Delivering Aid For Ukraine

Copied across from FlyingSpanners.uk

Last Wednesday evening we started in Basingstoke with an empty trailer & empty Land Rover…

Thursday morning, we set off at 10.30 fully laden with aid and supplies:

We weren’t expecting to drive through an actual blizzard just to get to the Channel Tunnel, but that’s what happened!

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…

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.

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:

12 cases of hand sanitiser, loads of boxes of nappies & wipes, army boots & clothes, 2 generators, toiletries…

Winch & bumper, shocks and tyres for the 4×4 ambulance…

Boxes of sleeping bags, roll mats, and loads of other bedding…

Lots of serious medical supplies and equipment for the ambulance as well as a large tent to act as a field hospital…

Wheelchairs, stretchers, more medical equipment and emergency gear as well as much needed heaters for Jez’s truck and the ambulance

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!

Thankfully Zuz was there to smooth things over with the local cops and we were on our way again.

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!

Who knows, if we get enough funds we might even manage a 2nd trip…