Off to Italy

After spending 4 and a half months in hospital, Dad’s finally home and settled in his new uppy downy bed. The district nurses and carers have met him, and have a plan to visit 4 times a day. I’ve been to the surgery and ordered his prescription and arranged for it to be delivered. John’s fitted a lockbox so the carers can get in if mum’s out, fixed her washing line and got her second phone handset working so she can have it in the bedroom… phew!

We were finally on the road at about 6 o’clock. At least, being after rush hour, the roads were relatively quiet. We arrived at our planned overnight stopping place at Milton Keynes Marina in the dark at about 10 o’clock. After a cup of tea in bed, we were soon asleep.

I woke at about 3.30 and John woke at 5 so we decided to set off to Dover early in the hope of beating rush hour on the M25. The journey went well and, even with a stop to make tea and hot cross buns for breakfast, we were at the ferry terminal by about 9. We were booked on the half past 4 ferry, having allowed plenty of time for a leisurely start and hold ups on the motorway. Luckily, at check in, we were put onto the 9.30 ferry… brilliant!

Not so brilliant as it turned out. There was technical hitch on the ferry, which lead to delays of around an hour and a half. That must have been frustrating for those who had booked that ferry. I got a bit grumpy due to tiredness and the lack of communication, but at least we were still travelling earlier than expected. After a smooth and peaceful crossing, we landed in Calais, before the ferry we’d originally booked had left the UK.

We drove for a few hours on lovely straight, quiet motorways over gentle hills and through farmland. It’s so much easier travelling in France than in the UK. We haven’t even had any toll dramas yet! As we were getting near to Reims, we decided we were tired and had had enough of travelling. I found a parking spot just north of the city, on a canal in Berry-au-Bac. By 5 o’clock we were parked up with a brew, enjoying the view.

After a delicious spaghetti bake washed down with some red wine, we were in bed very early, at about half past 8 (French time). Now, after emptying Molly Moho’s waste in the facilities provided in Berry-au-Bac and filling up with fuel, we’re on the road again, heading for Switzerland. I’ve booked a restaurant in the hills overlooking Lake Zurich, and we’ve activated our vignette to allow us to travel on Swiss roads. It’s still early and the motorways are lovely and quiet. I hope they stay that way!