Packing day.
'Hell is other people' said Satre. He was wrong. I know because I've taken time out this week to vacation in Hell. As you'd expect, it was to warm, and bit annoying and by the end of my time there, psychologically disturbing. The story begins, as they often do, with us both filled with optimism, last Saturday morning.
Saturday the 30th of July.
Saturday morning we headed off to Cardiff to pick up the van. The sun was shining and the day was filled with promise. The van was new, though the tyres had seen better days. Still, the pick up was easy and we drove it back to begin loading. And that's where it started to go wrong. It was clear the van type we'd picked up was to small. Instead of packing everything we own into the van, it became a battle to pack what we needed in and squeeze what extras we could. The van place was closed so returning the van for a larger one wasn't an option. The stress levels were high to say the least. Thank god we had the services of Lynda's brother and good friend Donna Hardman. Between the two of them, they packed that van so full, that closing the doors was a three man job. A single, solid block of stuff was the best way to describe it.
By 16.30, it was time to leave. We were to tired for tearful goodbyes, hungry beyond belief and ready to get on the road. Geri settled in to his seat. I would spend the next three days worrying about the little parrot, who spent three days not caring a jot. So much for parrots being fragile creatures who dislike change.
We grabbed food at a service stop, enjoying the first of many, many fast food delights. The four hour plus drive was kind of welcomed though, giving both Lynda and I a chance to sit down after all the hassle.
Our hotel for the night was the expensive, but pet friendly Holiday Inn express, just a stones throw from the channel tunnel. Geri was treated like royalty wherever we went, and settled into the room with ease. A shower and some sleep did wonders.
Geri settling in at the Holiday inn express.
Sunday July 31st.
It's a gentle start to Sunday. Our train isn't due out until 11.50, and despite warnings of delays due to security checks, we don't have to leave the hotel until well after 10 in the morning. So a random breakfast of sausages and scrambled eggs (it's a free breakfast from the hotel, but why just sausages and scrambled eggs as the hot option?) Anyhoo, with breakfast done, we load up Geri into the van and go to check in for the crossing. Luck was on our side as on arrival, we're immediately directed to the next train. It saved us 14 minutes, but when you have 350 miles to cover that day, you'll take it. The main worry was that they'd like to check the back of the van. Anyone opening the rear doors could find themselves under a deluge of parrot cages, toiletries and soft furnishings. Fortunately, we were left alone.
We hit France by 1.15 and apart for a small stop for breathalysers and some hi visibility vests. (We had them already, but they had been packed into the back). The day was dry and warm and pretty soon we were clear of France and into Belgium. Brussels offered our first real stop. It was also the last time we felt, let's say contented. From Brussels it was a very long run to reach Germany and Colonge. The stretch from Brussels to the German border was, without a doubt the most boring stretch of motorway in the world. Monotony was creeping in and as Lynda nodded off, I became bored. Fuel was needed just as we crossed into Germany, allowing us a chance to brighten up.
We may be brightening up, but the weather is turning decidedly poor. Rain falls just after Cologne and those tyres I had concerns about now threaten to kill us. The van begins Aquaplaning around and I have to keep off the throttle to maintain control. The showers are short but my mood has soured. The pleasant run has become a torturous ordeal and tiredness begins to creep in. Approaching Frankfurt, all I can think about is food and a lie down. We arrive at our overnight at the NH Frankfurt Neiderrad. Annoyingly I can't park the van in the hotel car park. It's to big (oh the irony) soothe van gets parked across the road.
Meanwhile, Geri is getting the star treatment as the staff come out to fuss over him. He as before, seems unruffled. We settle in with Grill Den Hensller and a little room service.
Monday August 1st.
It's early. 6 AM to be precise and while Geri sleeps, we head off for a breakfast neither of us really wants. There's plenty of choice, but this early, the idea of eating anything is just not on. We struggle on though but it's 7.50 before we hit the road on the longest stretch of the whole three days. It's a whooping 450 miles to Vienna. We're hoping to get there by three that afternoon. Our first stop comes around Nuremberg. It's a nice day and the temperature is slowly rising. For now a cold coffee drink and a snack will do.
Nuremberg and our first stop.
The next stop comes two hours later at Passau. This is the exciting moment. From here we cross the border into Austria. We buy the Vignette for the van and head off on the last leg. Despite the early start, we feel good. With just an hour or so left to travel, I add a little extra fuel near St. Pölten and a little extra iced coffee to me. We're all feeling the strain, especially Geri who desperately wants a nap, but is to stubborn to take it.
With everything fuelled we push on and soon enough, we come over the brow of a hill and Vienna opens up before us. From there we pass Vösendorf and head into the city, leaving the motorway at Favoriten and arriving at our new home just before 5pm
If we've had a rough trip though, we need to spare a thought for Donna and Aimee. They flew out to help us unload the van and then enjoy the city for the week. They're flight should have gotten them to the city by midday. However, as we're cresting the hill, they're still at Vienna airport, waiting for luggage that may never come. They're flight went tech in the morning, turning back to Vienna before reaching Heathrow. Austrian put them onboard a flight to Berlin and then from Berlin to Vienna. Arriving at Berlin, Donna and Aimee discover a hot mess as the airport is filled with disgruntled passengers from all over, a baggage system on the blink and staff that are overtaxed and underpaid for the situation they currently face. They almost miss they're connecting flight after the counter staff fail to issue fresh boarding passes. They do make it to Vienna in the end, they're bags though are lost at either London, Berlin or some other part of the network. They make it to the apartment just 5 minutes before us.
Unloading the Van takes longer than expected, but by 8 that night,I just need to take he van to a car park and crawl into a dry martini (or large glas of wine as was the case.) finding a Car park to take a van was difficult, but we got there in the end.
Tuesday August 2nd.
Building furniture is the rule for the day whilst Lynda, Donna and Aimee fill the cupboards and get settled. Two bookcases later and in the heat of the afternoon I begin to wilt. There are other issues at play. Firstly, the van tyres are screwed. I'm rather annoyed about this as they should have been changed before we picked them up. The passenger tyre is illegal and the driver side one is on the edge. Fortunately, there's a Hertz rental place just up the road and fix the issue for free. Finally I have to go to IKEA in Vösendorf to replace our mattress. The summer heat and a lack of energy take they're toll on me, and I'm sat in IKEA, eating a snack to boost my energy levels, hoping it'll help.
Wednesday August 3rd.
It's time to hit the road by myself and return the van to the UK. I hit the road just after 10.30am and hope the day will be ok. Surprisingly it is. I stop at Linz for a quick break and again at Nuremberg. By Nuremberg I'm feeling tired, but still on it, reaching my hotel by 19.00 and checking in at Frankfurt for a nights sleep. I'm surprised how well that 450 miles went.
Thursday August 4th
Today is not going to be a good day. Stomach issues wake me 15 minutes before my alarm, which was already set for 6AM. I have to get all the way back to the Welsh Valley's today, 600+ miles away. Doing the same trip in two days rather than the three days it took to get to Vienna seemed like a good idea. It also saved money on van rental and a cheaper return on the Eurotunnel service. A quick breakfast and I hit the road at 6.30am, Calais bound. My train is set to leave at 14.50, but with clear traffic I could arrive at Calais and grab an earlier service. The kilometres drift away and I stop for my final fuel stop just after Colonge. I arrive at my second and last stop before the tunnel just after Brussels. Tiredness is kicking in and my stomach issue from earlier that day is rearing its ugly head again. More coffee and food perks me back up and I hit the road for the last stretch of Europe, straight into a massive hour long tailback. It's a disaster. Google rerouted me but having followed its instructions, I arrive at a junction that's closed and I'm stuck in a small town with traffic backing up and a sense of panic. I'm really tired and stumped. A toilet and food break helps me feel better, but this delay has cost me dearly. Switching to a different GPS app, I'm re-rerouted around the issue and I'm back on my way to Calais. My mood is black though. All the heavy lifting and exhaustion that's been building since Saturday is hitting me all at once. By the time I hit Calais, I'm a hour late. With the van loaded, I grab a nap.
Back in the uk, I have just 250 miles left to cover, but psychologically, I'm spent. I leave Folkestone like a cat on fire and make for th M25 and then the M4. It's rush hour though, slowing my progress and really hitting me hard. I'm tired, emotional and very lonely. I get routed through Bracknell which is hell and by the time I reach the M4, I'm on the point of crying. I make it to my final service station stop in emotional pieces. It's clear I need sleep, and I defiantly need food. The food helps as does my fifth coffee of the day, and with less than a two run ahead, I focus like a laser beam and battle in through. I reach our old home by 8pm uk time, having spent 14 hours and 30 minutes on the road that day. With the van parked and unloaded, I burst into tears. I collect a few things up I need to take back tomorrow, but after so much caffeine, any heavy lifting brings in chest pains. I eat some food, greet my mother in law when she gets home before crawling off to bed at 22.30.
Friday August 5th
My stomach once again wakes me early and I find myself up an hour and a half earlier than I wanted to be. I don't mind to much, as it allows me a chance to pack up a few requested items that didn't make it on the Saturday. At 8am I bid fairwell to the place I called home for 19 years. The Welsh weather does little to make me feel upset, settling on fog to see me off. It's summer.
Yes it's summer, honest!
I wince as I jump Ito the van for the last time. Yesterday's drive has scarred me and I sure as hell won't miss driving. The van drop off goes well and I'm left with a suitcase, handluggage and a handbag to drag to the train station. And drag it I do. Cardiff's pavements aren't the smoothest in the world. The train station has no lift, which is great. Wales is not really tugging at the heartstrings this morning.
I arrive at Cardiff central only to be stuck behind a malfunctioning ticket barrier. Sigh. I need tea. I head to my favourite tea place in Cardiff, the John Lewis department store. It's just opened but annoyingly, the cafe is closed for refurbishment. I sense a pattern forming for the day. I end up in Costa, drinking tea and having a blueberry muffin. Then it's time to head to the bus stop for my bus to Bristol airport. Whilst I wait, with Cardiff castle behind me, I'm surrounded by American tourist, all of whom seem intent on finding somewhere that sells Dr. Pepper. It amuses me. The bus arrives on time, the drivers a grumpy git, just like my dad was. The journey was fine and we arrive at Bristol on time. Check in was quick and I'm through security with ease. All the omens of doom seem to be clearing. The flight is on time, I have a chance for a quick bite. I board on time and settle into my seat at the front. Then the delays hit. There's a ground stop due to weather at destination push we need to wait for some elderly passengers to get onboard. We eventually depart 15 minutes behind time, but the captain reassures us we'll make it up thanks to a kick ass tailwind and clear skies.
Our route takes me directly over Brussels and Frankfurt, and what took me 14 plus hours yesterday today passes in just over 1 hour. It's the most direct evidence of how small the world has becom thanks to jets. I watch a film on my iPad whilst the smooth air turns decidedly lumpy. Soon enough though We begin our descent into Vienna. It's already going wrong and we're given a runway change. That means more minutes in the air as ATC reshuffle the deck to the new runway. Never the less, we line up for approach onto 29. A few miles out though and the power comes on and we climb back into the air. It's a go around. A storm has just settled over the airport, and we need time to let it clear. 15 minutes later, we land without incident. The runway is clear and we taxi to our stand. A further delay happens as ground crew are not permitted on the apron in thunderstorms, so we sit for a further 5 minutes next to our gate, unable to park. I chat to the cabin crew and soon enough, we're on stand and I'm off. Knowing the airport layout better than the other passengers (having been though it more than a few times lately.) I'm through passport control and at the baggage carousel before the others find their way. I'm so quick I beat the luggage by 10 minutes. Bags sorted, I find Lynda in arrivals, give her the biggest hug I can manage and go home.
The aftermath.
Having spent nearly a week constantly travelling, it spend the weekend at the apartment building more furniture, unpacking and recovering. The rest of the stuff in Wales will arrive at the end of the month, thanks to a great friend and a bit of luck. What I learnt from all of this is two things. One, always go for the biggest van you can find, and more importantly, next time, hire a company to do the job for you. The extra cost is more than worth it. Now however, I live in Vienna,many that's awesome. Two girls and a parrots not so impossible dream came true. :)
