Club Members Blog

Hello Everyone

A quick update from here in Sibiu, Romania.

Our team Rob, Lol, Peter and Arnaud all arrived safetly late Monday night, and have made themseleves at home in the courtyard of the guest house, they have there own private park ferme!

 

Dave, Ian and myself arrived Tuesday afternoon, after leaving Dover saturday morning we rode through cloudy wheather to Luxembourg for an overnight stay. The next day heading to Salzburg for our treat visit to Hitlers Eagles nest, this brought rain, lots! We arrived just outside of Berchtsgarden early evening and checked into a guesthouse soaking wet. It was great we managed to get everything dry overnight, the next morning setting off for our ascent up to "Hitlers Holiday re-treat"! It was a little dissapointing as basically has been converted into a restaurant, but the views were amazing. Anyway back on the road by midday to head for Budapest, Hungary. We arrived at about 6pm found the Ibis we stayed in last year. Next morning back on the road for the last part to Sibiu. Saftetly through the Hungarian/ Romanian border we hit the horrible road into Arad and the fog! We had also completely forgotton just how bad the road to Sibiu was, with all three of us going through the "numb bum" pain barrier several times!! We arrived in Sibiu at about 4.30/5.00pm.

 

We've a had a few days relaxing, looking for rice puddings in supermarkets, the boys have been out trail riding and tomorrow, Friday, is signing on and scrutineering. Saturday is the big day "PROLOGUE"! which has a few more exciting challenges this year. We are hoping to get some pictures downloaded so watch this space.....

The computer in our guesthouse isn't run by steam this year!

Towards the end of last year Julie Batt asked me if I would be up for a week on a narrow boat, not giving it much thought I said yes. As we approached the New Year it became certain that we were going. The motley crew would be Jo Ayshford, Julie Batt, Alison Lock, myself and for one night Jackie Benham. At the AGM I was greeted by Jo saying only 52 more sleeps! I then realized it was realality and what had I let myself in for!!

The 26^th of May was the date for our trip. So on the Thursday before we met at the club to watch a DVD supplied by the boat company. This caused much laughter and I don’t think we learnt a lot! We then decided who was going to bring what. First on our list was the important stuff like drink (the alcoholic type that is). Then came a bit of food and a few other bits and pieces.

The weather for April and May had been fairly good, but not on the day our trip was to start. We were due to board our boat the Guildford Emperor at 2.30pm and we met just before this with our bags, food etc. Narrow boats are just that, narrow. Our boat had all mod cons, if a bit dated, but we were soon settled in. After a brief tuition which involved a bit of punting, always tie the front of the boat at a lock especially when by a weir! We were on our way, wind in our hair and rain in our face. Jo was designated as the captain, Alison and Julie were on lock duty and I was Jo’s assistant. 62 feet long and you can’t see the front what had we let ourselves in for?