Some preparations had to be made long before the event took place and nobody knew that our winter would last so long. Everything was out of control, Nature was several weeks behind. The weather forecast…, one didn’t want to know: raining cats and dogs, stormy with possible hail and thunder and that for the whole day. However when I drove to the coast, the forecast was for much milder weather and for it to get even better. Normally an article about an event shouldn’t start with this weather talk but for an event like this it is one of the most important things. As said before, Nature was very confused and as this tour was in the Westland of Holland the tulip-fields should be red, blue, orange… well… every colour of the rainbow and they weren't!

This event started at the Palace Hotel in Noordwijk, where all the participants were welcomed with some coffee and cake. Everybody received the road book, instructions and a shield and the run started exactly on time. At least it was dry, but whipped by a hard western sea wind, the first squall exploded rapidly and everyone scurried for a dry spot. The mystery tour started around 10:30am and brought everyone - driving the right direction - along the bulb-fields with tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, but unfortunately there were no colours yet. The first stop was at the Holland Tulip Park, the place in Holland were you can find everything about the Dutch and his tulips including the very rich history about the bulb-growers and the bulb-growing. And there was coffee…

After this - due to a very short intermezzo of bad weather, the ride went on to a hotel where lunch was to be served. Inside it was warm and it became a pleasant affair. Outside the Ferraris were parked, which was a tricky business but in the end every car got its place, well guided by the people of Ascari [FCN PHR - Ed.]. After lunch the run went on to the Space Expo Center. Everything about the universe can be seen here, some things in 1:1 scale, like the Space Lab exhibit in which one was very impressed by such a huge piece of technology. For the Dutch it’s the world of Wubbo Okkels, the only Dutch astronaut and one could see that everybody was impressed by the things they saw and heard.

After all this excitement it was time to return to the Palace Hotel in Noordwijk to end the event with a drink and some delicious morsels. After that a diner was to be served for those who stayed. For the others and me it meant the end of a day that turned out very nice after all, despite some appalling weather!

© ‘nJoy Media - Henk J. Brouwer 14/05/06

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