Miles driven today: 152
Total miles: 362
Location: Bruges, Belgium.
Accomdation: Charlie Rockets hostel, 21€. Grim grim just grim. 1 plug socket between 8 us. But very social and trendy, nice bar and good food. Comfy beds, but just in a GRIM room.
Number of fully booked  hostels I tried before I found this one: all of them
Number of fresh farm eggs Cathers gave to me before I left this morning: 4
Number of eggs that made it to Belgium in one piece: 3
Number of burns to arms sustained trying to cook remaining eggs on gas camping stove: 2
Number of minutes spent on the phone to the Halifax trying to make them realise it IS me spending money abroad on my bank card: 12
Number of canal towpaths I have driven along by accident: 1
Number of Belgians walking on canal towpath who stopped and waved their finger at me and looked cross: 2

At the docks in Dover I was all very chilled at the prospect of foreign holiday. At Dunkirk I got overly excited and waved at all the customs officials stood there looking miserable as I cruised past with my roof down. Driving on the wrong side of the road doesn’t phase me. I’m happy to stay in hotels and whatnot by myself (well not happy, I’d rather be with someone else, but you know what I mean) but there was a scary bit when I got out of the docks and remembered that EVERYTHING is in foreign. Wanted some bread for a bacon butty (also kindly provided by Cath and Jane) and saw a big roadside advert for a supermarket. But i just couldn’t tell where it said it was, so had to drive another 25 miles or so before I passed a petrol station with a shop. Then had no euros to buy anything (maybe next time I should at least bring loose change with me). I had a moment of “What on earth made me think this was a good idea?” but the petrol station started playing MmmBop at top volume and all was well again.

Bruge is lovely. I came here last time and loved it. Its got more cobbled streets than Wetherfield. Very pretty little squares and pavement cafes and bars with the front windows flung open wide (like Tom&Jerrys in summer, but classy). I also had a good long walk down to the river and had a mooch round just outside the city itself. Too tired to be any more enthusiatic about it now though. I would have taken more pics but thebattery on my phone has gone and I’ve just realised the charger is still in Surrey. 😦 Gutted as so many pretty buildings and little cobbled bridges.

Found this shop windown which made me smile:

EDIT: Forget what I said about not minding eating by myself. I’ve just been to an Italian, and they sat me where I soon realised was the “office” area of the restaurant. The manager was busy serving but it was obviously his seat. Nowt like eating your spag bol while being surrounded by invoices, order books and boxes of butter portions.