A cool but sunny start to the day, 13C, but, climbing to 23C by late afternoon.
On the road shortly after 08:00am.
Oloron Sainte-Marie, D938-D947-N10-A63-A10/N10-D910, brings us to Lac de Saint-Cyr (Poitiers) (46.721838, 0.456127) , in 314 miles, almost all free, with just a 3.80Euro toll for a small section of the A63.
Very light traffic, except for the huge volume of HGVs on the N10, but, they are all sticking to the right hand lane, so, no problem overtaking them.
A small amount of excitement at Poitiers, we leave the N10 to join the D910, heading for our chosen Aire (Lac de Saint-Cyr (Poitiers), and are stopped in a Police Road Block. They are checking peoples paper work, in particular there "Attestation", fortunately, despite Kathleen saying it was a waste of time, I had painstakingly written out two copies (one each). A young, and very polite Gendarme spoke to Kathleen, all in French, asking for our papers. I think, she quite enjoyed the experience! Happy, he waved us on our way.
Our lunch stop was taken at Angouleme, in the car park of a Commercial Centre. I took the opportunity to visit the Auchan supermarket, in the centre and bought various "treats" (chocolate and Magnums), plus wine, pate, baguette, apple tart. This formed our evening meal, sitting in the sun, with a glass or wine.
A photograph for family and friends, so you can see, we have come to no harm, Kathleen working hard.
Friday, 20th March 2020
277 miles we are very familiar with, having done it numerous times, D910 - A10/N10 - A154/D154 - D61055 - A28, all toll free.
We arrive at Neufchatel-en-Bray, Aire St Claire (49.737185 1.429569). All in order, as usual, but, toilet, shower etc not in use, presumably because of CoronaVirus.
Saturday, 21st March 2020
Brrr.. can tell we are well North, only 6C this morning, as I get ready to leave Neufchatel-en-Bray, Aire St Claire (49.737185 1.429569).
We have reservation at 18:30. The plan is, if we can only get our reserved slot, stop off at somewhere in Kent (Canterbury P&R, or, there are a couple of CAMC sites which are possibles). If we are fortunate enough to get an earlier slot, we might even make it home today, but, with 350 miles to go, after we exit tunnel, that is doubtful.
Excellent time to the Tunnel Terminal. Roads are almost empty, although, we begin to encounter "Motorhome traffic" as we approach Calais.
We see several Police check points, but, we just get a wave, not stopped.
Even with a coffee stop, we are at Tunnel Terminal by 11:15. We are offered earlier crossing (12:20) at no extra charge. Despite all of the rumours and stories of massive queues, there is only one "file" of Motorhomes and Caravans, plus, one solitary car, at boarding time. All shops and cafe in Terminal are closed, and, we are told we must stay in vehicle, during crossing.
Given the UK/France time difference, we are unloaded and on the M20 by 11:55 UK time.
Queues at M25 Dartford Crossing (what is new), but, other than that, we make excellent progress, we are heading north on M11, we even stop at M11 Services for coffee and to polish off the apple tart I bought in France.
Thinking we will be home today, when overhead motorway signs announce M11 Northbound Closed ahead. We have managed to drive 1,000 miles, through Spain and France, with no hold ups, welcome to the UK.
Kathleen navigates us across country, to A1(M), just south of Huntingdon, A1(M) northbound is closed too! We eventually manage to join the A1(M) further North. Getting a bit tired now, and, navigating plus closed roads, have tempers a bit frayed.
We give up on making it home today, and divert to Ferry Meadows CAMC Site (N52.56053, W0.30593), Peterborough.
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