Belgium to Amsterdam

Up and out early this morning.  Stopped at a store called Decathalon - bit like an Anaconda store.  Tony is feeling the cold so a new warm jacket was in order.  We stopped by a Carrefour first and we've discovered that most of the french supermarkets we have been in really smell bad.  Nate described it well.  He said its like they've cleaned the fish, then used that water to mop the floor!

Its really not far from Calais to Belgium so we were in a new country quite quickly.  We needed to stop for fuel and a loo break so found a service station early on the drive.  Their petrol pumps are quite different to the french.  In France you pay for your fuel with a credit card so without one you're buggered.  Each bowser has its own credit card slot - you get preauthorised then you fill up. It took us a bit to work out the Belgium way as the pumps dont have the creidt card slots and we could work out where to pay.  Eventually we noticed that they have a pay terminal at the end of each row of bowsers - you have to choose your pump and then you preauthorise and pay.  And speaking of paying, you have to pay to use the servo toilets too - 50 cents each.

Belgian weather - cold but dry

next minute - freezing and wet

Its not just the French that are terrible drivers - its all Europeans.  We saw all nationality number plates today and noone behaved themselves.  They speed up and slow down for no reason, they will cut you off without even noticing you're there. Trucks overtake other trucks - way too slowly so it seems to take forever.  Noone gives way or lets anyone in - its only the brave that do well here I think.

We stopped for lunch just before the border with Amsterdam and before we knew it we were in Holland.  Didn't see a windmill yet but I bet we will tomorrow.  The dutch do however love concrete freeways - no tolls thank goodness (I think we spent well over $30 in tolls yesterday)  but some sections had 4 layers of roads. We scored a couple of tunnels too today that were pretty long.

layer upon layer

heavy traffic right through Holland

The campsite for the next 2 nights is in a place called Wassenaar.  Its right between Amsterdam and The Hague.  Turns out its a massive place, and there is a theme park attached.  It looks a bit like Dreamworld, Nate is very excited - entry for us is free because were staying here!  Finally tomorrow Tony will get to ride too as there are pushbikes here a plenty.  There is also a shopping centre and 5 different restaurants on site here so very self contained.

Tonight's wine is another Bordeaux - Tony gives it a 6.5.  The last 2 nights wines have been sponsored by ALDI and both under $4.