Story By: Koen Berghuis, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN
This German OAP who towed his tiny caravan with a tractor – named Robert – to Russia and Majorca is now embarking on a five-month road trip to Scotland despite not speaking a word of English.
Winfried Langner, 83, is the unlikely adventurer who drives all over Europe in his old-timer tractor.
Nicknamed ‘Tractor Willi’, Langner tows a tiny caravan with his 15-horsepower Deutz tractor from 1961.
Pictures Credit: CEN
Langner is so fond of his old tractor that he has even named it ‘Robert’.
For his new adventure, Langner has set his sights on Scotland – a trip which will take him some five months to complete.
Last week, Langner set off from his native town of Lauenfoerde in the western German state after being waved off by the mayor and a brass band.
Langner said that he always wanted to visit Scotland since the moments that he saw images of the Scottish Highlands on TV.
He said: “I absolutely wanted to go there!”
His route will first take him to the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, from where he will take the ferry from the nearby port of IJmuiden to Newcastle.
He will then make his way to Edinburgh and finally up into the Highlands to admire the scenery.
To prepare for the trip, Langner completely dismantled his tractor and built it up again.
He also went to hospital for a proper check up on his own body and installed new batteries for his pacemaker.
Langner did however require the help of his daughter Sabine Langner-Uslu to pack his caravan to make sure he did not forget his required medication.
Sabine said she is not worried about her father as “travelling keeps him fit”.
Even though for many the journey on a small tractor might seem arduous, it is not for Langner, who as a retired construction engineer has already taken his beloved tractor on even more ambitious trips.
He managed to reach the North Cape in Norway, battling icy conditions and snow stacked metres high at the side of the road.
Langner also went once to St Petersburg in Russia and to the Spanish holiday island of Majorca.
Even though Langner does not speak English, he said he will be easily able to manage as he also managed to complete his Spanish and Russian trips without speaking the language and communicating with sign language.
