Vaarel Belgie

A nice finish to another fine Podge tour.

As always, the bus stopped at the incredible ‘Dranken Geers’ beer store in Oostakker so the English folk can avoid local taxes and load up on some of the beers from Dranken’s fabulous collection of Belgian and French beers. The prices are crazy – 1.5 euro on average for beers we would pay 8-10 dollars for in PA.  Of course, Ryan and I are constraind by PA’s medieval import restrictions and luggage weight.  Breaks a traveling man’s heart.  Our friends, Shaun and Carol, show no mercy and load up to the max.

Our luck with the weather, until now, has been wonderful with blue skies and mild temps.  Not so today as we got the full monty – rain, sun, hail, wind.  Just like home!

Our last brewery tour was at the smallest producer in Belgium – the Microbrouwerij Urthel in Oostakker, a very rural farming community. No GPS here – they might not have electricity!  Inspite of the nasty weather (rain, hail, gale force wind), we enjoy a tasting of Urthel’s micros and a tour of the brewery (mine might be bigger).  Really cool, creative people who also run a restaurant in a nearby town where we share our final meal as a tour group.

Our drive to Calais and through the Chunnel were uneventful.  We bid our traveling companions a fond farwell on arrival in Chelmsford and have a last pint with Shaun and Carol before our short walk to our lodging near the train depot.  One of those trips you wish could never end.

Pics:  Microbrouwerij Urthel, Vikings at Dranken Geers, Podge & Ryan & Siobhan, De Hoppeschuur