====== Delivering Aid For Ukraine ====== {{http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gfx/flags/gb.png|Great Britain}} {{http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gfx/flags/fr.png|France}} {{http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gfx/flags/be.png|Belgium}} {{http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gfx/flags/de.png|Germany}} {{http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gfx/flags/cz.png|Czech Republic / Czechia}} [[https://flyingspanners.uk/wp/index.php/news/2000-miles-4-days/|Copied across from FlyingSpanners.uk]] Last Wednesday evening we started in Basingstoke with an empty trailer & empty Land Rover… {{https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-03-30_15-29-51.jpg}}{{https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-03-30_18-26-12.jpg}} Thursday morning, we set off at 10.30 fully laden with aid and supplies: {{https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-03-31_10-16-23.jpg}}{{https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-03-31_13-07-16.jpg}} We weren’t expecting to drive through an actual blizzard just to get to the Channel Tunnel, but that’s what happened! {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-03-31_13-00-01.jpg }} And the weather the other side didn’t let up either – we had several hours of high winds and driving sleet & snow into the night… {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-03-31_23-02-12.jpg }} It cleared up in the end, and following whichever truck appeared to have the most favourable speed limiter we made it through to Czech Republic 24h after departing Basingstoke. {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-04-01_04-58-28.jpg }} Since it was daylight we decided to unload before collapsing into bed – here’s just a few pictures of the amount of stuff you guys donated and we managed to fit in: {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-04-01_13-27-29.jpg }} 12 cases of hand sanitiser, loads of boxes of nappies & wipes, army boots & clothes, 2 generators, toiletries… {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-04-01_13-27-29.jpg }} Winch & bumper, shocks and tyres for the 4×4 ambulance… {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-04-01_13-27-38.jpg }} Boxes of sleeping bags, roll mats, and loads of other bedding… {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-04-01_13-27-46.jpg }} Lots of serious medical supplies and equipment for the ambulance as well as a large tent to act as a field hospital… {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-04-01_13-45-29.jpg }} Wheelchairs, stretchers, more medical equipment and emergency gear as well as much needed heaters for Jez’s truck and the ambulance {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-04-01_13-45-43.jpg }} After some great food and a good night’s sleep we turned around to head home – made it all of 500 yards from the local Tesco before being pulled over! {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-04-02_12-43-22.jpg }} Thankfully Zuz was there to smooth things over with the local cops and we were on our way again. {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-04-02_16-31-24.jpg }} Germany was a winter wonderland for much of the drive home We made better time on the way back (maybe being 3 tons lighter helped?), rocking in to Leuven for a very welcome snooze just after midnight – thanks Ben & Kristina! Up next day & a leisurely drive to the tunnel in much improved weather, even managed to catch an earlier crossing, home in time for tea! {{ https://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/2022_03_Aid/2022-04-03_10-03-55.jpg }} Who knows, if we get enough funds we might even manage a 2nd trip…