Dwti Draig

After loads of hugs we sadly left the festival, knowing that if our tentative plans for next year come to fruition we will not be there next year. We did the long drive to Harwich and pulled into the port desperate to get ourselves ready for the sailing the next day and into bed. Our plans were thwarted when we pulled in and were met with loads of bikers in the queue waiting for the night ferry. Their heads immediately swivelled and a big group of them began to march our way. I must admit it was slightly intimidating to have about 15 or so black leather clad dudes stride across to us, but they turned out to be a friendly lot of Dutch bikers returning from the Isle of Man TT races. They swarmed the exterior of the truck, examining it and asking Lyn questions. 

We eventually got to bed and were up early the next morning to get on the 9am sailing. We love this sailing to the Hook of Holland, and always book a cabin so we can shower and chill. We were directed next to the big lorries and Lyn had to drive right down the length of the ship to the front, almost touching the wing mirrors of the parked lorries. It was hairy! Once parked we were so close I couldn’t even open my door, and had to climb over Lyn’s seat and out his side, regretting my decision to wear a skirt! The crossing passed smoothly. The ship was so quiet; it’s so much nicer travelling out of peak season. We drove out of the Netherlands and into Belgium where Lyn had earmarked a good free park up, in a field next to lake. We had a peaceful night, which was well needed for Lyn after the journey there which involved lots of tiny roundabouts to manouvere Dwti over. We also managed to drive on the wrong side of the road twice, but I’ll gloss over that bit!

The next day we headed towards Bruges, which is one of the only firm parts of this trip we have planned. We love Bruges; this will be our fifth visit here, so it feels like coming home. We were aiming for a camping park up 10 minutes walk from the city centre, but were doubtful we would find space, or fit in if we did fine space. Luckily, we managed both, and are now parked up, at a cost of 30E a night. Like always there were a few hundred millimeters of clearance for Dwti to enter the site, lots of spectators and another van queuing behind us. Worth it to visit this beautiful city.

We wandered in through a beautiful park, and then started our rounds of our favourite places. We found seats outside Lyn’s favourite bar overlooking the canal underneath the weeping willow tree and chilled for a few hours. Lyn enjoyed some of his favourite beers and a sausage, and I stuck to water. Bruges is full of beautiful buildings, bars and chocolate shops, so I spent a lot of time with my nose pressed up against the window, with us choosing which chocolates we would choose if we won the lottery! Prices have definitely increased since we were here last. I ended up buying a very disappointing slab of coffee marzipan for nearly 8E. We live and learn. 

We had booked our favourite restaurant for 6.15pm and found they have extended it since we were here last time, buying the property next door. Ribs and Beer sell the best all you can eat ribs. I managed 1.5 racks of the slow cooked ribs in their infamous beer and chocolate sauce, whilst Lyn inhaled a total of 3 full racks, eating flavours such as garlic butter, barbecue, spicy barbecue and wasabi and apple. We were soon stuffed and waddled our way back to the main square where we had front row seats for the best view. We expected prices to be inflated there, but I refused to pay 6E for a small bottle of water, and had a hot chocolate for the same price, whilst Lyn, unsurprisingly, had another beer, before wandering back to Dwti. It was lovely to visit Bruges when it was quiet, as we have tended to visit before in the winter for the Christmas market. It was so lovely to sit outside in the warmth and admre all the beautiful buildings.