Travel day to Lincoln 16 June 2010

The boat floated gently on the calm lapping waters. The movement could hardly be felt. Only the occassional glimpse from the ship to the shore made it appear that you can see the reeds moving gently to and fro giving away the fact that there is any motion underneath the flat hulled vessel. The sparkling light shone through the port holes and made the early start easier than if it had been raining. It didn't take long and the Trail was awake and at the breakfast table.

The sound and light system can remain in Deventer. Lincoln has enough material for us all. The trailer will be left behind too and so willany other things not needed. The back-line and personal luggage, the instruments, food and drink were packed alongside Bekir's paintings and Patricks installations and we mounted our two vehicles now bound for England via Hoek van Holland and Harwich. Bekir could not be with us on this last leg of the tour. As a White Russian he would have to send his passport to the hub embassy of his country in Warsaw, and the time for his passport to return with a visa could not be guaranteed, so he had to make a decision and decided not to risk the rest of the tour. Most of us will meet at a press conference in Langen, Germany on the 22 June 2010. Bekir will join the group again there for a final evening.
The vans then set off toward the harbour at the Hoek van Holland and although there was pretty heavy traffic the flow was moving steadily on its way and after three hours the group arrived at the port with plenty of time to spare. The crossing was smoothe on the Hollandica, a brand new ship from Stena Line. Spain played against Switzerland and lost to the amazment of especially the Spaniards on tour with the Trail, but they were able to laugh about it, well, almost. Bob and Patrick set up camp and began writing reports and getting the documentation videos and fotos prepared to send to Thomas in Langen who is cutting the film Culture Trail 2010. A little nap in between and the crossing was over at 8 pm local time, which is 9 pm continental time. The Hollandica reached Harwich on time and we were back in the vans and driving toward Lincoln before dark. The low sun glowed brightly in our faces as we raced along the A1 North bound passing Cambridge then up to Grantham and then accross to Lincoln arriving at 11.30 pm. The Lincoln Hotel, a four star residency within a stones-throw of the cathedral welcomed us nicely and we realised just how generous their sponsorship is when we got inside our rooms which were spacious and cosy. It was not particulary an early night, but we all greatfully retired immediately to our stately rooms for as much rest as we could find.
The weather in England has been kind to us for we had no rain on the drive over, and we could blissfully sleep under the star-lit heavens under the pinacles of such a magnificent and renowned cathedral in medieval settings – a journey to England's historical back-yard which has fascinated so many before us and will continue so in the future; a patrimony of centuries of tales, architecture and myths.