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I woke up fairly early on Friday morning - and it was hammering down. This meant that I would get wet through winding up the electric cable, taking off the silver screens and rolling up the hose pipe, as I prepare for the off and the journey from Harrogate to Folkestone. I figured it was better not to put a coat on and so braved the elements with just a tee - shirt on top. I managed to wipe and dry the hose and cable and store them safely in the boot. The silver screens ended up in the shower cubicle for the remainder of the day. Just as I am about to pull away from Rudding Park, the rain stopped.
Anyway, I opt for the direct route of the A1 - shorter than the M1 by about 15 miles. For a laugh, I set Folkestone into the Blaupunkt sat nav thing, and the distance is shown as 605 km. Hardly. So I switch it off.
On then to the A1 with a quick stop at "Shell, Fenstanton" to get LPG for the Gaslow. Driving conditions are terrible with non stop rain and strong winds. Bat on a bit further on to the A14 and at least the wind seems to be behind me, rather than side ways on. The M11 and onto the M25, the latter resembling a car park even though it is about 13.00. The low speed of about 20 mph continues to the Dartford crossing, and from there on, the roads are clear.
My tunnel crossing is booked at 2050 - I am several hours early so stop and Maidstone Services to prepare some food - warm bread rolls and soup and have a cuppa. Hooray - it has finally stopped raining.
I make a quick call to Eurotunnel and they advise that whilst busy, they are not overstretched and they will try to shove me on an early crossing.
I decide to check my tyre pressures. Lucky I did - they were down a bit - silly Russell - when did you last check them? The machine at Roadchef services requires £1 for 10 mins of air - so I inflate my tyres and opt for 70 psi all round. Problem - front drivers side tyre will not inflate - only deflate. My £1 has run out, so I pop in another pound. Still no joy. I go in to the kiosk to enquire if there is another air machine - there is - in the lorry park - so I go around there. I add another £1 to the machine and still cannot get air in the tyre. Then I spot a foreign looking lorry - so I call on his services. It turns out the driver and truck are from Slovenia and we will be sharing the same route for much of our journey. I ask him to assist with the tyre. In goes another £1 to the machine. I do not know what the problem was, but the lad had to hold the air jet thing on to the tyre valve using a lot of force, whilst I held with airpipe. Finally, I am at 70psi. The lorry driver returns to his cab, and drives off, sounding his horn twice as he passes me. I wave and watch him go by.
Moral of the story, if ever you are in the pooh, and see this lorry, ask for help.
Just as I am about to fire up and get underway from Maidstone, the mobile rings. It is my deal old auntie.
"I have just thought of something", she says "you don't need to pack anything do you, it's all set to go. That's really clever".
Yes dear.
Incidentally, I switch the sat nav back on and I am over 200 km from Folkestone according to the screen. Furthermore, it spouts up with "you are in a restricted area, please make a U turn". Sod off I tell it.
Onwards to the tunnel and there are queues at the check in booth. It is about 1700 now and I opt for a self check in. In goes my reference number and as if by magic, my name appears on the screen with the time of 2050. I am offered the 1850 - so I take it! The windscreen label prints out with deaprture code "L" - but I do not have an interior mirror to hang it on, so improvise with a bit of blu-tak.
I park at the terminal for 30 minutes or so and have a cuppa, before making my way round to the customs area. I am requested to pull up in the shed. This I do, where my gas locker is examined, and I am sent on my way. I wait in line, before finally boarding the train. I am in the last carriage for high vehicles, with another motorhome behind me in the same carriage. I have never known two motorhomes in one carriage before.
A moment later, and the train crew are here, chocking the wheels etc. Seconds later they are back, and laugh at the Speedferries logo on the back, and the pirate ship.
Once in Calais, I head for the motorway and turn off at the N43 - following the signs for Calais. The excellent link provided by Peejay lists diesel prices in Calais - and I am on the hunt for a BP garage. Found it - but I do not fill the tank, instead taking what I think I need to get me to Luxembourg - 43 litres goes in to be precise. On then to the cash and carry when a silly amount of Stella is loaded into the front and rear lockers, before I head for the ferry terminal, pitching there for the night. I wake up in the night freezing cold - the truma is not working and has a flashing red light on the dials - this means no 12v power. Is the leisure battery cream crackered?
Morning comes and I get up, washed, teeth done and coffee drunk in 20 mins, by 0800 I am on my way. I slept well despite noise from the wind. I choose my spot carefully and traffic noise was minimal.
Onwards to Dunkerque, Lille, Belgium and hammering out the miles, running non stop to Luxembourg. 245.90 miles later, I am at the BP services at Capellen. There is a huge queue for fuel so I use the lorry lane. Big pipe, but no problem at all. I cram in just under 79 litres of diesel at 1.10 euro per litre. I pull up in the lorry park and as I am doing a "walk round inspection" of the van, a voice yells "hello there, are you alright". It turns out to be someone who recognised the pirate ship on the back of the van, having seen it at Calais. We exchange pleasantries and he asks why I did not queue for fuel. I told him I used the lorry pumps, but he said that was not his idea of fun. Make of that what you will.
Southwards now towards Metz, and then Chateau-Salins, Saverne, Molsheim and Obernai. I top up with fuel at Molsheim - adding 26 litres.
Just after leaving Molsheim, I see a sign
"A vendre a la ferme"...... - this means there is something for sale at the farm. Dismissing this, I carry on, but then see another sign for the farm, so take a 50 metre detour. I stock up with eggs, onions, spuds, wine, some very strong spirit that was free and moments later I am at the camping municipal in Obernai. I am the only British resident, in the company of the Dutch and Germans.
I take a walk into town and spot a supermarket. I have a wander round and come out with various hams and butter. The car park has a barrier and tight corners, but there is another barrier for delivery lorries. The sign there translates roughly as "no entry - invitation only". I can't resist - so I push the buzzer.
"Je suis un camping car. Je voudrais fare des achats" (I am a motorhome - I would like to do some shopping). Up comes the barrier - even though I am on foot, so I leg it quick.
Another good nights sleep and then Sunday morning. Away for 0800 and I am on my way heading for the Swiss border at Basle. I already have my annual toll pass and have filled in the date. I pull up at the border and lower the window
"Are you over 3 and a half tonnes" - asks the guard.
Yes, I reply, but I passed him the docket.
"Ah, very good, but the formula has changed - you need to go in the office for a refund and a new permit".
So off I pop to the office - yes the formula has changed - but only for buses and lorries. The lady apologises and I am off again.
A few miles later and the MultiJet plays up - she loses power, bellows out a cloud of soot and then normal service resumes. Heaven knows what that was all about.
Further on, and another incident. I am tramming on like a trooper in the Seelisberg Tunnel and when I come out, I hear a tremendous "roar". It is wind - wind so powerful I struggle to keep the van in a straight line. This continues for about 20 minutes. The trees are really blowing, and I drop my speed dramatically to try to aid stability. The noise of the wind was frightening, I am not frightened to admit that.
With the cost of fuel soaring, I see diesel advertised a 2.10 SFR per litre - about £1.05 in our money. I am not paying that, so I come off the motorway and Melide and follow the road to Chiasso. I fill to the brim at 1.91 SFR per litre - 10p per litre cheaper than on the motorway. The garage was actually closed and despite being on the wrong side of the road - yes, I tootled across the cariageway to get in - I used the self service machine and the Nationwide card was a treat.
Back on the motorway and the Italian/Swiss border. A queue - so I pop in the bus lane and am away in no time at all. A fast motorway run - there are no lorries on the roads today and I am soon at Peschiera del Garda at the Camping Butterfly. A couple of hours sun bathing, a bottle of Stella, some good crack with the Germans and now it's time for this little blog.
The Germans are here in mass even though it is very early in the season. All were welcoming and several, seeing the length of the van, come and assist me to pitch. Normally, I do it myself, but this pitch is tight for a TAG axle motorhome. They are also amazed that I have travelled alone - "all the way from England". They look at the pirate ship in awe - clearly wanting to know what it is all about.
I have no idea what time it is - the clock went forward on the Shuttle and again last night. My watch is supposed to set itself - but it says five to ten, laptop says five to eight and the Swift clock says five to nine!
I am staying a bit longer than planned so need to talk nicely to P&O in the morning to amend my inbound sailing.
I have a lot to do this week and next - school for one, may be two days, meeting the people I spent time with last year, meeting a coach party and going to the Dolomites with them, eating, drinking and so on.
I am 1025 miles away from Rudding Park and fuel economy has come in at about 22 mpg - not bad as I was giving it some pan handle for most parts of the journey. The van is close to its maximum weight too.
R
Last edited by Rapide561 on Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:21 pm; edited 1 time in total ______________________________________________________________ Never been here before
I´m intrigued, I´m unsure
I´m searching for more
I´ve got something that´s all mine
I´ve got something that´s all mine
Take me somewhere I can breathe
I´ve got so much to see
This is where I want to be
In a place I can call mine
In a place I can call mine
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Great to hear from you Russell..........keep posting I was with you every step on the way getting on the tunnel, it seemed like yesterday we were doing it all too.
The following members of MHF thanked Briarose for this posting
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