Excerpts from Dory’s journal

Photo captions by Stephanie

Day 15, July 10, 2024

8:20 AM Amsterdam

We are ready for the second phase! We are packing! Oh gosh. We will be leaving for France, but in doing so, we leave behind the peace and quiet that we have enjoyed for so long in Amsterdam. We will settle down sometimes, but not for long. Goodbye.

Yours,

Dorrel

Day 15, 10:29 AM July 10, 2024

Motorway

Hello! I am in a car, and we are going to Ghent! We will see an actual castle, but right now we are experiencing typical Dutch weather.

Yours,

Dorrel

The stressful time in the garage, a series.

The ramp down into the narrowest, most cave-like parking garage in existence.

The first turn. Note the car parked alongside, which is about the length of my car from the opening.

Still the first opening, but now you can see how quickly I have to turn.

Up the slope to another opening barely wider than my car. Did I mention this is a standard that I rented earlier that day?!?

Closer look at the narrow opening to the parking area.

Our car, in the space only slightly larger than it. I had to pull forward so we could open the back.

Just made the last turn before leaving the garage. I made Thomas take a photo, for scale.

Day 15, 1:19 PM, July 10, 2024

Ghent, Belgium

Hello! I am ready to murder a person and eat them! We had a stressful time in the garage, but we are past that. The hotel room is ready at 3:00 PM. Goodbye

Yours,

Dorrel

Dory did not resort to cannibalism, but we did learn a valuable lesson about how long we can go without stopping for lunch. On arrival in Ghent we immediately got some sandwiches and ate them by this canal. (photo: Stephanie)

Next, we visited Gravensteen, the medieval castle in Ghent. There were ducks in the moat. (photo: Dory)

The photographer at work. (photo: Stephanie)

One innovation employed in constructing this castle was to move the fire from the middle of the room (too smoky) to the side, and then to build a tunnel to the outside for the smoke—aka a fireplace. (photo: Dory)

There was an entire hall of weapons. (photo: Dory)

Dory was amused to be able to spy on his parents through this small opening in a wall. (photo: Dory)

Day 15, 2:56 PM, July 10, 2024

Gravenstein Castle, Ghent, Belgium

Hello! I am currently under the stairs that go to the upper part of the castle. Truly I tell you, it is not likely that someone will walk in and distract me while I am here. Well, I have recovered from my crankiness, and I have also explored the castle. Now I wait.

Yours,

Dorrel