Traveling with a horse drawn caravan

by Thea and John Verhoeckx
(Hungary (at the moment))

We are adventure travellers in a horse drawn caravan. We make a journey from the North Sea until far in the East. With two horses, two people and a dog. No goal to reach, just a direction to take. With challenges, joyful encounters and never to know where to sleep that day!

After 1600 mile on busy roads, it's clear to us that driving with horses is an exciting experience. The combination of slow driving, 3 miles an hour together on the same road where cars speed away with 50 miles, is frightening. Sometimes we use an old, hidden road, or an old horse track. Most of the time those roads are forbidden or closed at the end! This old-fashion journey does not fit modern times.

Turn the key

I remember the days, to step into my car, turn the key and go. When we now "turn the key", we are busy for two hours! After five hours drive, we reach the destinationfor the day, approximately 15 miles further. Then we "park" the car, take care of the horses and that takes another hour. Together it looks very much like work! Lunch we "take" also 90 minutes so we don't complain!

People on the road are very patient and friendly. It's very rare that people are shouting to us. We bring a lot of smiles on peoples faces. On a regular base, John pulls over to the side to let a stream of cars pass. At the back, we have some security signals just to let people know that we have a slow lifestyle with two horses upfront, driving 3 miles an hour.

One bridge to far

Here's an example of how our jouney goes. After we pass the water junction at Mainz, we head away from the river to look out for a bridge. We want to avoid Frankfurt, a million people city; we don't want to drive there!

There is a bridge across the river just a few miles before Frankfurt. Pitifully the bridge is owned by a chemist multinational. The bridge is closed and we put the car in front of the poles. I head up to the guard. A young boy, a skinny neck coming up at his shirt, about the age of our youngest son, looks at me.

"No, the road is closed, sorry!" The only thing I ask: "I assume that something closed can be opened as well!? There must be a manager to help us out." A woman arrives and, very friendly, she explains about a second bridge. Totally the wrong way we want to go, and another 8 miles to walk. No way! Ten minutes later, and several phone calls, we have an escorted trip to the end of the bridge! Old- and modern times combined to let this adventurous caravan go further!

Read more about this exciting adventure on Slow-express-journey.com

Thea and John Verhoeckx