Visit to Twenterand, Holland - 11th - 13th June 2004

" After much e - mailing between Neil and Klaus and in depth instructions and dire warnings about
the journey from the older members of the club, a group of us set forth out on our biennial trip to our
Dutch twin club. Many of us were virgins (in the metaphorical sense) and so were worried about the
traffic problems and actually finding the place. Yours truly went a day early and met about 300 bikers
on a holiday trip getting on the high - speed ferry at Harwich. Peter Larcombe chose the easy option,
flew out by Ryanair and was met at Eindhoven.

Nevertheless we all arrived at varying times at the café or hotel Zandwijk (depending on which side
of the road you were). We had braved the horrendous motorway traffic (after which the M25 seems a
doddle). Neil bravely fought with flashing red lights (in the car not the Dutch police) and we all met our
hosts. That evening we all spent time loitering (?) in the bar drinking beer and finding how well our hosts
spoke English. For some reason I was reminded of the café Renee in Allo Allo. Probably my terrible
efforts at speaking Dutch.
The next day we set off for the zoo. (no comment!)

Mid morning coffee was in Ommen, then onto Emmen to the Zoo. The zoo was unusual in that it
was in the town but you had about a mile walk along an aerial path from the car park. The animals were
in open air parks with groups of animals in big areas together. The giraffes had found that the dip at the
edge of their area allowed them to crop the lawn on our side without having to bend down and you had
a giraffes' head at ground level about a metre from you! President Andrew and President elect Alan
discovered they could do regal waves from the viewing platform for the elephants, who seemed to spend
most of their time pushing each other around. The weather now decided to take a hand and we had
some really heavy showers where we all dived for cover. . We went through monkey areas, bears, a
lovely butterfly house and watched the possums being fed, the crocodiles hissing and the meercats
looking cute. I liked the night section where they had the mole rats busy burrowing.

Lunch at the zoo was well up Dutch standards with lots of cold meats and salad but it also involved
some curious beef paste sausages eaten in a roll, about which we had careful instruction!! We all then
left to go home and prepare for the evening party. This involved another really sumptuous meal and a
very good band to which everyone danced. Vicky decided to try plate smashing with her wine glass,
which caused a degree of excitement. Klaus had a cunning plan where everyone changed seats between
courses which caused much confusion. President Andrew amazed our Dutch hosts by speaking in Dutch
(at least that's what he said it was)…they were very relieved when he repeated it in English so they could
understand.
When the band started playing Dutch music (a bit like belly dancing) certain ladies from Ingatestone really
let it all hang out (you know who you are ….) The Dutch ladies joined in here…. On Sunday, all too
soon we met back at the Zandwijk to bid our hosts farewell… the hospitality had been marvellous.
We all got back to the ferry a bit quicker as it was Sunday and met up with the 300 bikers going home.
On the way back Senga and Mike held cigarette- burning competitions to see how fast the cigarettes
would burn in the draught at the stern. A great weekend with lots of fellowship - those of you who
haven't been, you don't know what you're missing! "

Our thanks to Roger Haste for his report.

Gallery of Photographs:-      ( move your cursor over photos for a caption )