The village where I live is actually quite peaceful, almost year-round, but once a year, our haven suddenly transforms into a refuge for many, and we're "imprisoned" in our house for three days. And if you do happen to have to leave, as happened to us today, it's a nightmare coming home. Our normally quiet street is completely jammed, and the drive home is a traffic jam...
The reason for this commotion is called the "24-hour Solex race," and although it's called a 24-hour race, it has since grown into a large-scale festival that lasts three days. This event takes place in the outskirts of the village, where we normally live in a very peaceful place. And although there's countryside all around the village center, the festival site is very close to our house. As the crow flies, that's about 2 to 3 kilometers. The parking area for the festival site and the area where the artists gather are even closer. In short, almost everyone who goes to this festival passes through our street. And we're noticing it. All day long, festival-goers have been coming and going, with the most unusual and sometimes even just plain funny painted caravans. About 200 meters from our house, traffic is directed straight ahead or to the right, and that sometimes causes considerable traffic jams that aren't easily resolved.
Although we don't normally have to leave on Friday mornings, this week we certainly did. And we couldn't even postpone it. We had an appointment to renew my partner's ID, and since we had to drive there anyway, we might as well do the week's shopping. So, around 10:30 this morning, we left home. In the other village, where all that had to be arranged, we quickly got our affairs in order, and around 12, we were almost home. And now you're probably feeling it. The word ALMOST... we were able to drive to within about 2.5 km of our house. The beginning of that very long street where we live. And that's where the traffic jam began. The entire street was blocked. Tractors, trucks, cars with caravans, people in the street, and loads of beer. There you are, you want to go home, but you can't get through because everything is at a standstill...
So I got out and walked home through all the partying people while my partner drove the car meter by meter. And that took at least half an hour longer for him to get home...
Now we understand perfectly well that a festival like this is super fun. It's also just great fun; the whole idea is great. People holding a 24-hour race on an old Solex. It's not just a race against each other, by the way. The Solex race has grown considerably since its inception, and now there are over 250 participants, both nationally and internationally. The goal is to ride as many kilometers as possible on that old Solex moped within those 24 hours. For eternal fame and a good cause, that's what it's all about. This way, money is raised, which supports a good cause. That good cause is KiKa (Children Cancer Free). A Solex team consists of four people (three racers, one mechanic).
There's a so-called Brasscross, which is all about creativity and humor. Nine classes race around a special course on bizarre, home-made vehicles. You can imagine that this isn't without its spectacle, and that it's a very enjoyable part of the entire festival for both participants and spectators.
Anyway, maybe I should take my camera tomorrow and see if I can take some pictures somewhere along the route. Apparently, there are several free spots along the route... that could be fun. Let the festival-goers have their party on the grounds; we're not really interested in that. But let's see if I can take some interesting photos... of the biggest event in our village, so close to home. Yes, that could be really fun.
Too bad I can't take Skipper with me; events like this stress him far too much. But no worries, we'll make sure he'll be alright.
