Kyriad Calais

We awoke to the noise of trucks and early morning deliveries..Took Lucy for walk and packed van ready to hit the road again..Start? Yes!!

Breakfast at the Happy Chef opposite the Marina in Dover was very welcomed, and to be recommended. We will be checking out Uncle Sam's next time we pass through. Now down to the Ferry port for check in..

Ooh la la......

... the motorway at the first opportunity, and retraced our steps, along with the Landyprikkers, but we lost them shortly afterwards, as they sailed off missing the turning again.
We then followed the roadbook ok, but missed most of the things we should have seen along the route.
The Landyprikkers caught us up later, and we travelled together for a while.

... we ordered 4 kebab pizzas????? which I missed out on as shortly after arriving at the restaurant, was throwing up outside!!

Joe had to take me back to the hotel, with a stop off to the burger van for a 2.5Euro burger!

Whilst i was being put to bed, about 6pm by the way, Kris had a menu snatched off him in the restaurant as he was laughing in to it (tash and kris were in absolute stitches all ...

We got to the campsite at about 9:30.

Then the party games began. We played putting up tents in the dark, cooking for 8 in the dark (which turned out delicious cheers logistics team), unpacking kit, blowing up airbeds - with no alcohol consummed.

Then suddenly there were some squeals ...

... just south of Calais gave us a comfortable night and a good meal and it was off to the port in the morning to meet the bikes. We were there in plenty of time, having agreed to catch the 12.25 crossing and the bikes joined us in plenty of time. Off we went into the port and through the customs and into the ferry queue where the bikes rode straight past Baz and myself and boarded a waiting earlier ferry ...

I wake at 5am to a very impressive coating of ice on the inside of the windows, start the engine and warm the car while I boil the kettle for tea. As I'm doing this the fog suddenly lifts and I'm relieved to find I can make good my exit. Next stop a services with indoor toilets and then I get Lyon out of the way before I stop for breakfast of hot chocolate and toast, all conducted on my little gas stove at -7C and beautiful bright ...

... For beebs sake can you not just admit you lost concentration for once on this trip"...so he comes back with the next pearler that i have heard each time a driving arguement come up, "Why don't you get behind the wheel then!" GIVE ME A BREAK SPUD AND JUST ADMIT YOU LOST CONCENTRATION WITHOUT THE THEATRICS! Yes i definitely think it is time the Murphy's headed onto the next part of our trip...

... off since. The woman behind the counter is terribly slow. She is very polite and makes me giggle when she calls the manager in to check something that a young man did behind the counter who is apparently either a trainee or retarded because the woman asks the manager to check this transaction "without being rude to Simon," she said, which I found really interesting. Simon did look a little wonky. We are waiting for part of the group who is WAY late, so ...

... but compared to the previous night when I had a 5 star hotel for 69 euro a night???? haha, I'd pick the 5 star hotel. If I had realized that the trip to Calais would have taken only 2 days, I would have stayed another night. Back to the drive: I would love to return to Luxembourg City for several nights in the spring or summer. It looked like a great city with a small downtown core. But given the weather today in the part of Europe, I chose to continue. I did drive through the ...

We soon climbed out of the tunnel and raced towards the train's first stop at Lille. The land was flat, bathed in sunshine and looking decidedly and strangely 'foreign' !!!

We were served with a late lunch during this section of the ride. Well cooked and well served! Also with a nice glass of champagne!!!