Summer - Classical MileEnd Alpacas

feature an epic journey
Then it was back to finish the judging and
present the Supreme Champion sash.
Then my problems began afresh… still
no flights.
Poor Ivan; he spent hours on the phone but
there was not a seat to be had on Eurostar or
as a foot passenger on a ferry; he did the only
thing he could think of and booked a return
ferry crossing for the car - he would have to
drive to Dover, cross to Calais, meet me and
then return two hours later on the same ferry,
but it was not to be.
Thanks again to the wonderful Marcus, who
collected me and battled through the rush
hour traffic, I arrived at Nurnberg station in
plenty of time for the train I hoped to take.
When I reached the front of the ticket queue
the patient lady tried many different options,
but No, I could not go to France or Dover that
day – “perhaps tomorrow” she said, “or if not
Wednesday” This was because they are not
allowed to sell you a ticket for a high speed
train, if they can’t reserve you a seat. Sensible
I suppose but as a percentage of people do not
take up their seat, very frustrating.
I decided I needed to keep moving West and
so I bought a “local service” ticket to Brussels,
understanding the advice that I would be lucky
to get a seat, and boarded the next train. All
went well, apart from the very pungent man
in the next seat; I changed trains several times
along the way and arrived at Cologne (Koln) in
plenty of time for the train to Brussels. In the
meantime, Ivan had to spend another fruitful
morning on hold to Eurostar and managed
by some quirk of fate to get through just as a
cancellation came through. I was on the 19.02
Euro Star, fantastic, until I had been on the
platform for 20 mins in Cologne and heard
that if I had no seat booking, I could not board
the train. I had to get a coach.
I made dash through the station, across
the road and into the scrum surrounding the
coaches; I was determined to get on one and I
did. Phew! It was an amusing journey hearing
about the other epic trips from Scandinavia
over several days, countries and modes of
transport. There was very much a “Dunkirk”
spirit, until we realised that the coach was
going to come off the motorway and go into
the towns that the train would have stopped
at. We might not make it to Brussels in time.
To cut a long and hair raising next two hours
short, I queued to print my ticket for Euro Star,
I queued to get through the barrier to join an
even longer queue for customs; eleven hours
on and with two minutes to spare, I fell into
my very expensive seat on the Euro Star. By
the time I had reached St Pancras and walked
to Euston I was about finished. No train to my
station for 45 mins. I caught the next train out
of Euston in my home direction and called the
wonderful Ivan, to drive to collect me from
the station at Tring and asked him to walk
down the steps to meet me, as I didn’t have
the strength to carry my small bag any further.
We were home by 10.45pm – I had been
travelling for over 16 hours.
However, it was worth it. I travelled out
and back on the days that I had intended.
The German breeders and their association
were wonderful – great people, products and
alpacas and they paid my huge expenses bill
without question.
In the end it was fortunate that Ivan couldn’t
accompany me, as he had to make endless
searches and phone calls to locate my tickets;
but what would we do without the internet
and mobile phones! l
We are a small family run business who can supply a wide range of
paddock equipment, offer advice and time to discuss your requirements
and help you choose the most suitable products. We sell quality products
at discounted prices.
We stock Mitsubishi Compact Tractors, a wide range of Paddock Vacuums,
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more information. Please see our linked websites for specific product
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Telephone: Daytime/Evening 01458 850084 or 07770 838 681.
74 Alpaca World Magazine
summer 2010
summer 2010
Alpaca World Magazine 75