its 17th Century buildings and colourful gardens. 

We were very lucky to have another beautifully sunny day to enjoy this relaxing day together. 

That evening we went out for a superb meal at a very authentic Italian restaurant that just happens to be round the corner from Hannah and Pieter’s house. 

It was very sad to see Ben and Sarah leave and we all wished they could have stayed longer!

A few days later Jonathan and I felt the call of the road and decided to head for France again. The weather when we drove through South Holland was distinctly inauspicious but by the time we reached our destination – Aire-sur-La-Lys – the sun was out again.