This week we set off on our summer holiday – a two week driving tour of Germany. The days prior to departure were tense. We, like any other family, face the regular pre holiday pressures; work commitments, washing, ironing and packing, dog to kennels, lawn mowing, empty fridge, etc. However, unlike other families, we have the fear factor to contend with – fear of what holiday disaster we may face this year. It’s not that we plan an extreme sports holiday, a safari, or even a walking trek across the desert; we just manage to turn a relaxing break into a wild adventure.
And now as I write this from our chalet in Bavaria, I can say that this year is no exception.
Day 1: We were Continent driving virgins and while some had warned us to book en route accommodation ahead; others had assured us that accommodation along the major routes would be readily available. We chose to risk it. Maybe it was a combination of the heavy rain and the GB sticker on the car, or maybe it was something as simple as Belgium being the least hospitable country in Europe. Whatever the reason, there was no room at the inn (or any other inn.) Husband detoured from the motorway in search of a hotel. We see neon lights. We see ladies in underwear in windows. Mother in Law suggests that we are at the wrong end of town. Youngest son asks why (not noticing ladies in windows as yet.) Return to motorway.
It is 2.00 am and the rain is absolutely bucketing down. Ahead of us a car is stopped on the side of the road with hazard lights flashing – poor man. A sudden thud and a wobble suggest a tyre blow out. Poor us – we are now wearing our high visibility vests, unloading our luggage to recover the spare tyre. It’s 2.30 am and we are back on the road and it’s still raining.
It is 3.00 am and oldest son lets out a yelp. A tooth has miraculously fallen out of his mouth. It could be due to the stress of the journey or it could be due to him chewing his own tongue (we have not had dinner and have consumed all the soft mints.)
It is 3.30 am and Husband stops at services. We buy sandwiches, use the bathroom and take a nap in the car.
It is 6.00 am and we set off. No further mishaps between here and our destination.
It is 5.30 pm and we arrive at destination. It is truly beautiful and we love it. We laugh about the whole adventure and reminisce about other holiday sagas.
There were the bombs in Bangkok last Christmas. We experienced false fire alarms in the early hours of the morning in France the year before. Then there was the fishing trip where the car camping next to us caught fire and nearly started a bush fire. On day two of our driving tour of Tasmania Husband had a car park accident resulting in us touring most of Tasmania with a temporary packing tape repair to the door (so embarrassing for both Sons.) Other car related incidents include a collision with a kangaroo in The Blue Mountains, a car accident on Day one of the Kangaroo Island holiday and a major breakdown of the replacement car on the final day of the same holiday. We have also contended with natural type challenges such as our camp site being completely flooded at Swan Hill on the final day of a 400km kayaking marathon, a plague of dead rabbits and blow flies in the Flinders Ranges and a dingo stealing our camping supplies on Fraser Island.
Mother in Law has the fear of God on her face. This is her first holiday with us and only day three of her ten week stay with us.
