We're heading for Moldova. We're heading for Moldova for no other reason than we haven't been there before and - depending on your chosen definition of Europe (there are surprisingly many) - if we do manage to tick it off, we'll then have visited all of the European and Nordic countries by overlanding. Well, sort of, we haven't overlanded to Vatican City, Monaco or Andorra, either... but, without wishing to sound too disrespectful, neither are we motivated so to do. They just aren't our kind of destination. Indeed, if I were being mean, I might even mischievously venture these territories are arguably somewhat self-aggrandising autonomous technicalities, as opposed to actual countries.
And so, here we are at sea on the Hull-to-Rotterdam ferry (pic). We happen to be on the very same prison ship that we were on at exactly this time last year as we started or trip to Svalbard. I wrote a bit about this boat then: it's still just as awful.
Going back just a little bit (rather than a full year), it was an uneventful if rather showery run to Hull today, but things became a bit more eventful in the port's car park / mustering area. We were on the lorry and minding our own business packing an overnight bag for the ship when we heard an almighty crash unnervingly close by.
All quickly became clear. About 20 metres away, a couple towing a fully laden camping trailer - complete with trailer-mounted top-box - had set off to board the ferry but misjudged a kerb, run the offside trailer wheel over it, and tipped the whole thing over.
It was a sorry sight and our hearts immediately sank on their behalf. All we could do was make one in to help right the thing (with a little help from a couple of port staff) and offer some sympathy. It was clear that the trailer's towing frame (which had stayed attached to the tow ball) had twisted really badly and almost certainly would have needed some structural work to sort.
As we've experienced, witnessed, and reported on many-a-trip before: situations develop quickly...
Post composed at 22:00 on Tuesday 22nd July from N 53.62006°, W 00.09023° / http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:53.62006%2C-00.09023