5th June 2010 Munich to Rotterdam

I leave Munich at 9AM. The previous day’s drive has left me aching and the cramp attack at 4Am has left me sore in both legs. Nurnburg is directly north of Munich and seems the logical target for the first part of the drive. I am soon on the Autobahn and realise early that driving in Germany requires a new skill set. In the absence of speed limits, approaching a slower vehicle in the slow lane, a check of mirrors reveals a clear lane for overtaking with a dot in the distance being the closest car behind. What you don’t realise is that the dot behind you is travelling at 220KMH and closes you down at such a speed that he is immediately behind you and flashing headlights.

This is becoming a day of realisation. For the first time since starting this journey I feel like I am out from under the cloud of Qatar. Don’t ask me how this feeling came about but I feel that the weight of the world is off my shoulders and that a cloud has lifted. Maybe the drive through the Alps last night was a wake up call about what is on this planet compared to Qatar. There is also an impending realisation that the drive is almost over. I can’t believe that I have come this far and that within 48 hours I will have reached the UK.

From Nurnburg I head North West for Frankfurt. I am making reasonable progress on the Autobahns when they are 3 lanes. I am surprised the number of these roads that are under repair and closed except for one lane, which significantly slows progress. By Frankfurt the sun is shining and the drive is becoming a real pleasure. The forests on either side of the road add to the experience. At Frankfurt I take the road for Dusseldorf where I figure it will be a good place to spend the night. As I get to Dusseldorf I see a sign for Arnheim. I figure it is better to get in Holland before stopping and push on. As with many other legs of this trip, I keeping pushing. I am soon in Holland and see the signs for Den Hague. I know this is near Rotterdam, where the ferry will leave from the following night. I reach the ferry port area at 8PM. I am exhausted and start looking for a hotel. They are all full and I am faced with the prospect of kipping in the back of the car. I remember passing signs for Rotterdam airport. Airports have always got hotels, so I head in that direction. There are 4 hotels at the airport and they are all nearly empty. I check into the room and crash out fully clothed.