08/10/2024
Day 11-14: Berlin ๐ฉ๐ช - Rotterdam ๐ณ๐ฑ - Hull ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ - Cardiff ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ
Well what an eventful end to our European tour ๐
After leaving Berlin and travelling to Cologne, our gear box on the van completely blew (very luckily, as we came off the autobahn). We pulled over and called our breakdown cover, game over ๐
We walked to the nearest hotel, leaving most of our belongings in the van whilst it was then towed to the nearest garage.
The following morning, we realised the van could not be fixed before our intended return date so it would be set to be repatriated back to the UK and we'd have to find an alternative way home ๐
As we had Eggy with us, returning home wasn't that simple!
We looked into hiring cars, one of us flying back and returning with our other car or having friends pick us up, all proving to be very expensive and time consuming.
We were limited with options but found that the ONLY ferry line that allow walk-on passengers, travelling with dogs, is the Rotterdam to Hull P&O line.
So, the following morning we took a 6 hour train to Rotterdam, had lunch and then boarded the overnight ferry to Hull. We then took another 6 hour train down to Cardiff ๐ฉ
The journey was long and stressful, but a story for the grandchildren ๐
Eggnog was an absolute dream, bless her, relaxed and snoring away on the train ๐ฅฐ
We're back home now and have recovered! The van shall be back in Wales in a few weeks time, we're hopeful that it can be repaired. In the meantime, walks will continue but with a smaller car! โค๏ธ๐ช๐ฝ