Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler

Oh Yeah!

Well, for those of you who googled the phrase in the title, you know that I am ready for some kind of fun. It is a Cajun term that perfectly fits what this posting is about in more ways than one.

As you know, I do everything (transportation-wise) either on a bike or with public transportation. That is normal for our culture. The public transportation is so good that one doesn't really need an auto...you can go where you want pretty much when you want. The busses, trains, taxis and trams are on time and the seats are comfortable.

My problem has always been the situation where I need to transport some bulky and heavy. What to do? I have rented autos and trailers before, but the prices are high and one is dependant upon what is available.

I have upon the rare occasion asked a friend or family member for help, but that always makes me feel a bit uncomfortable...I mean it was MY choice not to have an auto, and then if I go and start begging for assistance......well, it just doesn't feel right.

This last time that I came back home from extended travels we decided not to have an auto, saying that at that moment, it was an expense that we could ill afford. The plan was to first secure work, THEN get the auto. That was about 15 years ago now. After the first few months, two things became apparent: we didn't NEED an auto for 99% of the time and the cost. The monthly costs of having and maintaining an auto here are scandalously high. Well, perhaps not "scandalously", as I am a firm believer in paying taxes and mandatory yearly auto check-ups as well as having insurence.

I digress....so for the past 15 years the money saved by not having the "millstone" of an auto was substantial . So much so, that we decided upon taking on an auto. We decided this in conjunction with also deciding to resign our positions and instead of taking off to travel out in the world again, we would stay put right here and do things closer to home, in Europe. Also there are the two factors of responsibilities for the two cats and the gardens--one cannot simply just drop everything and abandon them.
The planning for these moves took months and required very careful evaluation. When all the ducks were in a row, then the knot was cut and things began to roll....

The auto that we needed was to be a sort of combination between something utilitarian and something of a "family" nature. Here we have an auto style called a "bestelauto". Bestel meaning "order"
This style was primarily used by businesses to transport things in and had no windows on the sides or in the back. This was to be the style, but windows...I wanted windows in the back and along the back sides so that I could see better.

In recent years the ordinary bestelauto; used for everything from bakers deliveries to electricians and plummers needs, began to come out with "family models".
The next choice was WHICH type of besteauto to choose--Renault, Fiat, Citroen, Dacia, Pugeot, VW?....Which one? I had driven them all and the Citroen looked the best, but then I discovered that the VW folks had reworked their engines and come up with a new and thriftier motor. VW here had a very good rep for be dependable and an all-round "solid" auto--Das auto (the car), it is called. Some of these types of autos had failed safety tests and actually fell over when swerving at high speeds (to see on YouTube).
The decision fell upon the VW in the end. The VW Caddy Combi Trendline

The colour was not important in terms of 'likes', so we let the studies determine it and discovered that yellow and silver were "safe" colours. Here, the most common colour is grey-silver, so yellow it was to be--"sunny yellow", it said in the brochure.
When I look out across large parking lots, there are sometimes not even one yellow auto to see. Perfect.

Here it is then, parked out at an industrial terrain:


I will show a few of the no-frills interior now.
The dash shows that there is not a lot of dials and "airliner cockpit"-like array of specialist instrumentation. There is some instrumentation, but is to see in the area where the speedometer is. The is an onboard computer that measures this and that and is there should you wish to consult it for some bit of info. All these things are probably common there where you live.


There is a row of three seats right behind the front.


Then in the back there is a loading area that can be made larger by folding the seats up and forward.--Handy for when I want to take my bike.


Both seats can be folded forward, giving quite a lot of room...they can also be easily removed to give a super amount of space.


You can see a mat over the surface of the back compartment. It has stand-up edges. This is perfect for me so that I can move garden stuff and seaweed from the beach so that there will be no spilling of dirt or water onto the new fabric interior surface covers.

I don't know if this model is available over there, but it suits my every gardening need...and it looks decent for non-gardening trips as well.

Let the good times roll, then!
Time for a trip off to one of the high heather areas for light hiking.
I came upon a place with some walking trails and parked under a nice big pine tree with a picnic bench beside it.


This was good for a cup of tea before starting off. It was the middle of the week, so not many folks were there. I can imagine that if it were the weekend that everyone and his brother would be there with pets, kids and the congestion of autos. This day; however, was quiet and peaceful. The day was sunny with transient clouds that would pass overhead from time to time.

Looking from the edge of the parking terrain, the sight was just as nice as could be--


After walking for a while some sheep (common on the heather) appeared and sis not seem too skittish as I approached and took some pics.


You could be forgiven for thinking that I was not attent and was holding my camera crooked, but that was not the case-- this is one of the highest spots in Nederland and the slanted horizon is actually the slope of tallish hill.

During the walk, I frequently stopped to look at what i was walking on or beside. Here is some heather.


Most of the ground was covered with a delicate growth of all manner of plants. Here is a tiny segment.


I also noticed some very small Scabious-looking plants.


After a three Km walk, it was time for lunch. Uh-oh! The picnic bench next to the auto was occupied. A woman had spread out everything all over the top and was installed to eat.
No problem, I thought, the next table will do fine. Uhmmmm....After pulling off the daypack and sitting down, I was delving in the daypack looking for the thermos and sarnies and I noticed ants....BIG ants--all over everything--the table the ground....and ME! Tch! No wonder that the woman was sitting over at that other table. hahaha.
They were the type that live in huge piles of bark and so forth...sometimes 5 feet tall and just as wide. You may have seen pics of them.
Well, I never saw one of those nests, but the ants really were everywhere. I put insect repellent around the soles of my shoes and brushed them off my arms and the table top until they just stopped bothering me.

After the lunch, it was time to head out to the beach for a beach walk and to check on the seaweed build-up. After a stroll, one plopped down on a small dune and watched and listened. Very nice.


Wanting to squeeze all out of the newness-feeling that i could it was off to the Oostvaardersplassen. This is that large wildlife preserve where the foxes were. I posted a link to cams in the fox den.
There was a YouTube film made --sort of a summery. If you want to see it, here is the link:

http://youtu.be/NJV3IRUWBJA

Anyway I went there to walk the narrow path and look out of the bird blinds . There were few birds, so I pushed on down that narrow and overgrown path. There was such a dense undergrowth on either side, that if some of the wild horses should come down that path...there was no where to go except up a tree, and many of them were dead, as the water has risen and came right up the edges of the path on both sides.

The path was littered with loads of horse poop. it was a bit unnerving, as these wild horses are quite large and sturdy.

My thoughts of a possible equestrian encounter were suddenly diverted by what I saw just to the left of the walking path:


It was an old stump, thickly covered with moss and grass....and a whole housing complex of mushrooms. I couldn't believe my eyes! They were on the stump and spread down below onto other fallen tree trunks. Absolutely remarkable.
I wanted to photograph it from all sides. Pity that the lighting wasn't better there--it was way too dark, and the flash changed the character of the scene.

That stump looked like it was a mountain with little houses built on the cliff sides.


Here another side with the grass cascading over the little "fairy dwellings", like a green waterfall.


A close-up of the little "village".


....and I took a flash with my fingers in front of the flash and got a peculiar effect. Surreal in a way.


Well, there were loud sounds now easily audible in the distance. There are some of those Scottish long-horned cattle in that preserve as well, and at first I thought that it was them...but later it was apparent that is was rutting deer.

I had been here before, but never this deeply into the preserve and so I didn't know what lay ahead. Further up the soggy trail, it was more open, but looking out left and right, I could tell that the terrain could not be traversed by two-footed animals, it was the terrain of, deer, cattle and wild horses.

Scanning the area, my eye was caught by a slight movement in the thick, gray-brown underbrush. I saw what I thought was the ear and half a head of a deer. Moving slightly this way and that I could finally make-out the neck and head of a doe....then another........then another! They moved almost silently, like shadows-- silhouetted forms coming together about 30 meters away.

It was exciting to see them. I were not visible outright, but rather in a sort of mosaic form, created by the angulated branches and twigs between me and them. It was one of those moments when you sort of hold your breath with your mouth open and eyes stretched wide. I know that some of you can see deer with some degree of regularity, but me...I never get to see them, so it was a moment of wonderment.

Well, the sun was edging close to the horizon now and it would be a long way back, so I wanted to push on forward to see if there would be anything to see closer to the rutting noises.
There was an elevated hut, sizeable with windows all round and a telescope to look out onto the mud flats, water and grass on the other side of that. That is where the groups were. Does and bulls snorting and pawing, backlit by the reddish sky and the setting sun. You could see clouds of their breath when it was exhaled out their nostrils. The huge rack of antlers seemed almost too heavy for the muscular necks of the stags...when they moved their chins outwards they would jut out and the antlers would fall back, almost touching their backs.
Back and forth the males walked and trotted-- their harem following.

It would have been easy to have stayed there until after dark, but the sun was already below the horizon, filling the sky with a warm and misleading beautiful redish glow-- and that path back still had to be negotiated.

Leaving the hut, I could see there yonder, a herd of the wild horses ambling along the distant tree line. I could tell that their traject was perpendicular to our path back.

By association, I felt a degree of haste. My partner found the prospect of an encounter on the dark and narrow path not in the least attractive. I played the 'danger' down, saying that I could handle those animals.

She immediately challenged me and inquired just exactly how I intended doing that.

I just shrugged in a paramount air of confidence, saying that I had see Crocodile Dundee.

She retorted that if I was closer than a tree when they came, then she would be climbing ME!

I feel as though I can hold my own with stock, but WILD horses, I don't know(I kept that snippit of info tomyself). Perhaps they could be unpredictable. The pace had quickened...and the horses were getting closer and closer from the left.
I know that my partner had said at least four times that she didn't want to meet the horses on that path, but who was counting.

I didn't feel too apprehensive because I knew that we had come through a gate somewhere, and it couldn't be much further. I told her why not pick up a walking stick, it might give her a feeling of security. She did this--such a thin and brittle stick was not what I had in mind. Tch!

We could hear the snorting of the horses now and see them close-by. Where WAS that gate! The sun was well under the horizon now and we were walking in semi-darkness.
There....there in the distance, was the bridge and gate on the other side. Once through that gate the horses would be separated from us.
I could see their round tan abdomens and stocky build...thick legs and hooves. I admit meeting one on the path would have caused a bit of a problem, but a herd of 30 or so....

I was wondering if my partner was thinking of sprinting for the gate. We approached the bridge and they saw us. They stopped and we crossed the bridge and slipped through the gate. Safe. hahaha. we both laughed out loud and began talking loudly in that way one does after the end of a stressed period of excitement. We cajoled and leisurely strolled down the path in the direction of where the yellow coach was awaiting us. joking and laughing...she looked down and said, "What's THAT"!
"Cow poop", I said.
"Oh jeeeeez, I thought we were safe".
I pointed out that the surface of the 'pies" were light and dried hard.
"It's old", I reassured her. She glanced sideways out of her eyes as she picked up the tempo of her gate. You know that look, don't you.
"It's almost dark for real now, let's get back to the car".

You know, having an lot of free time and the means to hop in an auto to buzz off to someplace nice is an attractive thing. For one thing, visiting far-flung garden centres etc, are a top priority, but so are hiking and camping. The good times have truly begun to roll with this new set of wheels.

 

Congrats on the "wheels" on Sjoerd. Looks like you picked out the perfect vehicle. Safe and spacious... not to mention "cute"!
Thanks for taking us along on your first expedition... loved all the photos and stories. Looking forward to seeing where you go next.

 

Great choice of auto, it is a beauty. Have wheels will travel eh! Sojerd! Great simple adventure, I love doing that too!! but nowadays just don't seems to have the urge strong enough to do it! Hmmmm............

 

Oh I LOVE IT!! What an adventure you had, wish I could have been with you :-o I wouldn't be much help with the horses but I'd love to see that stump again :-D

 

Thank you, Sjoerd, for taking us along on your adventure; I thoroughly enjoyed every word and pic..
Very good choice of vehicle; comfortable, good appearance, dependable, utilitarian,,,, impressive..
Wishing you and yours many happy miles free of accident or mechanical failure.. Hank

 

Great, useful vehicle, and this was only the first of many "adventures" it will take you on.

 

I felt like I was right there with you! Thanks for taking us along with you.

Yellow is a great color, by the way. It is much more visible than silver, too. When we went looking for another vehicle, I handed back the keys when they had a silver or gold paint. They are both way too easy for other people to miss seeing you. You, either, blend in with the road or the dead weeds.

we totaled a gold car when someone pulled out in front of us and so did my sister. I have, myself, pulled out in front of a silver car because I didn't see it. OOPS! glad I didn't cause and accident.

 

Sjoerd, Great story! I loved the mushroom photo and your choice of vehicle. Looks attractive yet practical. I hope you have many more fun trips ahead, & I hope you share them with us!

 

Thank you CHERYL--for the congrats. Glad you liked the auto and story.

Thanks KK-- it is fun to use that auto. The more I use it, the more I want to use it. haha.

Thanks for liking the auto and trip description S'MOM. If you had been along we would have had a lot of fun, I am sure.

Thanks for the kind words, HANK--I appreciate your good wishes too.

Chuckle. EILEEN--I do have a pretty good idea who that might be. Oh dear. Yes, I shall share more trips when I have the time to take them.
That was such an interesting place with the blinds. There were lots of little dark brown froggies on the path that last time I was there...but not this time. The froggies made it interesting.

Thanks MG-- I like the auto so far and also hope that this first trip will just be the beginning.

Oh how nice, CAROLYN--I am glad that you felt that way. It is always difficult to re-create something like this in a way that does the experience justice.
I am very happy that you liked that colour. It is not very popular over here.
You were a very lucky person on a couple of occasions with those auto accidents. You must have a little angel on your shoulder.

Hello CAYUGA--Glad you like the auto and the mushroom pics. I will be sure to share more trips that I take if they are interesting.

 

Hi Sjoerd, I just loved your story! Sounds like you had a great adventure in your new vehicle! I'll bet you'll be doing a lot of hauling in it.

 

Hi Sjoerd,
love the VW Caddy Combi Trendline,..now that was a good choice of vehicle,..and for all purposes,..and you sure got off to a good start,..fantastic pictures of those mushrooms,..they reminded me of houses in Brazil,..all on a hillside almost atop each other,..well spotted and well photographed.

Lol,..Cow Patties,as we call them,..soooo interesting, like a cake,..hard on top and nice and soft just a tad below the surface,..you had a great day out with the new transport,..its going to work wonders for you,..and think of next summer with all the produce to be taken home,..easy peasie now with your new wheels,..happy motoring Sjoerd.

 

What a perfect vehicle! I think you are going to have a lot of fun at the garden centers next spring

 

That's a great looking van, it should take you on many years over the years. Your stories are always a lot of fun to read, Happy Motoring!

 

Sjoerd that is a really nice looking vehicle. I love all the room. It sounds like you had a great road trip. Thank you for all the neat pic's. Especially the mushroom ones. They sure do look like little houses on the side of a hill.