13 Apr 2010 - BACK TO THE BULBS
‘Hey, Alan and Doreen are running another final ‘Back to the Bulbs’ rally next year – you really should try to get on it, but places are restricted and go quickly’! This was how we heard about this rally at the Weybridge Vandals rally in August 2009. Within a couple of days of getting back from that rally, we had received the newsletter with booking form and sent off the deposit.
On Tuesday 12th April we set off for the Caravan Club Site at Dover, where we met in the early afternoon, to be on hand for the 07.30 hrs ferry on the morning of the 13th.
We travelled to the site in Holland following Alan’s directions and arrived safely mid-afternoon. Here we were greeted by Alan and Doreen and a very welcome drink and Dutch bun. We then spent the rest of the day settling in and exploring the site.
The welcome lunch provided by ‘Flip’ and his staff on the Thursday was an excellent meal and was also a good ice-breaker to help get to know our fellow ralliers. We were made most welcome and it was obvious that Alan and Flip had a great rapport which we benefited from.
The first-time Koningshof ralliers were presented with ceremonial sink plugs, though by some strange oversight, there only appeared to be enough for the men, and so the women claimed this exempted them from dishwashing duties!
We had been conscious of the planes using Schiphol airport on our arrival, but it did not take Alan long to arrange for the cessation of flying for a week!!
On Friday we went to see the cheese market in Alkmaar. This traditional market takes place in the main square and starts with the cheeses, which are large discs weighing about 5 kg, being laid out to be sold in batches. They are then placed onto platforms that are lifted and carried by ‘porters’ using straps which they pass around their necks and hook onto notches on the platform. They are then unloaded onto wooden carts which are pushed around the corner and then the cheeses are loaded onto waiting lorries.
From Alkmaar, the coach took us to Volendam where we wandered round the fishing port until the ferry took us across the lake to Marken, an island community until a few years ago when a link was built to the mainland. The residents wear traditional costumes and many of the houses are furnished in the traditional manner, but we unfortunately did not have time to explore them.
The coach then took us back to the site by the ‘pretty route’ so that we got a foretaste of the bulb fields. The sight was so spectacular that we were able to watch a photographer setting up to capture it; the problem was she was setting up in the road and was impervious to the chaos she was causing!
On Saturday we had the day to ourselves and a lot of bicycles were exercised although the bus was a popular alternative. The market in Leiden was a destination favoured by many.
In the evening we gathered in the Printsenhof (hall) for a social evening which started with a game involving trying to identify the contents of ten of Alan’s socks!
The bikes were out again on Sunday morning, but everyone made it back for cheese and wine at Alan and Doreen’s pitch. The weather spoilt us again with glorious sunshine and no breeze so that we were slow to disperse. The weather for the whole holiday was unbeatable, with rain only appearing on the morning that the coach trip went to Amsterdam, though the wind was sometimes chilly.
On Monday morning we were collected by coach for our trip to the Keukenhof Gardens, a tour through the bulb fields and then a visit to Panorama Tulip Land. The gardens were spectacular with many displays ‘painted’ with bulbs, illustrating this year’s theme of ‘From Russia with Love’. They claim that three and a half million bulbs are planted by hand each year! The gardens are only open for a few weeks each year whilst the bulbs are in bloom. The cold winter this year had affected the impact of the displays since many were flowering later than they should have been. It was very pleasant just wandering through the gardens in the sunshine and the plant shop did a good trade as we left.
The ride through the bulb fields was spectacular, but being in the coach we were unable to appreciate the wonderful perfume of the flowers.
The “Panorama Tulip Land” was a 360 degree mural, painted over the course of several decades, by a local artist. It depicts the view of the immediate area as it was in the late 1950’s and is remarkably accurate – each flower is individually painted with a dark and light side to it. The whole structure is dismantled each year so that the bulb harvest can be stored in the area where it is displayed. There was a small exhibition of the traditional techniques used to grow and harvest the bulbs, and of course, some bulbs to buy The weather was again kind to us for a lunch time BBQ chez Berry; bikes were then a popular way of working the lunch off. It was a pleasure cycling because the transport system prioritises the cyclist, which can be a bit disconcerting when driving, and also the land is very flat, though the wind can negate this. Pat was so impressed by the locals’ bikes that she part exchanged her British model for a fetching, pink Dutch number!
The bikes were out again on Wednesday though some of us used the bus to visit some of the more distant towns, but we were back in good time for the evening boat trip. The buffet was excellent and the trip was blessed with ideal weather, out of the biting wind.
The optional coach trip to Amsterdam on Thursday was popular, but some of us opted for the chance to have a quiet day on site, or sight-seeing locally.
On Friday evening, after another quiet day, Karen challenged us with a quiz, won by Pat and Martin with John (Barnett) winning the special booby prize. A dice game organised by Marilyn and David entertained us for a while, and then she joined Terry and Bob (Usher) in a few rounds of joke telling. An enjoyable evening was had by all.
The coach took us to Sassenheim on Saturday to watch the flower parade, but it seems we unfortunately missed half of it. The ingenuity and skill of the decorators even on the few floats we saw was amazing, with floats depicting Shaun the Sheep - with rural sound effects - to a flamenco dancer, via Tour de France cyclists!
Sunday morning was probably the warmest morning of the holiday, perfect for the breakfast BBQ. The ralliers gathered to start their day together, with a social event and food. It all went well for a while, and we had finished eating when Phyllis’s timer went off – she said it was because her washing was done, but it was like a pre-arranged signal because everyone got up and left!
The atmosphere at the site was definitely changing on Monday with spaces where awnings had been and an air of winding down present. Talk was of where people were heading next, what time their ferries were or which would be the next rally.
The farewell dinner was another success, the free wine flowed and Flip was on good form. During the meal it was announced that Marilyn and David would be running the ‘Back to the Bulbs’ rally in a couple of years’ time. Alan and Doreen were thanked for their efforts and congratulated on another successful rally. At the end of the evening, the ladies were given bunches of tulips and we all left having had a most pleasant evening.
Tuesday was a sad occasion, but we got off and caught our ferry despite a 5-mile tailback caused by an accident on the motorway delaying us for over half an hour. We were home by early evening. Work on Wednesday morning was a sobering shock but we are enjoying the memories of a relaxing holiday, spent with good friends, and we look forward to our next rally and seeing everyone again.
Joan and Bob Green (2674)
Ann and Ted Boekbinder (2588)
Pictures by Terry Hughes (2200)