"A little less conversation, a little more action" (Elvis)

Well, it has finally started! After a bus ride through the suburbs of London (oooh how scenic), a cross channel ferry journey (involving a steak and mushroom - singular - pie) and the first real test of the truck (and of the navigation capacities of the drivers) we arrived in Tournai in Belgium, set up camp for the first time and enjoyed the first of many gourmet meals (soup and a main, happy days!). The first of many self-discoveries was made thanks to the weather... no, I can't become an Antarctic explorer... A very cold start to the camping through western Europe (frost and freezing temperatures!). Day 2 saw us head to Cologne (or Köln to keep my German teacher happy). Spent the afternoon walking up the 509 (yes, that is a lot) of stairs to the top of the cathedral (useless fact 1 for the day - it is the second highest spire in Europe, and the cathedral has the widest facade in Europe) for views over the city and its 250 churches (accompanied by about a thousand rampaging German schoolkids - well, it is the most visited attraction in Germany apparently). Returned to camp for another lovely meal, a drink and a cheeky game of UNO. Then off to bed ready for another hectic day. Currently it is Day 3 and I am battling with the German keyboard (who would have thought they would swap the "z" and the "y"? Wacky Deutschers) in Cologne after a visit to the chocolate museum (useless fact 2 for the day - 418 kit kats are consumed around the world every second, and the production of kit kats is such that an eiffel tower could be built every 5 minutes). Dinner tonight is going to be in a beer hall in the city... unleashing all of us onto an unsuspecting city could spell trouble! Will keep you posted...