Summer Holiday, 30 August 2022

 And so we came home.  First of all, though, we woke up in Bray-Dunes, and after breakfast took ourselves on a leg-stretch to the beach and back.

  Then we used the services for the final time, and set off down the A16 towards Calais.  We had hoped to stop at the big Auchan in the Grande Synthe commercial centre, but there was a traffic jam and we missed our exit, so went straight to Cité Europe and I did a Last Shop in France there.  We had a slightly early lunch, and eventually headed to the Eurotunnel terminus.

We had booked on the 15:20 crossing, and I had hoped we'd get on an earlier one, but even though the traffic wasn't as horrendous as it would have been the previous day, it was still pretty busy, so we had to be on our booked crossing, which was slightly late.  This meant we arrived at No 6 at about 17:15 local time, and then, of course, there was a busy half an hour or so packing up stuff that hadn't already been packed - we had done the bedroom and bathroom stuff earlier.

We had arranged to have supper with my mother - I provided the stew and potatoes, and she provided plum crumble.  And very good it was, too.  But of course we didn't get back to London until nearly 10, which is one reason I didn't blog yesterday.  We only did a bare minimum of unpacking - the stuff to go in the fridge and overnight stuff, basically - and I, for one, was glad to seek my bed.

However, this morning after breakfast I reached for my computer - and there it wasn't! We had totally forgotten that just before leaving for this holiday I'd led a Zoom service from No 6, and had left my computer there.  The Swan Whisperer went totally above and beyond and drove me down to pick it up, and while we were there, we looked in the motor home for a dozen eggs that had unaccountably gone missing.  The supermarket in Belgium had, improbably, had eggs on a BOGOF, so I had bought two dozen, but could find only one of them.  Anyway, no joy - and we did take the opportunity to open the sink cover, which we had forgotten to do.  We did find the eggs when we got back to London - they were hiding in plain sight!

Because the SW had been so kind, I took him out to lunch at the Chalk Restaurant at the Wiston Estate Winery.  This was delicious, if rather expensive - but probably cost less than a return train fare with taxis each way! 

I should explain that normally my mother would have given us lunch, or we would have taken her out to lunch, but it was the one day she had guests, so we literally just grabbed my computer (tidily in a briefcase) and ran!  So it was near on 17:00 when we got back to London, and of course we had missed a whole day of catching up.  Oh well.... I then had to go to the dentist and then there was a flat owners' meeting, but I have left the Swan Whisperer to deal with all that while I catch up.  

Summer Holiday, 29 August 2022

Do not, repeat not, drink Polish linden tea before going to bed! It appears to be an incredibly strong diuretic, and I was up at least five times in the night instead of my usual two or three! I was not impressed! 

We had a fearful fright this morning. The Swan Whisperer was cleaning his teeth when the pump suddenly started running and wouldn't stop! The SW tried switching it off and on again - which he said wouldn't work as it had no intelligent components. He looked under the van to see whether we had sprung a leak somewhere, and finally we found that the shower in the boot - the one meant for hosing off muddy dogs and boots - was turned on. He turned it off - blissful silence, and I could have my shower! We realised that there had been a jackhammer going full blast first thing, and It was probably that had loosened it. It has now been firmly wrapped in an elastic band to stop its working itself loose again! 

After that, we could have breakfast, and then we decided to go for a walk down to the boat lift and back

- we could have gone on to avoid coming back the way we went, but decided not to. We did see a boat being lifted, though, but we couldn't see where it said no overnight parking, and people obviously had! All the same, I think I do prefer the place by the old canal - the duck path, they call it! 

We decided we had better go somewhere there were services for our last night, so have ended up in this Camper Contact place at Bray Dunes, just in France. The telephone can't make up its mind where we are, which does not make for a good signal. 

Our first port of call, however, was a supermarket

where I bought the wherewithal to make couscous for supper, only I forgot to buy chickpeas, so had to go down to a convenience store about 500 metres away to buy some. And they didn't have small tins - only big ones and enormous ones! So I bought a big one and we'll have to save half of it. 

An uneventful journey to Bray-Dunes, except that we rather wish we had gone across country - that motorway from Lille is very dull! Every other car seemed to be British, probably heading home, which is why we decided not to cross today! There are at least two other British motorhomes here which may or may not have decided the same thing.... 

Summer Holiday, 28 August 2022

This morning we were in Düren, but of course it is Sunday, so all the shops are shut. We didn't head on very early, but used the services, and the SW went for a leg-stretch while I read and did puzzles on my tablet. 

It was always going to be a driving day, as we are on the way home. We started off cross-country, a mixture of extremely nice roads and really rather awful ones, much too narrow for the WoMo really. Fortunately there was not much traffic. 

We joined the motorway just before the Belgian border. It would appear that the secret to Belgian motorways is to go on a Sunday lunchtime - very little traffic and no hold-ups! 

Our original plan had been to stop at the car park for the Ronquières inclined plane, but for some reason neither of us was keen. I remember it as dark and gloomy, but that was in December a few years ago! 

So anyway, I found that a car park on the outskirts of Mons was recommended, but when we got there, it was a bit full, and we felt as though we were intruding. Also no shade, and it is hot again! So a bit of detective work finds us parked up at this lovely canal bridge

(even though the cars make a noise going over it) with a view of the Strépy-Thieu canal lift,

which we love. We would have gone there, but they have stopped overnight parking, alas. This place, however, is almost nicer. 

As I had barely been out of the WoMo - just to buy rolls in a random convenience store at a petrol station - we decided to go for a walk along the canal bank to the old lift

(one of the ones the big Strépy-Thieu lift replaced) and back the other side. It was a lovely walk, although you had to walk down to the roadway to cross the canal, and then back up the other side up a 19% slope! But we took it slowly and I managed, although I know I've taken exercise. Now cooking a big casserole and enjoying a lovely evening. 

Summer Holiday, 27 August 2022

Yesterday may have been a rest day as far as I was concerned; today certainly wasn't! 

The airport, thankfully, closed down shortly after 11:00 pm and flights didn't resume until about 06:00.

I wish the same could have been said of some of the campers. There really were an inordinate number of motor homes - you have simply never, ever seen so many in one place! 

Anyway, the Salon didn't open until 10:00, so we didn' t need to hurry. About ten to we went to the shuttle bus stop, and caught the bus up to the Messe. The bus appeared to go all round the houses to get there, but we arrived in the end and, of course, had to queue to get in. 

Like most people who are not in the market for a new motor home, we headed for Hall 3, which was full of gadgets and advertisements to come and camp in our area, or use our app, or... We did make a point of telling Park4Night how much we used their app, and we called at the BritStops stand (shared with France Passion and the various equivalents in other countries), but they weren't there, only a very nice Norwegian selling his country's version. 

One thing I wanted to buy was a folding table for eating out of doors in fine weather, as our picnic table is pretty much demised now. We found a very nice one for €44, which came in its own carrying case, so useful.

What we couldn't find, though, was coffee in any shape or form! There were numerous bars selling soft drinks or beer, and a couple of "Stehcafés", but nowhere to sit down and have a coffee. Unless you were a member of one of their posh clubs.... 

Anyway, when we had finished pottering round Hall 3, we headed to Hall 5 to drool over the luxury motor homes, but you know what? I don't think I really would like any of them! Too big, too - well, it sounds stupid, but too luxurious. Our Pilote is as much luxury as we need or can cope with. 

I wanted to go to Halls 13 and 14, right up the other end of the site (bloody miles!) to see some of the modern technology - how are motor homes going to cope when diesel vehicles are banned in ten years' time? But most of it seemed to be things like generators so you could charge your e-bike or scooter while on the road. I didn't see anything about using biogas for fuel, or anything like that. 

We did note that you can get reversing cameras for motor homes (we have a rear view camera, but not a reversing one); we noted one or two other things on our travels, too; the annoying thing is that all the exhibitors have links to their German websites (not surprising, really!). 

Anyway, by then I was exhausted, so we came away and waited for the next bus back to the car park, which seemed to go an even longer way round to get to our stop, but we got there in the end, and had lunch out of doors to christen our new table. 

After lunch we headed on to Düren, where we have been many times before; we stopped at an Edeka on the way so that I could do a Last Shop in Germany, only it wasn't, because I couldn't get mince and forgot the Schwabian Maultaschen, so went to Lidl as well. Still plenty of room in the aire when we arrived, and I hope I don't have to move again today! It is Saturday, so the Swan Whisperer will get supper - oh yes, when I was in Edeka we needed potatoes, and I had to buy these ones, didn't I?! 

Summer Holiday, 26 August 2022l

From my point of view, today has been very much a rest day. I doubt that the Swan Whisperer would agree with me, though as he had to drive well over 200 km on horrendously busy motorways, with endless road works and hold-up. Actually, the second half of the journey wasn't so bad - we stopped for a cup of tea half-way. 

This morning, though, was lovely and lazy for both of us. The SW did go for a leg-stretch, but I just sat in the shade outside the van and read. It was gone noon before we set off, having used the services, and our first port of call was a ReWe.

However, I didn't go in at first as there was a concession stand in the car park that was selling Currywurst and Bratwurst and so on, so we bought our lunch. Then we realised we hadn't enough ice-cream, so I did go into ReWe after all and also bought some wine and some coloured eggs. 

Then we headed on along the afore-mentioned motorways, and eventually, at about 18:30 arrived at the campsite for the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon, which we have tickets for in the morning. It is absolutely enormous - you have never seen so many motorhomes all in one place!

Not unpleasant, though. Most people are sitting out, but the SW doesn't want to. It is also very noisy, as under the flight path from Düsseldorf Airport,

only a couple of kilometres away. I went for a leg-stretch to find out where you get the free shuttle buses from in the morning, and have stewed some rather tasteless mirabelle plums I bought a couple of days ago, and made risotto, which we are about to eat. 

Summer Holiday, 25 August 2022

So this morning was All About Lübeck. After breakfast we set out to walk round the Old Town, which is seriously lovely. The Swan Whisperer wanted me to see the "Holy Spirit Hospital",

so we looked at that, and then we had a slight difference of opinion, as I wanted to walk down one street, and he had walked down it last night so, not unnaturally, wanted to walk down another! So we split up and agreed to meet outside the Petrikirche in about 15 minutes. 

I really enjoyed my walk down through the main shopping drag, but also the lovely Rathaus,

so not just shops!

And I walked down through the market square to the Petrikirche,

but no Swan Whisperer. Just then, he telephoned me, and after some confusion we worked out that while I had gone to the Petrikirche, he had confused it with the Mariakirche,

and gone there! So we met up again in the market, by the fruit and vegetable stall, and I bought some lovely fresh garlic. 

After that, I settled the SW in a café while I went into the department store that had both a DM and an Edeka in its base, and I bought some of my moisturiser in DM, and groceries in Edeka and, to my delight, I found my favourite 4711 shower gel in the department store, so bought some of that, and an ice cologne dab-on. So I don't need to go to a Müller now to find them. 

I rejoined the SW, who had had coffee and a cake, and was seriously tempted by some of the delicious-looking ice creams on offer; however, it wold have spoiled my lunch and not good for me, so I just had a freshly-squeezed orange juice, which was lovely. 

Then we walked back to the WoMo via the main gate,

and it was time to head on. We decided to go via the A1, and stopped at the first service area for lunch. But there had been an accident, and although our Satnav was able to steer us round it, so did everybody else's, and it was a slow old journey. 

This aire is at a place called Wildenhausen, and although there's nothing wrong with it, it took forever to find out how you paid to get in, and how you paid for electricity! But we did it at last, and as it is a lovely evening, we not only sat out, but ate out, too. We have decided we probably need a new picnic table, as this one dates back to our tenting days and is very wobbly now. We'll see what we can find on Saturday. 

Summer Holiday, 24 August 2022

The Mollibahn isn't just another heritage railway - in fact, it's not even a heritage railway, even though it is a narrow-gauge steam railway; it is apparently used by commuters and schoolchildren, as well as tourists. Although there weren't many of anybody on the train we caught into Bad Doberan at 08:43 this morning. 

No, the Mollibahn's USP is that it runs through the streets of Bad Doberan, and cars and pedestrians have to get out of its way! 

We stayed on the train until its final stop, at the main station, and then walked back up to the third of the three town stations to catch it on its way back. I wish, in a way, I that we hadn't, as there seems to be a lot more to the town that we missed. Still, there is always next year! And we enjoyed the walk - it was not too hot at that time in the morning. 

It doesn't just run through streets, of course; there is lots of open country, too. Mostly arable, it would seem. 

We got back to the camp site with an hour to spare before we had to leave, so we sat outside while the SW had his coffee, and then we got ready to go,, but had to wait ages for the services to be free. Still, they came free in the end, so we emptied and filled the relevant bits, and then drove up to the next town where I visited Lidl while the SW programmed the SatNav to take us back to Lubeck cross-country. 

He found a very nice aire where we stopped for lunch, but we had to leave in a hurry when they wanted to charge us €10 for parking there. Fine for overnight, but not for just an hour or so. So we came away and drove back to Lubeck - some of the roads lovely, others twisty and poorly-surfaced. But we got here in the end. 

I didn't want any more exercise today, so have been reading and knitting, but the SW went for a walk. I hope to do so tomorrow. 

Summer Holiday, 23 August 2022

It's been a long day today! We started off at this swimming lake place (which didn't open until 13:00, so we couldn't have swum even if we had wanted to).

My tummy went slightly back on me, and probably after yesterday, and when we stopped at a huge ReWe to shop, I very nearly came over all unnecessary, and had to speak very severely to myself - the Swan Whisperer would not have been pleased if I had had to phone him to come and rescue me while he was drinking his coffee. I had previously gone to the Tedi on the same site and got another pair of shorts (yes, I know I'm too old and fat to wear shorts, but tough!) another short (1 metre) charging cable and, what pleased me almost most of all, a far more sturdy pill-organiser than any I have seen in the UK - the one I brought with me is so flimsy I had to put a rubber band round it to hold it together. This is a massively better design. 

I did get through the shopping all right, and back to the van, and we set off for Lubeck. I was feeling much better by the time we arrived. They have wonderful provision for motor homes there - two huge car parks, right in the city centre, no services, but only €6 for 24 hours, and and less for shorter periods.

We think that, in a slight change of plan, we will go back there tomorrow night and can have a good explore, as it's ages since we have been there. 

Then we didn't want to dawdle as we wanted to arrive here, at Wittenbeck, on the Baltic. A huge, huge aire, obviously a seaside resort and also for visiting the Mollibahn, which we plan to do tomorrow. We are supposed to leave by 11, but the very nice young man who booked us in said that they turned a blind eye to half an hour or so over, so we are going to get up early and catch the 08:43 into Bad Doberan.... 

However, before then we did want to see the train, so went down to watch it go through,

and then down to the beach

and back to watch the train going the other way.

And then I got supper, and it has cooled down a great deal.

Summer Holiday, 22 August 2022

So we thought we would visit the leisure baths this morning sine we had a €5 coupon. We They were cheaper than the ones at Amnéville, but not as nice - the currents weren't as strong and there weren't the massage points. What there were, though, were a variety of water slides, and I, stupidly, decided to go down one where you sat in an inner tube. Big mistake! 

I am far too fat for this to have been in any way, shape or form a plan. The current just lifted my legs (which presumably weigh a great deal less than the rest of me) and hefted me out of the tube, sending me down the slide battered, and gasping for air as the waters broke over my head. The absolute worst was that there was a pause half-way down and simply no way of getting out other than going down. 

That was the end of any swimming for me; I sat in a chair, gasping for breath, heart going far faster than it likes, wobbling and hoping I wasn't going to be sick. I wasn't, thankfully, but my neck hurt and my back is still a bit achey this evening. Never, ever again! 

So once we had changed, we went back to the WoMo and I lay down for half an hour with a couple of paracetamol while the SW used the services and we got ready to leave. I had to pull myself together then, as we had no bread and if we were to have lunch, this needed to be rectified ASAP. So we went to the nearest Edeka and I was pleased to find some fresh chillies, which I had been looking for for some days. 

After lunch, we set off and drove here to a town with the lovely name of Bad Fallingbostel, where we are parked up in an aire by an open-water swimming pool. Warm welcome from the woman on duty - did we want electricity, if so she would go and get the cables, etc. All found for €12, except there is nowhere to empty the loo. However, we did that this morning, so not a problem. 

Summer Holiday, 21 August 2022

Despite having slept a lot of yesterday, we slept well last night, and although I woke up at about 06:30 and took my tablet, I then went back to sleep and didn't stir until the alarm went off at its usual Sunday time of 08:00.

After a rather belated breakfast we went for a stroll around Königswinter, down to the river,

along it, and back along the Hauptstraße, where several shops were, surprisingly, open. We kept wondering whether to stop for coffee and/or an ice cream, but it was a bit soon after breakfast for that. We ended up going slightly all round the houses back to the WoMo,

as we came up one road too soon and had to go quite a long way back on ourselves before we got to the level crossing. Which was closed. We waited and waited, and eventually what came along was a single locomotive, all by itself! Such an anti-climax. 

So anyway, we set off fairly soon after that, but the place where we had hoped to stop for lunch, by a lake, didn't seem to be there so we ended up in a motorway services, very dull. Then I went to sleep as the rest of the journey was also very dull, motorway all the way. And the traffic was incredible for a summer Sunday! Heaven knows what it must be like in a weekday rush hour, with all the lorries that don't run on Sundays!

Anyway, we got here in the end. "Here" is Osnabrück, where we are parked up in a small aire that is part of a large car park. There is a huge swimming complex, including a leisure bath (more lazy rivers), and we get a €5 discount as we are parked up, so we will probably have a swim in the morning, we shall see. 

Summer Holiday, 20 August 2022

I didn't blog yesterday, as we were at a family wedding. It was a very happy day, and lovely to see so much of the Swan Whisperer's family, but, of course, not suitable for blogging about. 

We staggered into bed about 11:30 pm - not being party animals, we didn't stay to the end. Slept very well, but came awake before I meant. I do get a very dry mouth at night, and have a spray that helps. Unfortunately, last night I also had a spray bottle of Cologne on my nightstand - and, yes, the inevitable happened! So I leapt out of bed and rinsed my mouth out very thoroughly, and was awake for, if not the day, then at least the first part of the morning. 

Once we had redd up after breakfast, we decided there was no reason to hang about, so drove round the corner to the hotel where the rest of the family were staying (we were certainly not the only wedding guests on the campsite, though) and spent a very happy hour with them before they had to check out. We then headed on and went to a local Edeka where I shopped, and then we headed north. 

I knew nothing of the first part of the journey, but slept very soundly and didn't rouse up until we stopped for lunch, which I didn't really want. I then went back to sleep again until the SW woke me to be aware we were crossing the high bridge over the Moselle! I did stay awake after that as we left the motorways and drove to Königswinter along the Rhine. We decided that the Drachenfels has been rather spoilt by the modern café; it looks better from on top than from below! 

We were worried that the aire would be full, but there was room for us. The SW went out for a walk, and I caught up on YouTube etc - the signal here is brilliant; it was very poor at Altrip. I am still very tired, and plan an early night! And my cologne will not be on my nightstand! 

Summer Holiday, 18 August 2022

As had been being forecast since forever, it was a wet night and a wet morning. Not nearly enough rain, of course, but it is a start. We were in no rush to get up, and lingered over our breakfast before heading off to the local Edeka where there was also a Kik and a Tedi. There may have been some accidental buyage of shorts, but at €4 each, why wouldn't you? 

In Edeka, as well as the usual bits and bobs for lunch, there were huge crates of the local brew, called Karlsberg, 20 bottles for the princely sum of €8, so rude not to, really. It's actually extremely drinkable! 

The SW programmed the Satnav to take us on a scenic route. I do wish he hadn't, as it was very twisty and parts of it in very poor condition, mostly on the edge of a steep slope and unfenced. It was scary, and rather sick-making. Not my idea of a pleasant drive! 

However, we did stop in a very nice lay-by for lunch,

and we got here in the end. "Here" is Altrip, on the outskirts of Mannheim, and we are here to attend the wedding of the SW's niece tomorrow, which is why we are on holiday in August, which is unusual for us. We usually wait until the children are back at school. 

The campsite is next door to the hotel, and I sincerely hope the hotel is nicer! We had reserved, or rather, L had done it for us, and no problem finding us. It is a very cheap campsite, very basic, and I am not sure how useable the services are going to be, as the taps have no tops on them! I think we may be able to borrow one from Reception, at least, I hope so! As the SW said, the kids - who are legion - would probably leave them running the whole time, else. 

There is a lakeside beach, you borrow a key to the gate from Reception, with a deposit of €20. I did have a wander, and later on the SW sat on the beach and read, as being nicer than the camp site. The sanitaires are very small for the numbers of people using them, I thought. 

Summer Holiday, 17 August 2022

It did rain a bit in the night - enough to wet the windows, but not really enough to wet the ground or anything. The By the time we were up and dressed the sun was out.

The USP of Amnéville, where we spent the night, is a huge leisure area with all the attractions one's heart, could wish, from an indoor snow centre and skating rink (I am fairly sure we know people who skate there) to a zoo, via a casino, adventure centre, a plethora of hotels and restaurants, and, most relevant, the "Thermapolis" which is a huge leisure pool complex with various whirlpool baths, Jacuzzis and lazy rivers.

So after breakfast we used the series and drove the kilometer or so to the baths. Which were absolute heaven! As you can see from my records,

you couldn't really swim, but you were whirled round (it was actually quite difficult to get out of the stream when I wanted to get out to spend a penny!) and there were places you could sit and the jets of water would massage your feet and ankles, and loads of places where the jets massaged your knees, thighs, bum and lower back, basically in that order. And one of those really fierce overhead showers that massaged your shoulders! 

The Swan Whisperer and I spent a very happy hour there (the workout record isn't quite accurate, as I think I accidentally paused it when trying to see the time), and afterwards I felt that I really had had a full body massage! Why, oh why, do they not have such facilities in the UK? I have used them in Austria, Germany and now France, but as far as I know, they do not exist in the UK, and they are so wonderful! This one was very busy, of course, being in the middle of the school holidays - children are allowed in from the age of 4, but must be accompanied by an adult. 

Anyway, after about an hour we had had enough, so got changed and went back to the WoMo, and headed on, first to a quick dash round Lidl (no decent coupons this week!) and then a stop for a little diesel and then a rest area for a late lunch. 

I realised, thinking about it, that much as we love Kehl/Strasbourg, going there would be two sides of a triangle, so we looked at the map and found that a town called Homburg was half way, and, better still, there was a free motorhome parking area. It is rather dull, actually, in the car park of another swimming-pool (which we are not going to as it might be rather a let-down after this morning). The easiest way to it was via Luxembourg, so we found a load of petrol stations where diesel was a bit cheaper than in France, and Germany, and called in there. After which I fell sound asleep, and didn't really wake up until we were almost here! 

Summer Holiday, 16 August

Today has been a driving day.  I rather stupidly said I wanted to go to the Super U,  rather than the E Leclerc we passed en route, which was a mistake as the Satnav took us a very long way round.  Anyway we got there in the end, and I did a shopping, and then we drove to Amnéville, near Metz,  where we are staying the night. It took a long time as we decided to go non-toll, via Chalons and  Bar-le-Duc and Vitry-Le - Framçois and Nancy. A lovely drive, but a long one.  We stopped at Toul services to have lunch. We got badly lost trying to get to this aire as either we or the Satnav made a nonsense. But we got here in the end. The SW cleaned the windows, and we were very amused to see the man next door doing the same - inspired by us?

I haven't taken any photos today, so here is one from Chamery last night. 

It is still hot, but rain is forecast for tonight - I'll believe it if it happens! 

Summer Holiday, 15 August

We actually left home yesterday. We did most of the packing on Saturday, bar the last-minute stuff, and then got up early on Sunday morning to load the car. I was preaching at Stockwell (you may read or listen to my sermon here), and as soon as the service was over we set off down to Sussex, stopping en route to buy a sandwich lunch. 

My younger nephew and his partner were there, having spent the weekend, although my sister was out with her friend. They were finishing their weekend, though and left fairly soon. 

The Swan Whisperer got the motor home and, because we had plenty of time, he made up the beds and did most of the unpacking/putting away. I came through to put my clothes away, and was delighted to find my cream-coloured blanket wrap and the penguin blanket I use over my duvet on cold nights.  I am unlikely to need either of them this holiday, but you never know! As it was, I changed into shorts, which was a mistake in the long run as my legs got cold on the drive. 

I had to take the Zoom service at "The other" Clapham, and the SW, my mother and my sister (who was back by then) watched on his computer in the other room. When it was over, we had supper, including "deconstructed Eton mess", which was basically a meringue, strawberries and cream! 

After supper, we headed on. I had discovered that one can spend the night in the car park of Folkestone sports centre, so we decided to do that and cross very early this morning. I am very glad we did, as the M20 took ages - for some reason they decided to send all traffic at 30 mph down the hard shoulder instead of letting cars go in 2 outside lanes at 50 and lorries on the inside lane and hard shoulder at 30. All 11 miles of it! Not fun. I was beyond exhausted when we arrived, and as I was slightly cold, hadn't really been able to nap on the journey. 

Of course, I didn't sleep very well, but we had to get up at 05:30 to have our showers and a cup of tea before we set off just after 06:30 to get to the terminal. The Satnav told us to go up the motorway and down again, and we couldn't think why, as all the signposts pointed us a different way. It wasn't until we got to the other entry that we found it was closed! You would have thought it would have said earlier, wouldn't you. We were not impressed! 

The terminal was absolutely heaving, and it took forever to get through French passport ontrol. When we did, though,  we found we could go straight on to the Shuttle, and, in fact, they triaged us on to the front coach! 

We ate breakfast on the crossing and, as soon as we arrived, we went to Cité Europe where Carrefour was open in spite of its being a Bank Holiday here. I did a shopping while the Swan Whisperer got diesel, and then we set off "properly". We stopped at a random "aire" on the motorway as the SW felt tired and needed ten minutes' sleep, and then drove on to Landrecies, where we stopped for lunch. We have been here before; it is just by a river

- the Sambre - and there are anglers, although what they hoped to catch with the sun beating down on the water, I do not know. 

After lunch, we headed on to Reims, where we used the services, while I walked down to the actual parking area (should have put my sandals on - it was a long way in my flip-flops, but I forgot!). There were no spaces, as we had feared there might not be, so Plan B was  nearby Chamery, another favourite stopover. There was room for us here! 

The vines are looking very green; so refreshing after the dry and brown of everywhere else.