Day 1: Chester to Koblenz

Total distance :580 miles
Start: Chester, UK
End: Koblenz, Germany

We started off today with an early start of 5am from Chester, headed for registration for tomorrow's start of the Crumball rally.

We were glad of the early start, as we hit traffic on the M42 on the way to Folkestone for the channel tunnel. Other than that, our run through the UK was a clear one, joining up with 2 other crumballers into a convoy around the M25. We arrived at the terminal with time to spare. Passport control involved a brief conversation with a border officer, about how he'd had 5 volvos, all had done many miles and was suitably impressed with our choice of vehicle for the event.

Dad and I got a quick cup of tea and joined the queue to board.

Arriving in Calais, we took the motorway north and quickly crossed the border into Belgium.

At our lunch stop we were approached by a member of an Estonian rock band who was trying to sell CD's outside the petrol station with a sob story of being out of cash halfway home. €10 later we had a new soundtrack for the rest of the drive. Apparently they supported Whitesnake in front of 150,000 fans. Having listened to the CD, I'm not sure we believe them.

Making good time on our trip came to an abrupt end as we approached Brussels. The traffic was some of the worst we've ever seen. Taking an hour and a half to travel 2 miles, Brussels was a nightmare. If I've learnt anything from our drive today, it's to never drive around the Belgian capital!

Belgian drivers are also, on the whole, mental. It appears to be a national sport to see who can get closest to the end of the exit slip lane before cutting in, or seeing who can tailgate closer than their counterpart in the next lane over.

Long drive from Brussels to Koblenz, mainly in driving rain. Got so bad our visibility was down to below a few metres, was a stressful end to the day. Confirming the Belgian driving madness was a local driver, passing us at 90mph+ in the dark, in the driving rain, pulling a trailer.

Finally arrived in Koblenz at 9:30pm. Beers and burgers in the town square after registering in the nick of time (cut off was 10pm!).

Ready for the start tomorrow. Best of all the S70 has gone brilliantly, not skipped a beat. Handling is feeling a bit woolly due to a loose steering wheel, and the excellently fitted touring car sunstrip has been demolished by the European weather.

All in all a long but great day, looking forward to the start tomorrow!