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Day 4 Sunday – 9^th August – Fruit picking

Sunday dawned at the crack of noon for some of the party, again to brilliant sunshine.

The main site which had looked drab and inhospitable in the darkness now showed in all its sun-drenched glory.

The site was built on the edge of an enormous lake and the people in the posh cabins were sited on one of its banks.

Kids and their parents were happily swimming in the lake and people were sunbathing on the grass. It was all very beautiful.

Even Stalag 17 did not look so forebodeing, nestled as it was between the trees.

I began to adjust my mental image of our accommodation from a set of "The Great Escape" to a comfortable log cabin in the Old West (we still joined the escape committee however.)

Sauntering over to the posh cabins I encountered Nettie & Chris, Annie & Dave and Sue & Dave sitting at a table in the sunlit bar area.

We began chatting and the beer started to flow (at 20p a slug it flows all the easier).

We thouroughly discussed the ride out, the site and any other subject we could think of. More of our party came and went and I was still sitting there in late afternoon.

In Luxembourg a couple of years ago we found that the beer (no doubt because of its purity) could be consumed in large quantities without getting a hangover. This beer had the same qualities.

I had expected to see Budvar of Pilsener Urquell on tap but Trebon has its own brewery called "Pivovar Bohemia Regent", "Pivo" being Czech for beer.

It was great to chill out and enjoy good company.

That evening we decided on a group outing to Trebon, a couple of miles from the camp. Half of us piled into the back of the Support Vehicle – Otto’s Pick up- with Annemarie driving and ferried the group into town in 2 journeys, relieved that the truck didn’t topple over and spill out everyone crouching and standing on the open back.

Trebon is a very pleasant town. It is approached via 2 ancient arches which lead to a large paved square complete with fountain.surrounded by picturesque buildings.

Otto was very keen that we try some traditional Czech cuisine and we sauntered around to find a suitable restaurant, however being now 10.00pm we had difficulty finding anywhere to accommodate us.

Eventually we settled down in the local Chinese and had an excellent meal and a couple of drinks each, which came to less than £3 per head.

Feeling mellow and contented we returned to where the truck was parked to find the local Old Bill hanging around. Otto suggested that we walked up the road before climbing back aboard the truck.

We must have looked very suspicious. No sooner had we climbed into the truck up the road, looking like a bunch of Mexican illegal immigrants standing up or sitting on the roof, and headed towards the camp, than we saw a torch waving excitedly up ahead.

The Gendarmes in town had obviously radioed ahead. The loud chorus of football songs gave way to anxious suggestions of the best thing to do to avoid capture.

Martin slid off the roof onto the back of the truck.

"Hide" someone suggested, however it isn’t really practical to hide 12 people in the back of a small pickup.

"Tell them we’re fruit pickers" suggested another, however it was late at night miles from any fruit so that wasn’t very practical either.

By this time the Police were upon us.

At Annemarie’s request Otto jumped from the truck and walked up front to talk to the Policeman. I had visions of spending the night in the cells (possibly a more comfortable venue than Stalag 17) but we heard an exchange and laughter. It would be OK.

When Otto returned he was laughing. Apparently the cop had gone to the "wrong" side of the vehicle where another female member of the party was sitting and said sternly to Otto "This woman has no steering wheel!".