Bier today...: Hector stranded in Europe, again!

München to Aachen by 7 trains!

On Sunday morning we decided that the inevitable cancellation of our flight to Edinburgh from München should be dealt with in a proactive manner.
Marg, Maggie, Lord Clive, Steve and Hector purchased a DB Schöneswochenende Karte for €35. With a schedule that only Tonto could compile, we set off on seven trains to Aachen; as far as we could to in one day on one ticket.

Nürnberg, Würzburg, Frankfurt am Main, Mainz, Koblenz and Köln were the intermediate stops. The day went like clockwork. Pre-booked rooms awaited us at Aachen, Tonto in true form.

Aachen has two Ibis Hotels, both close to the station. Lord Clive took us to the the left, Hector thought it was to the right. We went to the wrong hotel, guess who was 'right'?

We even saw another Münster!

An evening of pasta and Grimbergen followed.

Aachen to Calais, only 4 trains...

Today a crowded ICE took us to Bruxelles and we caught the connection to Gent by minus two minutes. Hector was first up the stairs to platform 22 to see the Bert about to close the doors..."Arretez" shouted Hector. There was compliance, and another 20 folk piled on to the train.

The mass of bicycles parked at Gent station gave us the the thought that if only we had one we could board ship as vehicle passengers, which reportedly were being accepted only.

An hour in Gent gave time for a Croque Monsieur and a Kriek.

The train to Lille Flandres connected with a super train to Calais. Why `super`? There is a power point, permitting this Blog.

Now we journey into the unknown: is The Ark Royal really en route to rescue us? How many hours await us in Calais?
Lord Clive is working on economical ways back to Scotland...

The shuttle bus from the station to the terminal...how much is it...someone asked...as if we travel this route everyday...

At the terminal we are split in two queues...P&O or Seafrance...no information about schedule or price...the humour is good...
€65 each, next sailing at 17.20.

Crucifixion?

One cross each, first door on the right...

We miss the tickets for the 17.20, we are ticketed for the 18.50 but now will miss overnight buses to Scotland.

Upstairs to cafe to wait...food...no staff...chef appears...Hector does not like his attitude...Hector declares he is buying nothing here. Lord Clive reports a small Hoegarden costs €8...Marg has a coffee, the rest of us watch...now to join the queue for the boat...

A chap on the coach to the boat from the terminal informed us the normal ferry price is €18...corporate profiteering, there should be a law against this.

Calais to Dover, 1 boat, 2 buses...

At 18.30 Hector and co. boarded the Seafrance Rodin. We hope we don't sea France again too soon, except by choice.

The draught Hoegarden was €4.60 which is relatively ok. This was Hector's first ever bier on a boat...the sea was calm, the inevitable did not occur.

Lord Clive and Maggie have arranged a lift to Crawley and a place to crash. Steve has remotely arranged bus tickets from Gatwick to Edinburgh first thing in the morning...

Curry (Curry-Heute) and bier have been promised in Crawley.

The boat cast off at 19.01, like the Titanic lifeboats, there are many empty seats.

Dover to Crawley, by People Carrier.

David, son of Maggie, collected us at Dover after a ridiculous wait to get a bus from the boat to the terminal. We reached Crawley in time to be shown a settee for the night, a pint in the Swan and a Curry-Heute! at the Saffron Lounge (5 Grand Parade,High St, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1BU).

The long and winding road : Crawley to Clydebank, 1 taxi, 4 buses, 1 car

Tuesday morning, the 06.40 from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria then a wait for the 09.00 to Edinburgh via everywhere with National Express. Hetton-le-Hole was a place visited en route, enough said...£40 is much less than over £100 per passenger in UK rip-off train prices.
The airport bus from Waverley and then the shuttle bus to the car parks where we had left our cars.