The Rhine

I had been awake since 1.15am so it was no surprise when Claire got up at 4.15am. I was showered and enjoying my walk along the canal by 4.50am, leaving just enough time for breakfast before my Mum and Dad arrived at 5.30am. A quick half a cup of coffee and we are off to the Chunnel where we were due to catch the 9.20am train to France. We were there by 7.35 and hopped that they would let us on an earlier train like they usually do. I was concerned that as they had changed the system since the last time we traveled that it wasn’t in their interest to let you on earlier. They still have the tickets where you chose a time but they have introduced a flexible ticket at an increased rate. Anyway, when we received the paperwork it said that if there is space you can catch an earlier train up to 2 hours ahead of your scheduled time, but alas, they were full up on all until ours. However we still decided to chance our arm and drive down to the trains immediately but were turned back by security. That’s the first time that has happened but worth a try anyway. Off back to park up and get the daily papers and back to the car to eat our second breakfast that Mum had prepared. As soon as we were called up we were off and first in the queue but the train was late and we ended up being 30 minutes later than our scheduled time. On this occasion it wasn’t worth getting up so early, it is the start of the European cup and the place was flooded with travelers including an extraordinary amount of motor bikes.

Off first the other side to commence our long drive through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany to our hotel on the Rhine called the hotel Rheinpracht in Kamp-Bornhofen. Ours is a large double room with a shower room and Mum and Dad’s has an open plan lounge kitchen dinner with separate bedroom and bathroom. This is the same room that we stayed in 2 years ago but the suite was next door to the one we got last time and we liked it better. It has a lovely balcony with views. We were soon unpacked and off for an early dinner at the main hotel. The self catering block that we are in is about 2 minutes walk up the hill from the hotel on the river front. Everyone had the usual, pork schnitzel with mushroom sauce, fries and salad. The salad dressing is lovely, made from cream with dill amongst other things. All washed down with a couple of large Weisbeir’s to get us in the mood for the Canadian GP live in German. Lewis has pole again, come on Lewis!