Bettingen (near Frankfurt), Germany

We are well established in our first real campsite – although our ETA of late morning was woefully ambitious! We arrived early this evening, after a relaxed journey consisting of a short time in the Netherlands, and then most of the day on the Autobahns. We met a lovely administrator at this campsite, who rules with a benevolent air from atop his electric scooter. After a beautiful meal previously cooked by Claire (and now reheated by her fair hand) we navigated the shower arrangements and now look forward to an evening of film and Scrabble entertainment.

Funny sights on the road today; various pretty churches including a motorway stop chapel, a lovely Honda motorbike (with sidecar!), the Rhine and Mum at the wheel!

We’re very sad to hear about the Eurotunnel accident and subsequent delays, but thank God we didn’t suffer too badly at such an early stage in the journey!

It’s not as if we can report a huge change in lifestyle between here on the continent and back home as we sit in our furnished campervan replete with Sony Vaio laptop computer and 3G internet courtesy of Vodafone, a microwave, a gas hob and more music than the average HMV which allows us to experience all the joys of home with none of the space!

However it is truly incredible to watch the countryside and the roads change before one’s eyes through the windows between impromptu naps and Monty Python watching, (although each service station looks depressingly similar to the last!)

Thanks to everyone who is in touch with us, today's friend being Norman, for his heads-up about the Tunnel. On the left: the Rhine