Ivanhoe 2018

During the last week-end of january, the association Indian Head held its yearly winter meeting, Ivanhoe. 140 participants and about 35 vehicles were present. This year, the camp took place at the Castel Notre Dame, with a castle first built during the 12th century, and converted today in a hostel, located in Remersdael, near the Dutch and German borders. UNIVEM went with 24 members and two Half-Track. Other nice vehicles could be seen: two beautiful Autocar tractors, and of course Jeep, Dodge and GMC, and among them an unusual version equipped with a Maxon M45 Quadmount.

Saturday morning, the convoy went on a 50 kilometers road trip with a shining weather (but with cold temperatures!). First stop in Sippenaeken, in front of the monument to honour the victims of the electric fence installed by the German army during World War I between the Netherlands and Belgium. Next stop was at the 3 frontier Point, where Belgium, Netherlands and Germany meet, in front of a monument in memory of the first Begian soldier who died on German soil in 1944. On the afternoon, we visited the  Remember 39-45 Museum in Thimister-Clermont. Installed since 1994 in an old farm, the collection is mainly constitued by objects left by men of the First Infantry Division and souvenirs offered by veterans. On the evening, souvenirs of the weekend were given by Indian Head, and after an orchestra played music in a friendly atmosphere.

Sunday morning, a 20 kilometer trip lead us to the Val-Dieu Abbey to visit a brewery and taste some of the bier produced here. The convoy then came back to the castle, for a last meal together. After that, the Half-Track were loaded onto the truck and the journey back to Versailles could begin.

Thanks again to Indian Head for their flawless organization and their warm welcome!