Trip to Utrecht and UK September/October 2013

So a quick turnaround after Rob and Donna left and we set off to drive to Utrecht o visit Barclay and Janneke. We stayed overnight 26/27th in Palaiseau on the outskirts of Paris. Next day, Sunday, we tackled the Paris peripherique which was still busy but the sat nav was behaing itself and we managed the circumnavigation without too many problems. We got lost in Amiens, took a wrong turning and seemed to go round the town several times before getting back on the right road. It was very busy around Lille and the Belgian border and the sat nav gave up the ghost. We managed OK till we got into Holland and then we had to rely on road signs which caused some problems. We finally, more by luck than management, got to Utrecht and dove around several times. N eventually went in a shop to ask for directions and then a miracle occurred! The sat nav came back to life after it’s siesta!! We were later than anticipated arriving at Janneke and Barclays but soon settled in and so good to see them again. Kenai is now 4 and Zazu 18 months. The house is quite small and only has 2 bedrooms which we didn’t know before we went. Janneke and Barclay had put a mattress for themselves on the floor of the boys bedroom and given us their bed. We were so touched at their welcome and kindness. We had 2 full days there. Saturday we went into the market in Utrecht and to the park. What sticks in my mind is the number of bicycles both on the bike lanes and the huge numbers of them parked in the middle of town. The cheese stall was an absolute delight and I was most impressed by the way the town was laid out. At some point over the weekend I went for a walk around the area and had my first sight of a Dutch canal, it was huge!!! On Sunday we went to another park on the outskirts of town for lunch. Barclay has a bike with trailer attached so he can take the children to and from childcare just as do so many others in the neighbourhood. A short visit but so good to see them all again and learn of their life in Holland. Definitely a country I would like to see more of one day. Next day we only had a short drive to the ferry terminal to catch the ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle which departed at 5 pm. As I remember meals on board were very expensive so we took a « picnic » on board with us.