Midwinter madness

archambaut · Post by **archambaut** » Sat 18th Dec 2010 01:46 pm

So today is the day - I need my head read even thinking about going to
the corner shop, let alone the Netherlands, but too late to cancel now.

Had some snow yesterday, and a six hour power cut

.
When I got up today, no disruptions were reported, but we have
had a couple more inches of snow today, and the transport is
dropping like flies.

Will set off early, in the hope I might arrive. All being well I'll
be there tomorrow, freezing my nads off

Will try and update from internet cafes as I go (or home
if I never make it).

Laters
Arch

piedpiperofvice · Post by **piedpiperofvice** » Sat 18th Dec 2010 06:05 pm

gapie and me could meet some day until tuesday dec 21 anywhere

Trad · Post by **Trad** » Sat 18th Dec 2010 07:08 pm

Good luck, hope you can get there.

gapie · Post by **gapie** » Sat 18th Dec 2010 08:56 pm

piedpiperofvice wrote:gapie and me could meet some day until tuesday dec 21 anywhere

cool meet u man cya this week i hope

piedpiperofvice · Post by **piedpiperofvice** » Sun 19th Dec 2010 07:21 am

good to meet you gapie. you are a great host . might see you at grey area between 1 -4 . or at another acd meet this week

archambaut · Post by **archambaut** » Fri 31st Dec 2010 12:35 am

Right, back in the land of the living.
What I thought was a cold that started on my trip turned out to be a good dose of flu (swine or seasonal - I'm not sure, or care).
I'm just coming through the other side of it now, so can finish up my trip report.

So, set off Saturday, braving the snow and the failing transport system.
Dodged suspended tube and rail services, and blizzard conditions in Essex to get to the boat. Total whiteout at Harwich, but I knew the boat always runs.

Climbed aboard, knackered and freezing, grabbed some food and hit the hay.
Awoke four hours later, decided to pop out and realised that they had held the boat for all the lorries stuck en route, so we were still in harbour.

We finally set off four hours late, and arrived correspondingly late at the other end. Piled off the boat and on to the train, sat and waited. After a half hour we were asked to get off as the train was broken.

Another 20 minute wait for the next one, got to Scheidam to realise that there only seemed to be Sprinters running. Got one to Den Haag, at least NS were providing free coffee. Finally got to Haarlem at 2pm (should have been there around 10am).

Checked in and headed off for some lunch. Snowbound Holland was at least making me feel slightly better about how the UK copes with snow. It was bloody cold walking around, so I headed into V+D cafeteria for some food.
Then up to Regine to pick up 2g of Polm (13-) and 2g of their Special(15-).

Regine is a nice shop but their menu is a lot more spartan than my last visit.

Got smoked up and steeled myself for the walk back to the hotel. After all day in and out of the cold, and the journey, I was pretty knackered, so headed back for a few hours kip and some telly.