Early spring holiday 2024, 22-23 February

Saint-Quentin

Our holiday actually started yesterday, when we packed, loaded up the car and drove to Sussex in the pouring rain. We then unloaded the car (well, the Swan Whisperer did; I was watching my sister beat my mother at Scrabble), unpacked everything into the motor home, and got everything ready except the beds were only half made. Then we gathered up overnight things and went back into No 6 to have a delicious supper of trout and vegetables, and to spend the night

We went to bed early as we needed o get up at 6:00 - of course, I didn't sleep that well during the latter part of the night, and was reading from about 05:30. We dressed, stripped our beds, filled a thermos, grabbed a banana each to keep us going, and were away just after 7 - my mother and sister still fast asleep

We should have arrived at Folkestone just after 9, and perhaps got on an earlier train, but there was an accident which closed the motorway, so we had to go all round the houses and only just arrived in time to check in for our booked crossing. However, we did have time to grab a breakfast roll and a coffee at the terminal before heading through passport control, etc, and so to France. 

It had been horrendously wet yesterday - a really nasty drive! This morning was much brighter; I could even hear the dawn chorus while we were getting ready to leave (I know it's about sex and turf wars, but still lovely), and the sun was out; but when we got to Calais we could see it was raining very heavily. And not just rain - sleety snow! So much for the spring! 

We went to Auchan where I shopped (stupidly forgetting that I didn't need a trolley when it was scan'n'shop!) and the SW got diesel. We then drove to the local motorhome place as we need a new bin, but it was closed until two, so we had lunch (including first-day patisseries, which had been reduced for quick sale, so rude not to, really!) and then had a look, but they didn't have the kind of bin we needed. 

So we set off, and drove to Saint-Quentin through very variable weather. I slept a lot of the way - I seem to be carrying a great deal of tension in my shoulders, and they are very achey. It is a very nice aire, only €8.80 including electricity and tourist tax, by the river. The Swan Whisperer went for a walk, and I hope to in the morning if the weather is not too ghastly.