8pm GMT Combine seven hours of a ferry crossing with hangovers and about 4 hours sleep and a rough sea and you have the Hook of Holland to Harwich journey.We have finally made it back to Blighty unscathed. Only another 160 miles before home and we are all looking forward to crashing out. It's been a great trip and our vehicle has performed better than we could have expected it. We are already planning the theme for the next one. Anyone want to buy a Mystery Machine?
Highlights of the trip
Mac 'Winning the award for best theme'
Graeme 'Knowlesy's toilet explosion Munich'
Skinner 'Irish night out in Germany with everybody in fancy dress and literally taking the place over'
Matt 'Naturist Day in the back seat'
Mads 'Overhearing the organisers saying that our team had made the rally'
Lowlights
Graeme 'Enduring Munich to Prague journey with Skinner and Knowles'
Matt 'Map reading'
Mac 'Clamp man'
Skinner '1970s five choice truckstop menu in Prague'
Madeline 'Naked blogging'
Monday 7 April 2008
Clamped!
11am
What can I say about Amsterdam? Funny cigarettes, Chips with mayonaise, and an
entertaining nightlife. Last night was great, hundreds of Coyotes crammed into a crazy bar.
What can I say about Amsterdam? Funny cigarettes, Chips with mayonaise, and an
entertaining nightlife. Last night was great, hundreds of Coyotes crammed into a crazy bar.
5am Van is freezing as Skinner and Matt attempt the last night in the Mystery Machine. Matt lasts the distance but Skinner falls at the final hurdle and retires to the hotel room at 8am.
Spirits dampened somewhat the next day when we realise the Mystery Machine has
been wheel clamped! We misread the signs and thought parking was free after 6pm.
104 euros to remove but when the clamping people turn up they complain that we are rude and drive off.
Rude, us! To clampers with moustaches, never.
Anyway, long and short of it is that the clampers refuse to come back and, with just an hour before we have to start for the ferry home, half our party begin a dash across Amsterdam to pay the fine.
12.30am Fine paid, clamp removed and we head to the Hook of Holland to catch the
ferry home.
Spirits dampened somewhat the next day when we realise the Mystery Machine has
been wheel clamped! We misread the signs and thought parking was free after 6pm.
104 euros to remove but when the clamping people turn up they complain that we are rude and drive off.
Rude, us! To clampers with moustaches, never.
Anyway, long and short of it is that the clampers refuse to come back and, with just an hour before we have to start for the ferry home, half our party begin a dash across Amsterdam to pay the fine.
12.30am Fine paid, clamp removed and we head to the Hook of Holland to catch the
ferry home.
Sunday 6 April 2008
Almost there!
2pm Macca informs me that the heater in the front is NOT working and for all the time the back seat boys have been sweltering under blankets the driver has been freezing off his proverbials. Graeme demonstrates by breathing white mist and chattering his teeth. A small blanket was duly provided for his improved comfort.We are fed up of looking at sausages and large slabs of fried meats at the service stations so we are in search of more traditional German food at McDonalds.
2.20pm
5 plates of fisch and veal with kartofellen later (Graeme plumps for a salad) and we are all convinced the term Sauerkraut was invented because of the mood their motorway cafe food puts the Germans in.
5.40pm
We are about an hour from Amsterdam a big party is planned at one of the cafes and the Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Wilma and Daphne costumes are being freshened up ready for their final outing. While everyone will be glad to get to the final destination I think everyone will also be a little sad to realise the journey is almost over.
Mac is back behind the wheel for the last few k and was itching at the bit to take over from Graeme for last hour.
The sun is out, the beers are cracked and life is good.
ps We have eaten 348 g of fat in crisps alone in the last four days.....nice. A tin of raw corned beef was also one of the highlights of the trip's haute cuisine eaten from the tin with a penknife.
2.20pm
5 plates of fisch and veal with kartofellen later (Graeme plumps for a salad) and we are all convinced the term Sauerkraut was invented because of the mood their motorway cafe food puts the Germans in.
5.40pm
We are about an hour from Amsterdam a big party is planned at one of the cafes and the Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Wilma and Daphne costumes are being freshened up ready for their final outing. While everyone will be glad to get to the final destination I think everyone will also be a little sad to realise the journey is almost over.
Mac is back behind the wheel for the last few k and was itching at the bit to take over from Graeme for last hour.
The sun is out, the beers are cracked and life is good.
ps We have eaten 348 g of fat in crisps alone in the last four days.....nice. A tin of raw corned beef was also one of the highlights of the trip's haute cuisine eaten from the tin with a penknife.
Breakfast at Wiffany's
9amHeading out of Czechoslovakia and the snow is falling heavily and temperatures are dropping inside the cabin, but unlike most Coyotes our heating works and we have plenty of sleeping bags and duvets in the back so it is like a luxury hotel room. (albeit a stinky one).
Breakfast is taken at a motorway services where we meet up with other Coyotes. Tales are spreading about one team of guys in a Fiesta who were pulled over for drinking at midday following the German Grosse Nacht Out! Arrested and fined 270 Euros by the cops.
Breakfast in Germany can be quite an experience one dish called a Knacker was ordered by one of our guys, consisting of a foot long wurst sausage smothered in Ketchup and curry powder. It is sure to add an extra dimension to the next ten hours of driving.
Marcus who has driven almost all of the miles so far has relinquished his throne and Graeme has volunteered to take over duties.
Macca is now part of the back seat gang and is hoping to get some shut-eye.
Hmmm.....
It's not easy being cheesey.
4pm.
For Messy read Sleepy. Everyone crashes out in a hotel room from exhaustion.
8pm
Out in Prague. It is freezing cold and no-one has got a real coat so the
sensible thing to do is to find a warm bar and have some drinks.
8.01pm
Decide to dine al Fresco. Pick a table the furthest point away from the
outdoor heaters in the belief that the ice cold lagers will keep us warm.
10pm
outdoor heaters in the belief that the ice cold lagers will keep us warm.
10pm
Some of us are actually turning blue and so, after hearing rumours of a bar
where all the beers are one euro we head off on an expedition into the heart of
Prague. We are in Civvies tonight after deciding that the smell of the Scooby Doo costumes would not mix too well with the fact we have now all had a shower (for some the first of the trip). 10.2pm
The Euro bar eludes us so we hurry into the nearest pub - hypothermia setting in.
12.15pm
The last two days of sleep deprivation and heavy drinking are taking their toll
and, with the prospect of a 12 hour journey tomorrow to our final destination
Amsterdam, a collective decision is taken to retire early (ish).
3.30am
Scooby wonders why he still decided to sleep in the cold van despite the fact there was a spare bed in the hotel just feet from where the van is parked.
DAY FOUR
7am
Another early start as we set off on the last leg. We have travelled 1,700 miles so far and, apart from regularly checking the leaking radiator, the van is performing remarkably. 565 miles to go.We are all looking forward to seeing the look on the Amsterdam stoners faces when real life cartoon characters descend on the Red Light District.
This is the first morning when the van crew has not woken up with murderous hangovers hence the coherent and lengthy blog which actually recalls events as they really happened.
where all the beers are one euro we head off on an expedition into the heart of
Prague. We are in Civvies tonight after deciding that the smell of the Scooby Doo costumes would not mix too well with the fact we have now all had a shower (for some the first of the trip). 10.2pm
The Euro bar eludes us so we hurry into the nearest pub - hypothermia setting in.
12.15pm
The last two days of sleep deprivation and heavy drinking are taking their toll
and, with the prospect of a 12 hour journey tomorrow to our final destination
Amsterdam, a collective decision is taken to retire early (ish).
3.30am
Scooby wonders why he still decided to sleep in the cold van despite the fact there was a spare bed in the hotel just feet from where the van is parked.
DAY FOUR
7am
Another early start as we set off on the last leg. We have travelled 1,700 miles so far and, apart from regularly checking the leaking radiator, the van is performing remarkably. 565 miles to go.We are all looking forward to seeing the look on the Amsterdam stoners faces when real life cartoon characters descend on the Red Light District.
This is the first morning when the van crew has not woken up with murderous hangovers hence the coherent and lengthy blog which actually recalls events as they really happened.
Saturday 5 April 2008
The back seat
3PM THIS IS BECOMING A NIGHTMARE - THEY (SHAGGY & SCOOBY) HAVE GENERATED AN ATMOSPHERE OF SUCH FEAR AND SUSPICION IN THE BACK OF THE VAN THAT NO ONE (VELMA) FEELS SAFE TO BLINK IN CASE IT IS SEEN AS DRIFTING INTO SLEEP, A CRIME THAT SEEMS TO BE PUNISHABLE BY A BANANA SKIN, A PIECE OF CORNED BEEF OR A TOENAIL ON THE FACE.
g-MAN
3.30pm Arrived in Prague too early for our own safety. This, I fear, is going to be messy. Good luck to all.......
g-MAN
3.30pm Arrived in Prague too early for our own safety. This, I fear, is going to be messy. Good luck to all.......
Deutschland Uber Alles?
8.30pm 1310 miles and we made Munich. Water levels and temperature consistent with an engine that has only a little life to give. Map reading a breeze compared with Paris and a hotel with car park is secured. We are all happy bunnys.
9pm Many people say that the Germans have a bad sense of humour. We can categorically state that is not true. Germans have NO sense of humour at all.Our five piece Scooby combo is met by mere indifference by the sour faced residents of Munchen. The bar we meet in has an atmosphere similar to a wake of a detested aunt. We eat, shoot the breeze and make an executive decision to go somewhere else.
11.45pm Irish Bar. We walk in straight to bar in convoy. Cowboys, Ninjas, Scooby Doo and a monkey. Who said Jagermeister was a nasty proposition. The bar is jumping within seconds and Germany suddenly becomes an attractive proposition.
5am The last two members of our crew roll in. Scooby Doo sneaks into the hotel car park for another night in the van. The others have forked out for rooms. The days of 'dirty riding' rely on one crew member, and he is cracking as the 'wet wipe shower' is really not as good as it sounds.
DAY THREE Munich to Prague 230 miles to go
8.30am With hangovers that are yet to kick in we meet up in a car park outside of Munich with other Coyote members before heading to Prague. Is drinking Carling at this time healthy?
Grand National Day and we have absolutely no idea of the runners. Tips welcome.
Graeme is asleep again. Is today the day we get him? Burp Wars and Toenail Wars considered in the back seats but rejected due to fear of escalated retaliation.
9pm Many people say that the Germans have a bad sense of humour. We can categorically state that is not true. Germans have NO sense of humour at all.Our five piece Scooby combo is met by mere indifference by the sour faced residents of Munchen. The bar we meet in has an atmosphere similar to a wake of a detested aunt. We eat, shoot the breeze and make an executive decision to go somewhere else.
11.45pm Irish Bar. We walk in straight to bar in convoy. Cowboys, Ninjas, Scooby Doo and a monkey. Who said Jagermeister was a nasty proposition. The bar is jumping within seconds and Germany suddenly becomes an attractive proposition.
5am The last two members of our crew roll in. Scooby Doo sneaks into the hotel car park for another night in the van. The others have forked out for rooms. The days of 'dirty riding' rely on one crew member, and he is cracking as the 'wet wipe shower' is really not as good as it sounds.
DAY THREE Munich to Prague 230 miles to go
8.30am With hangovers that are yet to kick in we meet up in a car park outside of Munich with other Coyote members before heading to Prague. Is drinking Carling at this time healthy?
Grand National Day and we have absolutely no idea of the runners. Tips welcome.
Graeme is asleep again. Is today the day we get him? Burp Wars and Toenail Wars considered in the back seats but rejected due to fear of escalated retaliation.
Friday 4 April 2008
The beginning of the end?
With just a measly 160 miles to go before the end of stage 2 in Munich, a crisis erupts in the van.
The Mystery Machine is overheating and we are forced to the roadside. Could this be the end of our adventure so soon?
We entered Germany about half an hour previously and, while trying to accelerate up a hill, Mystery belches out a big black cloud of smoke and the temperature guage hits red. Gulp. Luckily the lay-by we limp into is also home to another Team of Coyotes standing around the open bonnet of their broken Robin Reliant. One of them is a mechanic on a ship and after a cursory glance at our engine he diagnoses the problem as a lack of water in the radiator. We just left the stop 5 minutes after refilling the radiator. Fingers crossed this problem has been solved.
Only time will tell.
Graeme's food diary pt 2
Chocolate mini rolls 12
crisps 5
bags
10 Herta frankfurter
pickled onions x2
salami 2 packs
Mood - Apprehensive
The Mystery Machine is overheating and we are forced to the roadside. Could this be the end of our adventure so soon?
We entered Germany about half an hour previously and, while trying to accelerate up a hill, Mystery belches out a big black cloud of smoke and the temperature guage hits red. Gulp. Luckily the lay-by we limp into is also home to another Team of Coyotes standing around the open bonnet of their broken Robin Reliant. One of them is a mechanic on a ship and after a cursory glance at our engine he diagnoses the problem as a lack of water in the radiator. We just left the stop 5 minutes after refilling the radiator. Fingers crossed this problem has been solved.
Only time will tell.
Graeme's food diary pt 2
Chocolate mini rolls 12
crisps 5
bags
10 Herta frankfurter
pickled onions x2
salami 2 packs
Mood - Apprehensive
The beginning of the end?
With just a measly 160 miles to go before the end of stage 2 in Munich, a crisis erupts in the van.
The Mystery Machine is overheating and we are forced to the roadside. Could this be the end of our adventure so soon?
We entered Germany about half an hour previously and, while trying to accelerate up a hill, Mystery belches out a big black cloud of smoke and the temperature guage hits red. Gulp. Luckily the lay-by we limp into is also home to another Team of Coyotes standing around the open bonnet of their broken Robin Reliant. One of them is a mechanic on a ship and after a cursory glance at our engine he diagnoses the problem as a lack of water in the radiator. We just left the stop 5 minutes after refilling the radiator. Fingers crossed this problem has been solved.
Only time will tell.
Graeme's food diary pt 2
Chocolate mini rolls 12
crisps 5
bags
10 Herta frankfurter
pickled onions x2
salami 2 packs
Mood - Apprehensive
The Mystery Machine is overheating and we are forced to the roadside. Could this be the end of our adventure so soon?
We entered Germany about half an hour previously and, while trying to accelerate up a hill, Mystery belches out a big black cloud of smoke and the temperature guage hits red. Gulp. Luckily the lay-by we limp into is also home to another Team of Coyotes standing around the open bonnet of their broken Robin Reliant. One of them is a mechanic on a ship and after a cursory glance at our engine he diagnoses the problem as a lack of water in the radiator. We just left the stop 5 minutes after refilling the radiator. Fingers crossed this problem has been solved.
Only time will tell.
Graeme's food diary pt 2
Chocolate mini rolls 12
crisps 5
bags
10 Herta frankfurter
pickled onions x2
salami 2 packs
Mood - Apprehensive
Feeling rough, rough, rough
Graeme's food diary
three baguette sandwiches from Flunch
two cups of tea
1 packet of macaroons
one egg salad (Graeme that's two so far)
three bags of crisps
pain au chocolat
croissants
brie sandwich
2pm A very, very subdued trip to Munich. Only a quick game of I-SPY-What-Rude Word-Is-Graeme lightened the mood. Most of us look and feel terrible (Well Skinner and Matt mainly).
We started drinking at around 7am yesterday and some of us really never knew when to stop. I suspect mild alcohol poisoning, but it comes with the territory.
Graeme slept most of the way so far but with one eye open so a series of elaborate pranks were ruined.
A couple of members of the group have decided they are 'riding dirty' and the clothes they wore on Day One will suffice for the rest of the trip.
Considering we are only wearing our costumes at all times this van is really going to become a grief hole.
We have travelled about 640 miles so far and Misery is performing brilliantly. No panics except for the black smoke that pours out of the back when we accelerate.
Need to liven up before we hit Munich but that's why wine was invented.......
About half way so far.
Just driven into a place called Bitche.
three baguette sandwiches from Flunch
two cups of tea
1 packet of macaroons
one egg salad (Graeme that's two so far)
three bags of crisps
pain au chocolat
croissants
brie sandwich
2pm A very, very subdued trip to Munich. Only a quick game of I-SPY-What-Rude Word-Is-Graeme lightened the mood. Most of us look and feel terrible (Well Skinner and Matt mainly).
We started drinking at around 7am yesterday and some of us really never knew when to stop. I suspect mild alcohol poisoning, but it comes with the territory.
Graeme slept most of the way so far but with one eye open so a series of elaborate pranks were ruined.
A couple of members of the group have decided they are 'riding dirty' and the clothes they wore on Day One will suffice for the rest of the trip.
Considering we are only wearing our costumes at all times this van is really going to become a grief hole.
We have travelled about 640 miles so far and Misery is performing brilliantly. No panics except for the black smoke that pours out of the back when we accelerate.
Need to liven up before we hit Munich but that's why wine was invented.......
About half way so far.
Just driven into a place called Bitche.
Paris by Day (and night)
12.30pm So far ahead of schedule we confidently decide to go off road and stop off at Roye just north of Paris. A raw beef steak, some pizza and a salad later we are ready to tackle Paris.
2pm We are so NOT ready to tackle Paris. Graeme has taken over driving and I am navigating and it is a nightmare. No signposts, the craziest drivers in the world and only a partial map.
3pm Map accquired, Graeme after being called a 'very sexy women' by the MALE petrol station attendant is now one of the crazy Parisian drivers. If a car is going one mph under the limit he is beeping his horn and driving an inch behind them. A bottle of red is cracked open to combat the stress, then a white to combat the effects of the red.
6pm We have binned the idea of driving to the meeting point after THREE hours of being 'almost ther' and have parked Misery in a secure car park overnight. We took pictures of the nearby street signs to ensure we could get back by taxi later.
6.15pm Accosted by about a million Parisians looking for pictures with us. The craziest couple had their own wrestling Mexican wrestling masks with them and politely asked if we minded them wearing them. Anything to oblige!
8pm We arrive at the Hop Bar meeting point in the shadow of the Louvre and mingle with fellow Coyotes. The Misery Machine and our team wins an award for best theme which consists of half an engine manifold from an XR2 sprayed gold. Scooby Dooby Doo. Now we drink.
Day TWO
7.30am What is it about getting up at the crack of a sparrow's on this trip. Serious hangovers after a brutal night at the Hop Bar last night None of us could fold out the alleged full bed seats last night and so three of us spent our first of four sleeping across a gap in the seats in the car park with full lights on and muzak blaring. That's how we roll. Racing to make the meeting with fellow Coyotes at the bottom of Paris. Ain't gonna happen considering the state of the Paris signage. We have 534 miles to go and I am dreading every mile!
9am After much shouting, swearing and gnashing of teeth we are STILL in Paris. Someone actually decides to look at the map and we find we are about ten
minutes from where we started. 9.15am Finally get onto the A4 and Paris is about to become a distant memory. Is it right for men to moisturise? (Skinner) The debate is likely to rage for minutes.
Graeme's food diary Calais - Paris
Boeuf Steak (blue)
Pizza Bolognaise
6 Escargots
Pizza Reine
Calzone
Goats cheese salad
Two cokes
Orangina
Orange (medicinal)
1 glass rough red
1 bottle Rose
18 breadsticks
Smirnoff ice
4 kronenburgs
1 bottle red
sambucca shooters (lost count)
2 vodka and coke
5 vodka lemonade
evening meal 1 burger and chips between 5
20 pints grolsch
5 bags crisps
Mood level Frayed.
2pm We are so NOT ready to tackle Paris. Graeme has taken over driving and I am navigating and it is a nightmare. No signposts, the craziest drivers in the world and only a partial map.
3pm Map accquired, Graeme after being called a 'very sexy women' by the MALE petrol station attendant is now one of the crazy Parisian drivers. If a car is going one mph under the limit he is beeping his horn and driving an inch behind them. A bottle of red is cracked open to combat the stress, then a white to combat the effects of the red.
6pm We have binned the idea of driving to the meeting point after THREE hours of being 'almost ther' and have parked Misery in a secure car park overnight. We took pictures of the nearby street signs to ensure we could get back by taxi later.
6.15pm Accosted by about a million Parisians looking for pictures with us. The craziest couple had their own wrestling Mexican wrestling masks with them and politely asked if we minded them wearing them. Anything to oblige!
8pm We arrive at the Hop Bar meeting point in the shadow of the Louvre and mingle with fellow Coyotes. The Misery Machine and our team wins an award for best theme which consists of half an engine manifold from an XR2 sprayed gold. Scooby Dooby Doo. Now we drink.
Day TWO
7.30am What is it about getting up at the crack of a sparrow's on this trip. Serious hangovers after a brutal night at the Hop Bar last night None of us could fold out the alleged full bed seats last night and so three of us spent our first of four sleeping across a gap in the seats in the car park with full lights on and muzak blaring. That's how we roll. Racing to make the meeting with fellow Coyotes at the bottom of Paris. Ain't gonna happen considering the state of the Paris signage. We have 534 miles to go and I am dreading every mile!
9am After much shouting, swearing and gnashing of teeth we are STILL in Paris. Someone actually decides to look at the map and we find we are about ten
minutes from where we started. 9.15am Finally get onto the A4 and Paris is about to become a distant memory. Is it right for men to moisturise? (Skinner) The debate is likely to rage for minutes.
Graeme's food diary Calais - Paris
Boeuf Steak (blue)
Pizza Bolognaise
6 Escargots
Pizza Reine
Calzone
Goats cheese salad
Two cokes
Orangina
Orange (medicinal)
1 glass rough red
1 bottle Rose
18 breadsticks
Smirnoff ice
4 kronenburgs
1 bottle red
sambucca shooters (lost count)
2 vodka and coke
5 vodka lemonade
evening meal 1 burger and chips between 5
20 pints grolsch
5 bags crisps
Mood level Frayed.
Thursday 3 April 2008
Vive la France
6am
Arrived in Dover without incident. Have yet to check oil and water but assured they will be OK.... After all it's only an 18 year old car driving 2k+ in four days. Meh.
9.15am
Nice to see Scooby Doo is as well known in France as it is in Britain although I am still not sure which character 'Merde tete' is.
11am
Arrive at the designated meeting point with the Scooby Doo theme tune blaring......It's amazing how you never get tired of that song.
We're off Paris in just a few short hours but along the way we have to perform a series of challenges.
We have to be photographed with our team number with a series of subjects including
man in a dress (already travelling with one)
Stranger moonying (done, don't ask)
draw a moustache on sleeping team mate (in hand, sorry skinner)
breakdown and steaming car radiator (to come)
Misery has reached a heady top speed of 80mph (130kph French style)
Driver Marcus, who has valiantly driven the whole distance so far - 210 miles - reports cabin pressure ok nothing adverse to report. Smoking engine has reduced to acceptable standards. Cruising Speed increased from 52 to 70 mph. No cause for alarm.
Graeme's Food Diary
Southend - Dover:
10 pain au chocolat
1 packet Herta Frankfurters
5 bags of Crisps Smoky Bacon
1 Orange (Psychological Benefit only)
5 glasses of Champagne
1 Scooby Snack
3 bananas
Calais to Paris
1 can lager
1 bottle fizzy pinot grigot
5.5 pints Kronenbourg
3 Herta Frankfurters
5 packets Walkers
3 Choc au pain
Mars exchanged for 1 pkt Walkers Cheese and Onion
No water since I forgot it
Arrived in Dover without incident. Have yet to check oil and water but assured they will be OK.... After all it's only an 18 year old car driving 2k+ in four days. Meh.
9.15am
Nice to see Scooby Doo is as well known in France as it is in Britain although I am still not sure which character 'Merde tete' is.
11am
Arrive at the designated meeting point with the Scooby Doo theme tune blaring......It's amazing how you never get tired of that song.
We're off Paris in just a few short hours but along the way we have to perform a series of challenges.
We have to be photographed with our team number with a series of subjects including
man in a dress (already travelling with one)
Stranger moonying (done, don't ask)
draw a moustache on sleeping team mate (in hand, sorry skinner)
breakdown and steaming car radiator (to come)
Misery has reached a heady top speed of 80mph (130kph French style)
Driver Marcus, who has valiantly driven the whole distance so far - 210 miles - reports cabin pressure ok nothing adverse to report. Smoking engine has reduced to acceptable standards. Cruising Speed increased from 52 to 70 mph. No cause for alarm.
Graeme's Food Diary
Southend - Dover:
10 pain au chocolat
1 packet Herta Frankfurters
5 bags of Crisps Smoky Bacon
1 Orange (Psychological Benefit only)
5 glasses of Champagne
1 Scooby Snack
3 bananas
Calais to Paris
1 can lager
1 bottle fizzy pinot grigot
5.5 pints Kronenbourg
3 Herta Frankfurters
5 packets Walkers
3 Choc au pain
Mars exchanged for 1 pkt Walkers Cheese and Onion
No water since I forgot it
Wednesday 2 April 2008
All jobsworths must die (or how bureaucracy nearly ruined our trip)
A frantic afternoon at Mystery Inc HQ chasing after an elusive tax disc for the Mystery Machine or Misery as we know call her.
We had taken ages to get the beast through an MoT but the insurers* cover note had failed to arrive and without it we were scuppered.
The insurer would not fax us a copy of our own insurance certificate as it was a 'legal document', which was a strange response since the people who legally owned said document were the ones asking for it.
Instead they sent us a handwritten note confirming that we were actually insured. How kind! As you can imagine that went down like a ten dollar hooker and we were refused the tax disc.
It was only the intervention of the brilliant manager at Bletchley - who had seen us in the newspaper - and demanded the certificate be faxed immediately.
With three minutes to spare, Marcus beaming like a father with a newborn held aloft the brown disc with the phrase "It wouldn't be fun if it wasn't all last minute."
I couldn't possibly comment.
*The insurer cannot be named for legal reasons but they did ask if we had a club card.
Matt
It's a Taxing subject
Just found out Macca has NOT managed to tax the Mystery Machine yet. The insurance company has not sent out the cover note and so we have four hours until the Post Office closes to get it sorted.
Tick Tock.
On a happier note we have made the pages of the LB and MK News's
Here is the link http://www.lb-news.co.uk/lbnews-news/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=303616
and here is another http://www.mk-news.co.uk/mknews%2Dnews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=303652
Tick Tock.
On a happier note we have made the pages of the LB and MK News's
Here is the link http://www.lb-news.co.uk/lbnews-news/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=303616
and here is another http://www.mk-news.co.uk/mknews%2Dnews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=303652
Tuesday 1 April 2008
T-Minus Two
Ok so we are attempting a blog on this road trip and like our car I don't hold out much hope of getting very far!
We are now fully road legal, tax, insurance and MoT. We even have breakdown cover (I think) and a packet of plasters.
Me, Graeme, and Skinner are threes up sleeping in the van - sorry, Mystery Machine - while Macca and Mads will be slumming in some sort of hotel/hostel. At least that is the plan.
That van is going to stink. Thank the Lord for Oust!
We will be getting up at 4am on Thursday to catch the 6.30am crossing from Dover to Calais as long as Macca has changed the booking. Otherwise its up at 2am for the 4.40am crossing.
Sleep when you are dead, I say. Which judging by the brakes on the wagon could be a lot sooner than expected.
Matt
What the HELL are we thinking??!!??
We have to travel 2000 miles across Europe in a car that cost £300 and has dodgy brakes, a leaky fuel pipe and a strange clunking noise when you turn right.
Crazy? Of course. But just to add to the mayhem we are all going dressed as the Scooby Doo gang in our customised Mystery Machine!
Graeme, Skinner, Macca, Mads and Matt will be eating, living and sleeping as the ghostbusting team on the road trip from hell.
From LB to Paris, Munich, Prague and Berlin our bucket of bolts will attempt to clunk its way across five countries in the Coyote Rally – a Gumball for old bangers.
We will be travelling in a 1986 Toyota Town Ace (one careful owner, fsh) and are wondering whether we will make the ferry to France.
Since we are taking Scooby Doo with us what better way to help other animals than by giving some cash to our supporting charity the RSPCA.
Crazy? Of course. But just to add to the mayhem we are all going dressed as the Scooby Doo gang in our customised Mystery Machine!
Graeme, Skinner, Macca, Mads and Matt will be eating, living and sleeping as the ghostbusting team on the road trip from hell.
From LB to Paris, Munich, Prague and Berlin our bucket of bolts will attempt to clunk its way across five countries in the Coyote Rally – a Gumball for old bangers.
We will be travelling in a 1986 Toyota Town Ace (one careful owner, fsh) and are wondering whether we will make the ferry to France.
Since we are taking Scooby Doo with us what better way to help other animals than by giving some cash to our supporting charity the RSPCA.
Here is the web-site for the rally.
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