Belgium

Wow - what a weekend!!!

I have got lots to say about it all, so to help out am going to use the 'picture tells a thousand words' technique...

Saturday

I think these pictures tell the story of the day perfectly well, it was a day of traveling. We finally rolled up at our campsite by Soumagne (near Liege) just before 8pm, 10 hours after we left Seaton. We drove out of the Euro Tunnel to beautiful blue skies and sunshine - a relief after we knew Friday was a wet day at the F1. This was my first driving abroad too, and I have to say, I found it quite easy!

Sunday

Our alarms were set for 6am. There was just enough time to take a couple of snaps...

Then we were off...

And arrived at the race track just before 8am...

Then it was time to select our spot - it soon began to get busy...


Before you see anything of F1 there are three races. GP3....


GP2...

And Porsche Super Cup...


Then at 12:30 the first Formula 1 action began, with the drivers parade lead by the safety car...


Here's Jenson Button - it was a great race for him...


And here's Lewis Hamilton, not such a great day for him...

These two helicopters were a constant presence over head - the yellow one being the camera copter, and we were amazed how low it got sometimes...

Then there was more waiting...


Before it was time to apply the ear plugs...


Because in the words of the great Murray Walker, it was 'Go Go Go'...

The race - in fact the whole experience - was incredible, and cannot be shown through photos. These videos hopefully will help though...

And this shows how far ahead Button was for most of the race. He really did own the race track...

And then came the end of the race, and we had seen a Brit win - how fitting is that!

Before our trip, we had heard that getting away is often a nightmare, so we took our time and had a walk around the track...

As you can see - what a stunning track! We left an hour and half after the end of the race, but it was still grid lock. The queing did enable to me to see singles of Hoopoe, Black Redstart and Firecrest though!

There was another birdie highlight too a bit later. When we had finally got away from the area, driving back through Belgium we passed what was presumably a migrating flock of White Storks (about 20 birds) roosting upon lights over the motorway...

We got to our hotel in Calais just after 11pm and went straight to sleep! We stayed in the Cottage Hotel, and I can recomend it for its comfort, location, breakfast and price! It is literally a four minute drive away from the Euro Tunnel, and there was no problem with us arriving late/leaving early.

Monday

We were up at 6am, and soon out the hotel to catch our train. Sunday was another day of travel, a bit of a rushed one too as I was down to start work at 2pm! Luckily were just about made it, and arrived home at 1:15!

After reading/looking at all this, you may be surprised to hear I have never really been into F1 at all. It is Jess's love really - but after this unbelievable experience I may well be hooked too, and am certainly going again!