Makkum, Sinead and Cycling

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Clunegapyears

Tuesday

Spent most of the day driving up to Makkum, where Sinead is working and a super yacht which is being re-fitted. It is reached via a man made causeway of about 18 miles, creating a mega lake.

Slight comms problems as J’s phone decided to NOT work in Holland so we could not let Sinead know we had arrived, but she found us. Drinks in Chardonnay with her colleagues Joanna from Oz, and Dave from Wales. They left us and partied on in the village centre.

Wednesday

Thought about a bus or train to Amsterdam, but looked like it involved many changes and about 3 hours and did not fancy a 1.5 hour drive in. So trying to start off as we mean to and do some exercise at least every other day, we set off on the bikes. How hard can a bike ride in Holland be? All flat and cycle paths everywhere. Going out was fine, then James spotted the wind was WITH us…. it certainly was AGAINST us on the way back; it was a real struggle. So cold we bought a coffee in Hindeloope and then stopped for a flask coffee to break the journey back. Only 20 miles and we were quite knackered… it is a start.

The air by the camping has everything for the EUR 7 fee: immaculate toilets, showers, water , washing machine and chem loo so we availed ourselves of everything. I am now buffed, plucked and polished! Walked into Makkum town: very pretty and bedecked in bunting for Anzac day celebrations.

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Sinead, the very lovely Melissa from Canada and us went into Makkum for a superb fish supper – a really lovely evening and thank you S for paying for us.

First Nights of Gap Years Proper

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Clunegapyears

Sunday.

After 4 nights imposing ourselves on the Aged P’s; eating their food and abusing the washing machine. Chardonnay MOT: not due yet but you can’t get one in Euroland despite all the legislation for standardisation! Weighbridge: Yippee. Payload of 4.2 tons so can order loads of wine boxes from Calais Majestic for Scandinavia. 🙂

Left C2 house, where we parked Chardonnay whist away in Jordan; nearly could not exit the gates as one refused to open!

Drove to stay with the amazing Ian and Jimmy in Rusty. Really lovely to see Ruth and Brian, who were very much around during my formative years. Most excellent start to our travels. Must make Rusty the UK exit and entry points. BBQ, wine and hot tub, can’t say better than that and a chance to talk about Nicky. Lovely to take Jimmy to school with Ian and then off.

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Monday

Left Rusty, somewhat dehydrated – Ian it was your idea to start drinking at 2.00! Crossed to Euroland courtesy of Tesco tokens and the Tunnel – business as usual :). Downloaded a budget APP and entered our £45 per day. Immediately into deficit as collected 14 wine boxes from Majestic. Sadly, it did not even look to be much and it has to last us round Scandinavia. Saved on coffees as made these in Chard. The APP does not seem to recognise the £8.00 I saved/did not spend! What is useful is that it allows rollover and I can categorise budgets.

Over night at a France Passion (no, nothing to do with nookie – they are free single overnights on Farms / vineyards etc for an annual subscription ). We have a view of rolling hills, fields being slowed and spotted a hare. Despite this Passion being an Auberge and having a menu at EUR18, we refrained and saved / did not spend by eating a Sainsbury Chicken Tikka Masala tin! made inroads into our first wine box 🙂

Jordan Days 9&10: Desert / Camping with the Bedouin

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Clunegapyears

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After 2 nights in Petra, we set sail for Wadi Rum – you will all have seen the film “Lawrence of Arabia” set in Wadi Rum. James and family camped there in the in the 80’s. This time, we camped out overnight with the Bedouin after a full days exploration in the desert bouncing around in a 40 year old truck!

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The rock formations and colours were amazing …K’s favourite word of the trip.

Lunch was interesting: our guide took us to his family. Fresh goats milk shared out of a communal bowl. Arabic bread with EVERY part of the meat / fat / bone marrow poked out /the tongue, prised from the head of the animal …. was it goat or sheep? Absolutely no idea!!! J Practiced football skills with guide’s nephew.

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We were taken to climb a rock to watch the sunset. Absolute silence and beautiful.

In the main tent after supper (food cooked underground with sand as the insulator), we sat and listened to traditional music. There were Russian and Belgian tourists as well as the Bedouin – someone suggested singing….. The Russian gentleman started with a lovely ballad accompanied by his wife… Something stirred James – not a drink in sight – a completely dry desert (terrible pun) – and he sang Danny Boy until he ran out of words! This was reasonably well received – his encore was the National Anthem sung in Irish!

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The desert does some strange things to you – but it does enable you to see the best sun set and night sky and stars ever!

Jordan Days 7&8: Petra

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Clunegapyears

From our Dead Sea break we travelled to Petra – 30 degrees at Dead Sea down to 3 degrees at Petra! And from -400 ft to over 3800 ft above.

In all the 9 years James lived in Jordan he never saw such weather in Petra ! We started walking at 7:30 am and walked for 7 hours – up at the Monastery tomb we drank tea with the Bedouin under cover of hailstones and strong winds ! All day it was rain and gales. We walked to the High Place of sacrifice where James recalled Deborah and Stephen went and encountered a Bedouin with a rifle and Stephen acted as protector.

At one time 30,000 lived in Jordan – it is vast and the views are absolutely stunning.

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Jordan Days 5&6: Mt Nebo and the Dead Sea

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Clunegapyears

Back to Amman was much quicker on the return – Israel checks you a lot less than on entry, but does make you pay an arm and leg to leave.

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P1010595 Drove onto Mt Nebo, where Moses was showed the Promised Land. Too misty for good views

We are now staying for 2 nights at the Dead Sea. Palm Springs has come to the Dead Sea ! Loads of USA style resort hotels – we are treating ourselves to the Marriott – expensive but it’s a trip we are unlikely to make again. Both feeling the need to be still, so we have extended our stay here to two nights, cut out Aqaba and shifted hotels around. Did the usual things – sitting upright in the sea, sleeping and enjoying the sun.

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