Nearly time to go, at last

Trip Start May 23, 2008
1
4
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Trip End Jun 07, 2008


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Flag of United Kingdom  , England,
Friday, May 23, 2008

Just a quick entry before we set off for work.  We've just got another 8 hours to get through!  Bongo is mostly packed except for the last minute stuff.  We're setting off for Portsmouth at 7 o'clock, and it should only take an hour.  The ferry doesn't leave until 11pm but we left it too late to get a cabin, so we're hoping for cancellations (Don't see why we can't sleep in the Bongo really).  If not, we'll have to make do with seats.  We're not in a hurry to get anywhere tomorrow, so it's not a problem.

We've also got to pick up our currency.  We always use Travelex as it normally works out cheapest and even if there isn't an office at our port of exit we can pick up the money from their bureau in Bournemouth airport.

We would love to be able to travel from Poole to Cherbourg, but Brittany ferries' prices are crazy.  For instance, our return ticket is costing us £192 from Portsmouth tho Le Havre, but when we were booking, a quote for the same day from Brittany ferries was in excess of £480.  It's cheaper still if we went from Dover, but that involves a much harder drive to the ferry and another half day to get anywhere useful on the other side.  Newhaven to Dieppe is the next best choice for us and often very cheap.

Cherbourg, Caen and Le Havre are the best destinations for us when we are going to Spain as we find we can get to the Spanish border effortlessly, even allowing for several stops, by evening.  The distance is less than from the Channel ports and the roads are better and quieter.

We don't usually use the motorways, partly to save on tolls and partly because the journey through the towns and villages of France is a major part of the holiday experience.  You often come across a hidden gem this way.  Mind you, the weather forecast for northern France this weekend is as dire as for Southern England, so we may just get on a motorway and head for the sun in short order!

Wow, just think, the next blog will be from France!  Yay!
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