the graham ring new year

[duncan]

After the summer trip camping and getting on so well with the pinders we decided shortly after they came down to ours in october that a trip to the ring for the new year would be a great way to end the yeaar and start the new one..... so plans were made and Burgstube booked as we had had such a great time there the previous year.

It also co-incided nicely with Bren deciding that anothe NYE at Sliders party would be a good idea ......

So... the countdown was long but eventually it came down to getting up at 4am and heading down south to Dover for the Ferry. As the Subaru was family friendly we all set off in it and prepared for a gentle drive

SeaFrance were a little late but we were in no hurry as we headed out of calais and over to Tyne Cot Cemetary to pay our respects to those that fell in WWI at Paschendale.













Pure madness seeing this many graves in one place that all died in the same battle. I for one and very thankful to their sacrifices. It was very emotional and sobering to experience and an experience I wanted to ensure Annabelle had to bring home the pure scale.

We arrived at the Burgstube late afternoon - unfortunately just after the track had shut so couldnt get any laps in then, but we relaxed and chilled in the hotel having a lovely home cooked meal by Heidi and a reasonably early night ready for day 2.

[duncan]

Day 2 .

Woke up and checked the webcam ... it was going to open as there were marshalls around but they took their time. Eventually whilst supping coffee and checking the webcam we gave up and headed down there to check and ask.



The guy in the office said 5 mins so we prepared ourselves and were second through the barrier.

It was slippery but they had salted so it would improve. or so we thought

A few laps later and we stopped and chatted to Michaela in the car park

now was time for Rachel to earn her ring sticker driving the subaru around for a slow lap..... i didnt quite mean THAT slow but hats off to her for doing it :thumb:

1pm and we headed back to the hotel as pinder time had almost arrived. They had just got there and it was a quick hello, cuppa coffee and schtooof and Nige and I headed out for 'a drive'. A few more laps and a couple of exchange passenger laps and the track closed. Some superb lapping in clear blue skies and dry track (but sub-zero temps) - loved it :veryhappy:

evening time and pizza was in order:







back to the hotel for a nightcap and off to bed

[duncan]

day 3 ... monday

late rise as usual and a great brekkie to set up the day then headed off to centre parcs. Not quite sure how far it was though :whistle:

Bowling was fun but no pics from us for this boooo

After this we went down to the Reve to get a few bits and Rachel started on the Gluhwein :drink: :drink:

The evening meal was prepared by Heidi and Martin - one of her specialities ... Pan fried Turkey... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Loads to eat and loads to drink - great night :thumb:

day 4 ... tuesday

Today was the trip to kerpen for Karting at the Michael Schumacher centre organised by Bren - cheers :thumb: nice swift convoy drive up the autobahn and we arrived in plenty of time :veryhappy:

Lots of pre-race banter and it was time for qualifying





why's your head blurrey Matti?





the race ...







you all know the result, but it was a fantastically knackering time - so much so that I couldnt stand at the end of it, nor could most.

The kids then went in for their own race - Matti won from what I could make out. :thumb:

After Dave got his trophy, Bren had organised a table for us all at the italian in the same complex for grub - great food and great company - cheers for organising this Bren :thumb:

After we were fed and watered we headed back down the autobahn to Burgstube - nice steady 120-130mph cruise ready for a couple of Bitburgers back at base :veryhappy:

[duncan]

day 5 ... wednesday NYE

Today we heard the news from N GMBH that the track was not going to open til the 4th of Jan

I was up early enough to see this though:



So we went for a walk ... very cold overnight and it was crispy under foot but it was warming up.

The day went quickly but the thawing conditions changed quickly when the sun went down then it started to drizzle ice on top causing black ice conditions. We were ready to go out and heard that Martin and Heidi's friend had crashed on the ice with Heidi in the car, then Martin had dinged a wheel trying to get out to them on the ice. We were heading over to Sliders for the NYE party or rather should have been, but neither mine nor Nige's cars had winter tyres and we collectively thought it was unfair to ask Martin to drive us over and then head out to pick us up at silly oclock when the conditions were getting worse from the already lethal ice. Quick telephone calls to let them know our change of plans

Huge apologies to Bren and Suz for not making it over, it was one of the things were looking forwards to most. Next year ....

We had to improvise with food and a party of our own...

Barmaid in training













and ....

:whistle:

[duncan]

day 6 ... thursday

A late awakening :thumb:

A full day of chilling out and doing not a lot but preparing for the evening up at Comfy Corner in Adenau. Jorg was cooking a roast beef dinner and to say it was awesome wouldn't be doing it justice. Everyone wolfed it down and the festivities began with Jorg getting the guitar out ....

[duncan]

day 7 ... friday

A very late start this time and off out for a walk to clear the heads. We headed down to the track at Antoniobuche to jump on the track and walk up to the GH as the main gates were locked and we wanted to get on the webcam.

Lovely crisp morning again and a lot of sliding on the black ice on the track. We 'found' our way into the GH carpark and waited for the camera to refresh.

Martin saved the screenprints for us:





The walk back was a little eventful with Cat having a coming together with the armco in a VERY painful place

back to the Burgstube for some grub then off to Centre Parcs for swimming in the afternoon. Not quite as good as Rheinbach swimming but it was great all the same. Swimming into the outside bit was weird with extreme head freeze moments.

A great afternoon and a nice 10 miles drive back :thumb:

On the way back we checked with the PK to make sure they were open that night for some steak on the stone. They were .. result

Changed and off out, with Martin and Heidi aswell we found a warm welcome down the PK and ordered without looking at the menus :thumb:






























Lovely Cake Heidi's mooom :thumb:

[duncan]

going home day...

Thanks so much for fantastic hospitality Martin and Heidi at the Burgstube (http://www.burgstube.com) :thumb:

Great to finally meet Karl and Claire :thumb:

It was also great to meet so many new people again :thumb:

It is always extremely sad to leave, even sadder when you are leaving great friends.....

Here's to the next time

[ginger ninja]

Can we post a reply now or have you got Sundays washing the car photos to come ??
Looks like a good time was had by all, it must have been so nice to do something for NYE that is different than the norm.
The photo's of the WWI graves look very daunting, this is one place I have to go to because I dont think you can comprehend the scale of these places, if the ring trip plan happens later this year then this will be the first stop.
Nice to see the best child time killer nintendo games were there, thank god for them at times :lol:

NOW back to reality and work again Dunc

[Mr Fletcher]

great write up and pics ,looks like a good way to see in the new year

cheers

jason

[RX7]

Superb write up mate, sounds like you had a lot of fun despite the conditions and the track not being open.

That karting looked awesome !!