Monday 3rd August 2009

The day for departures had come, and after a convivial breakfast (where Bill turned up laden with copies of the Mindener Tageblatt newspaper with write ups of the weekend) we all appeared with luggage.

Many went by train, others loaded their cars.

Emerging from the hotel.

Chatting with Bill

Loading the boot

Synchronising GPSs

Nearly ready for the off

Peggy and Tony are staying on, and enjoy a joke with Bill.

GOODBYE MINDEN!!

Some of us decided to stop briefly at the Kaiser Wilhelm Denkmal at Porta Westfalica, where we were supposed to dance 2 years ago but the heavens opened so we moved to a school.

Climbing to the monument form the car park

From the monument (which is visible from Minden) you get a great view over the countryside.

Looking at the view

Carving on the base of the monument

The whole thing

That's us.

And that's him - Kaiser Wilhelm (I think he was the one who unified Germany)

A long drive across Germany, Holland and Belgium took us to Dunkerque and a hypermarket for supplies and a quick supper at Buffalo Grill.

Clare trying to convert back from German to French

And then to the ferry. The sun was setting as we left harbour.

A chance for a rest...

...or even a sleep for the driver.

It's been a fantastic 6 days - absolutely exhausting but worth every bit of it.