Towbar needed back in Utrecht!

This Saturday, the 10th of July, Tjerk Ridder and Peter Bijl will return to Utrecht. At. 14.00 hrs the mayor of the city of Utrecht, Mr. Wolfsen, will welcome the party on Domplein.
We would hereby like to invite you to come and celebrate the great success of the hitchhiking journey with us!

The details are as follows:
Date: Saturday 10. July
Time: 14.00 hrs
Place: Domplein, Utrecht

Prior to the reception on Domplein, Tjerk and Peter will be welcomed by Frank du Mosch in the radio show Cappuccino which is broadcasted on Saturday, 10th July on Radio 2. Around 9.20 Tjerk Ridder will give a report of the journey and sing the title track Unterwegs.

See you on Saturday!

Back to the Eighties

Duran Duran, Billy Ocean, Feargal Sharkey, Salt’n’ Pepa, Kajagoogoo, Cyndi Lauper, Rick Astley: we have been in Serbia for over a week and what strikes us, apart from the meat consumption, is the music. Everywhere we go, we hear hits from the eighties, as is the case – or should we say: as is especially the case? – on petrol stations, not a bad condition for hitchhiking.

Hitchhiking is a good way to make contact. How different is travelling by train or plane where conversation with fellow-travellers is short and more informal. If at all. » Lees meer…

Belgrade

We have arrived in the Serbian capital. Everything here is bigger, faster and more dynamic than in the rest of the country, as is the case with most capital cities. At every new location we go through the same repetition, so nothing different in Belgrade. It is great to be able to set up camp here for a few days. The first night at the Sava Center parking lot was fine but a bit rough: no shower, bathroom, running water or shade. So when we get the offer by phone to move to the ‘best spot of the city’, we are very quick to take it. » Lees meer…

‘Auto Mobil’ to Belgrade

Tuesday morning, 7.30. Despite the short night I wake up early. It is warm, whichs encourages me to get off the caravanbed. I immediately take a quick shower at the city beach, before Cordula and Jens arrive with their cameras. Then I prepare a strong cup of coffee on the small stove-espressomaker. We are drinking our coffee in the shade of the tall trees bordering the parking lot when our new German friends arrive in their rental car – without a tow bar. Biljana’s brother Dragan offered to bring us to the first service station on the edge of the city, as it is virtually impossible to get a lift from a city center. » Lees meer…

Feliz Novi Sad

Since yesterday the self-adjusted song “Feliz Novi Sad” is stuck in my head. The contrast between a Spanish Christmas and the Serbian summer could not be bigger though. We have arrived at a fantastic location, at a beach on the Danube. Despite the high temperatures the water level is dangerously high. In the direct surroundings of our caravan there is a swimming pool, a variety of small kiosks, terraces, sport pitches and picknich patches. In the evening half of the Novi Sad population gathers here to watch the World Cup on large TV screens. Even later at night the beach turns into some sort of lovers lane. Coloured lights, outside eating places and a wandering gipsy orchestra. To me it feels like something between the Parade (a Dutch traveling cultural festival) and a beach side resort. » Lees meer…

From Croatia to Serbia

Today at 4pm the world cup soccer match between Serbia and Ghana was on. We thought it would be wise to try to arrive in Novi Sad before that hour, anticipating a traffic dip. So we put ourselves at the side of the road with a cardboard sign saying “Auto-Kuka-Ilok”. The early visitors of the cafe Piramide terrace in Vukovar look at our hitchhiking attempts in disbelief. We are experienced caravan hitchhikers though, and used to strange situations by now. » Lees meer…

Vukovar: the shot city

This morning we got up early, had breakfast in the sun and started to push! Fifty meters to the border. I expected a lot of hassle, but the Hungarian customs officers only came out to take pictures and look at the strange scene unfolding. After I did a spontaneous concert they offered us a drink and let us push on towards the Croatian border station. » Lees meer…

Cara-fan

While Peter and I were pushing the caravan the last meters towards the Croatian border last Friday, the owner of the very last bar before the border in Hungary came out, asking where we were going. Despite his bad German, it quickly became clear that he expected a friend to arrive by car – with a towing hook – within the next 30 minutes. This friend would likely be willing to give us a lift over the border. » Lees meer…

Start of stage 2: From Pécs to Udvar

In the shade of a few large lime trees a blue-green Dutch caravan, without a car, is parked at a simple parking lot. There is a playground with sturdy wooden climbing frames, swings and slides. The place is surrounded with walled houses, behind which there are fields filled with summery crops. Birds are singing, crickets are chirping. The sun shines brightly, the air is warm and heavy. » Lees meer…

Contemplations on the way home

On the way home, while miles are passing by between Prague and Utrecht, I have a lot of time to contemplate on all experiences and encounters of part I of the project. Starting with the departure from Utrecht Dom Square in Mayor Wolfsen’s car. My first wintery week in The Netherlands ending with the warm welcome in Limburg. The grand opening of Ruhr 2010 at Essen Zollverein. » Lees meer…

Back to Utrecht, via Prague

The caravan leaves European Capital of Culture Pécs at 3pm on Saturday afternoon. It sits behind the car of Remco Timmermans, who offered his third lift during my journey here. The trip from Pécs to Utrecht starts with a trip to Lake Balaton, which now looks more like an ice skating rink than the watersports destination that it is in summer. From there we continue the trip accross the Slovakian border towards Bratislava. » Lees meer…

A caravan filled with diapers

Sometimes one forgets the lessons from the past. It is fantastic to be directly on the waterfront. My view on one side of the Danube river consists of the Lentos Art Museum and on the opposite side the Ars Electronica Center. However, the wind blows relentlessly. During our late night arrival we had hastily positioned the caravan scaringly close to the edge of the water. The boulevard slopes down and the wheels only barely touched the edge of the quaiside. We pulled the handbrake to its maximum and thoroughly screwed down the supportlegs onto the frozen pavement. I didn’t want my caravan-hitchhike adventure to end in the freezing water of the Blue Danube. » Lees meer…

Between Ruhr and Pécs: Linz 2009

This morning I woke up against an horizon of snow-capped hills at ‘Haag’ service station. After a few phonecalls asking “Where exactly are you?” the photographer of ‘Der Kronen Zeitung’ (the leading Austrian newspaper) appears. A few minutes after the photoshoot we meet Peter Mandl and his colleague Thomas Nikolopoulos. They run a company in exhibition services and were driving back from home Essen. They are on their way to Graz, but after a nice conversation they don’t mind taking a longer way to bring us to a service station just before Linz. » Lees meer…

On the road, that’s where the stories are!

Yesterday we made big progress with our journey. As often, the big started off small. The first ride took us 100 meters further. With the kind help of three men and an elderly lady we pushed the caravan up a small hill to a spot in between two petrol stations, so we were well visible. » Lees meer…

Utrecht greets Dortmund

What a day! In a nutshell: a WDR camera crew travels along during a lift by ‘Iron-man’ Jurgen Scharf to Dortmund. Upon arrival we prominently position ourselves in front of City Hall. From the Friedenssaeule I sing ‘Ik laat de liefde toe’ (I allow love) live for the camera. Then the caravan door lock breaks. I hitchhike to the nearest Eriba service point at a remote industrial estate to have the caravan thoroughly checked. » Lees meer…

Arrived at the Ruhr 2010 grounds

After a successful lift the caravan has arrived in dark and (again white) Essen. I was told by email that the festival grounds would be huge, just outside the city. It gave me a sort of pop festival feeling, and indeed, the grounds are enourmous! A large former industrial estate with well-lit buildings, tents, laser and light shows. Exciting. I wonder if we’ll be able to get in, as I do not an official invitation. At the entrance we are stopped by a barrier and two German guards. » Lees meer…

At Maastricht Market Square

This afternoon Daisy and Emiel (NOS Headlines TV) and myself visited Maastricht City Hall. Coincidentally they were preparing the grand reception hall for a ‘Maastricht European Cultural Capital 2018′  evening. So we are there at the right time! Deputy Jean Jacobs, responsible for culture and economy, very friendly receives us. With the collector’s item tow bar cap in his hands he briefly explains his vision on the 2013 cultural capital elections. Maastricht emphasises cooperation (between cities, companies and civilians) and has a very strong basis of culture and participation. » Lees meer…

Official start of the ‘Tow Bar Wanted’ project!

A mobile invasion at Dom Square. The VIP Bus is canning ‘fresh aspirations’, Dutch dishes and hot wine are being served from another caravan, while ‘my’ caravan is being prepared for departure. Firepots at the square ensure warmth in the dim winter sunlight at this 3rd day of the new decade. An enthusiastic crowd waves us goodbye as Utrecht Mayor Aleid Wolfsen and I leave Dom Square at 15:40. » Lees meer…