Starting Out

Well Christmas, although quiet in itself, saw us trying to get things finished off and sorted before we left – we thought it was all done but later events have shown that it hasn't all gone right so we'll be doing some updating along the way.

So with the van loaded to the gunnels we eventually got away on Monday before New Year to travel down to Terry's Mum in Lincolnshire. An uneventful, if busy, trip saw us parking up on her driveway by teatime and we spent a few pleasant days enjoying company, exchanging gifts (really Mum, 3XL?) and sorting out (or not!) a few electrical problems caused by a lightning strike that badly damaged a close neighbours bungalow. Although we didn't intentionally stay up to see the New Year in, we hadn't gone to bed as we were fully expecting any local fireworks to set Jamie off. We'd dosed him with a sedative tablet that the vet provided but thankfully there were only a few loud bangs and once he finished shouting at them it was all peace and quiet.

So with the Chunnel booked we left late morning yesterday for the long haul down to Folkestone, again on very busy roads but with only a couple of minor holdups. As it appeared fuel is cheaper in the UK we topped off at a Tesco next door to the tunnel terminal before checking in and being put on a train a full hour earlier than booked, with just enough time to empty a rather full toilet cassette!

Not sure if it was correct but they announced a 25m crossing time, which felt about right, rather than the 35m we've been used to – faster trains maybe? Whatever we arrived in France in the dark but, due to the closure of our normal overnight stop at Citie Europ, we had to drive around 10km to another favourite, at Wissant. There was some pretty poor parking by several German registered vans as well as several Belgians and Germans in the bus bays – that would have been fun if the buses had returned, but they must still be on holiday as we didn't hear any altercations! We managed to find a spot big enough for us (with the luggage rack on the back we're a little longer than standard) so settled down with a nice meal and a welcome sound night sleep.