The last four weeks were characterized by preparations and even more preparations. The car was tinkered with and screwed together. BUTCH was foiled, rear carriers and water tanks were built and mounted. It felt like the car was in the workshop more than any oldtimer. - That's why we were asked from time to time whether we weren't overdoing it a bit.

Especially looking at the picture, the following would spontaneously occur to me:

"We are constantly living beyond our means, but still not up to par" 

The picture was taken at PerfectCAR in Cologne. Not only the workshop we trust, but also for Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Bentley and Aston Martin, Rover, Austin, Triumph, Smart and recently also for VW Bulli. - Here you can find one dream car next to the other. - But BUTCH is more. Because it is the only one on the place that offers on top the comfort of a two-room apartment, kitchen, hall, bathroom, balcony.

To ensure that the new filming is appropriately protected, BUTCH was given the Glossy Bornheim an additional ceramic sealant. Step by step, BUTCH became our home. - Inside, too, it is slowly becoming domestic. A little decoration, cowhide on the floor, everything is slowly finding its place. Today we have to put the last boxes away. Then BUTCH is finally ready to go. - Our great adventure can begin.

But it also means saying goodbye. - After we "broke camp" in Cologne - (that's what nomads call it) - we moved to the Düren area, to Niederzier and Hambach to be precise. The Hambach Forest and the Hambach open-cast mine are named after the town. At first glance, everything here seems a bit tranquil. That it bubbles underneath, or is called it kokelt, is certainly known from radio and television. Here everyone should form his own opinion. Of course, something like this works best on site.

While you're there, don't forget to visit Hambach Castle and Obbendorf Castle. But we have once again gone where opinions are best exchanged. In the Kölsch garden on site, more precisely in's Gaffel Häusgen Hambach sly. That's right, you heard right. The inn bears our name, Häusgen. Whereby the Häusgen in this case refers to my brother. But what is a Gaffel doing so far away from the cathedral, from Kölle? My brother Dirk thought he had to establish his favorite Kölsch from the Gaffel brewery in the region. And he succeeded in doing so. The brewery and guesthouse are now well-known in the region. We especially like the beer garden. Although I have to admit that I prefer Schmitz Kölsch. But everyone has their own personal favorite when it comes to Kölsch. - Is that advertising now? Yes, expressly and therefore also the reference. Exceptionally even paid, with two Gaffel Kölsch. Here in the sun, also really tasty 😉.

(Note from Torgit: For the car people, the Gaffel Haus Häusgen Hambach holds a gravel parking lot, even with a free power connection ready. I have rarely experienced such a great service).

But what else drove us to the region? We were allowed to enjoy the hospitality of my brother, his wife Mira and their son Gordan here for a few more weeks. - We felt very comfortable and above all welcome. - It was nice after such a long time to once again live with big brother under one roof. 

Since we are already here, we have of course also looked at the open pit mine up close. The sight is indescribable. When I imagine that whole villages have disappeared in this hole, because the open pit mine "legally serves the public good" is inconceivable to me. The excavator reminds me of an oversized dinosaur. - Is that why it's called fossil fuels? - Am I standing in front of a fossil? - Time will tell.

But now it's time to say goodbye to the region and get back on the road. Everything is packed and stowed. The water tanks are filled, the SUP in the waterproof and dustproof Ortlieb X-TREMER Packsack stowed. This holds an indescribable 150 liters and has already proven itself on our last tour. Also our Delta 4×4 spare wheel gets a befitting packaging. The Spare Wheel Cover

comes, like our garbage bags, from Delta Bags.

So BUTCH is finally ready to go. He also gets his reward. As a crown, so to speak, he gets his very own nameplate. - Where the T4 has the VOLKSWAGEN lettering, BUTCH also has the original lettering. At least almost, because VOLKsWAGEN has now become WAGENVOLK. The S must have been lost. - Since day 102 of our last tour around the Spanish peninsula, I knew that the new one will carry this lettering. At that time, I discovered it at Anja and Michael, on their old Sparkasse bus. 

 WAGENVOLK, I find this expression incredibly sympathetic. Surely not everyone sees it that way, but we don't care.