Ypres, Belgium 1-6 Apr 14

Parked at the Citie d'Europe
 

I've always wanted to see the last post sounded at the Menin Gate and with the exchange of Tesco vouchers for Eurotunnel tickets being such a good deal we decided that this was the time to do it.



The Cloth Hall



Ypres Ramparts

On Tuesday I prepared for the trip whilst Debs worked like blazes until gone 7. We then set off for a leisurely drive to catch the 0130 shuttle, stopping off at IKEA at Thurrock for a mooch about before arriving at the terminal and had a kip (at least we did until the coach load of French schoolkids decided to practice screeching). The easy drive realised a very frugal 35mpg on the trip down, The crossing was the usual affair and we parked up at Citie d'Europe along with 1 other motorhome and slept until 0900hrs.

Frites with lots and lots of mayo

On Weds we popped into Carrefour to stock up with decent grub (and wine) and then set off for the relatively short trip to Ypres. Once we crossed the Belgian border the roads became pretty awful and we were bouncing around on the poor surfaces, but at least there are no tolls! We arrived at the site and set up in no time, lazed around in the glorious sunshine for a bit then pootled off into Ypres and a couple of pints in the Old Bill Pub. Having sampled Belgian beer (cheap and good) the next item was frites, so off to the friterie we went to order 2 "specials" (a bag of chips with mayonnaise, tomato sauce and onions). The chips were lovely but they overdid it on the sauces and we were well "mayo'd out" by the time we left. As ever, our Euro change purse was full to bursting with coin and it was in the friterie that Debs decided to empty it onto the table and floor. It sounded like all the slot machines in a Las Vegas casino had paid out at once. We never were ones for a quiet entrance!

By now it was time to see the last post at the Menin Gate. There was a party of Canadian Air Cadets on parade who were scruffy as heck, but at least they were there. The ceremony was very well attended and the buglers played well, followed by a party of Kiwi schoolchildren who performed an excellent Haka under the gate. It was then back to the bus for a good kip.

The Menin Gate
 

On Thursday morning the local factory decided that it was time to start work with much banging and clattering - at 0630hrs! We did, however, manage to get some sleep and arose at about 0800 to that wonderful mix of French and English cuisine - a bacon baguette. We bimbled back into town and wandered around the very interesting "In Flanders Fields" museum. The museum has a very clever multimedia system where you are given a white bracelet with a poppy on it and this controls the various multimedia exhibits in order that the display is given in the right language. It also told me that 84 Beaumonts died in action in WW1. We then climbed up the bell tower of the cloth hall to admire the views followed by lunch al fresco in the town square (Flemish Stew is delicious). It was then a walk around the ramparts and back to watch the Menin Gate ceremony again.

On Friday we decided that we would cycle to the Tyne Cot cemetery. We went to the tourist office to get a map and found that there is a waymarked cycle trail which takes in all the main areas of the Ypres Salient. We set off, stopped for an excellent omelette in a café on Hill 60, visited Tyne Cot and numerous other cemeteries and eventually returned back to Ypres exhausted - 34 miles later! The night, however, was not to end there. Despite our dislike of these establishments, we stopped off at an Irish Pub to see of they were showing the rugby (Stade Francais v Harlequins in the Amlin Cup). The very kind barman put the TV on for us and 5 pints and a meat pie later we wobbled back to the bus and got to bed at about 0130hrs. 

On top of the Cloth Hall

On Saturday my suggestion of a bike ride was met with a stony stare, so we had another bimble around, took some photos, cooked steak in the bus and relaxed.

Crowds at the Menin Gate

The Last Post

Sunday - up early and a quick run home, stopping to top up with wine at the Eurotunnel shop.

This trip highlighted a few points. First - Belgian beer and food is excellent and cheap compared to France. Second - the Belgians are delightful people. You cannot open a map without being surrounded by people wanting to help you. Third - the site was clean and very reasonably priced. 12 euros a night for a hardstanding with electricity. Are you reading this Camping and Caravanning Club, you robbing *********?  Lastly, it demonstrated how easy it is to spend a short break in Northern Europe. The longest part of the journey was from Folkestone to home.

Tyne Cot