Germany & Back

It has been a busy week or two, partly because normal routine maintenance has to be fitted in along with the adventure that was a Speedway meeting in Germany.

Friday evening we joined the Plymouth supporters coach in Exeter and settled down to a long overnight journey through England, across the channel, then through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Arriving at 8:00 am in Dortmund where we had written confirmation that we would be allowed into our rooms for a freshen up, we determined that the staff had not been informed and we were told there was no chance.

Fortunately, thanks to strong bargaining from our organiser and a responsible manager at the hotel, we were treated to a breakfast free gratis to compensate for the lack of a room. I call that a result as we had a good choice from the buffet including bacon, eggs, ham, cheese, croissant, fruit juices, melon, fruit, and other bits and pieces that I was happy to leave.

We got to our room about 10:00, although others had to wait a lot longer. We then slept through to 12:30 as the overnight journey, although affording some slumber, had been less than comfortable.

At 13:00 we left for the stadium, arriving there just before 14:00. Fortunately we spotted a local immigrant market about 500 yards from the stadium and that occupied the next hour or so as we walked to the market, ambled around, and walked back to the stadium.

There was nothing to do at the stadium except buy and drink beer or buy and eat bratwurst. What could we do? We did both. Twice. Dawn thoroughly enjoyed her bratwurst and also spotted a long blue horn retailing for 3 Euros, so I had to buy her one of those. It was money well spent as she enjoyed blowing her trumpet for the next three hours.

As gate opening time approached we made our way to the gate noted on the ticket. After waiting for half an hour there appeared a young German who informed the Germans waiting that this particular gate was not going to open. We had to make our way to another one for the body search. I had a deadly weapon which was a bottle opener with a cork screw. They let me in with no problem. My wife had a bottle of water to quench her thirst. Naturally they took that off her.

The meeting was probably one of the dullest affairs I have ever witnessed as the track was a one line wonder. Anyone that tried to move from the racing line lost position and lost place. The gate was the only place to win any of the races. After lap 1 there was not a single pass all night.

The journey home on the Sunday was a good one as we stopped for a delicious salad on the Dutch motorway, then stopped at a Belgian chocolate shop, and finally a French booze store where we found that most of the prices in Britain are now better than the ones we found over there. Times have changed.

I got kicked at football a week ago. The only problem at the time was pain, but since then the bruising has developed resulting in me collapsing on the floor a week later. I took two days off work to allow the bruising to subside, resting with an ice pack on my leg. I still cannot walk freely but at least the pain has subsided and it no longer feels as if my leg is fluid.

Now, I must find a You Tube video or two for your entertainment.