We’re on our way…..

We left Northampton after lunch yesterday, Folkestone bound.  We had a fairly good journey, a bit slow through miles of road works on the M25.  We used the Dartford Bridge crossing for the first time – my God, but it’s high!!  We got to the Holiday Inn Express at about 5pm.  Poor Ozzy couldn’t understand what was going on, got over-excited and tiddled on the carpet!  Good start!  However, he crashed out and slept most of the evening, and didn’t seem to mind being in the same room as us all night.  We got up at the unearthly hour of 6 am, had breakfast, filled the car and were at the Eurotunnel check in in time to catch the train half an hour earlier than the one we’d booked.

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After a very quick 25 minute crossing we were disembarking in La Belle France – weak sunshine greeted us, which didn’t last long.

Just off the train, remembering to drive on the right

We were straight on the motorway and heading south.  It was wonderful to drive on almost empty roads

Hardly any traffic

We had another good journey, except for around Rouen – the bridge we needed to use has been closed for some time, and ‘Naggin’ Nora’ the satnav sent us the wrong way, then made impossible demands.  After getting hopelessly lost and doing an illegal u turn, we managed to get back on track and crossed the Seinne  at another bridge.  We were soon back on the right road.  Next came Alencon where we have booked an Ibis Hotel for the night.  It seems that I didn’t make a very good decision, it’s right in the centre of town and I failed to notice when I booked that they have no parking!  Luckily there is pay parking right outside and we were very fortunate to bag a space right outside the door.  We have paid just €2 for parking until 9 am tomorrow morning.  There is no tea or coffee available in the room, which is a disaster for the morning!  I think we’ll look for somewhere else to stay on the way back!.  Also there is nowhere grassy to take Ozzy for tiddles and poohs.  Oh well, I’m sure he’ll manage around the back in a side street just this once.  Onward journey tomorrow.