Other days included a walk over Hengistbury Head with Martyn and Jasmine, after the short ferry crossing from Mudeford:

A look round Christchurch Priory and Quay –

this is Carol ‘putting a brave face on it’ (maybe the ice cream helped) and various other drives out and shopping trips, not to forget the trip to Potters Bar and Cockfosters for Carol’s Uncle Ted’s funeral – thanks again to the family for the hospitality, and to Jan and Chrys for the overnight and evening meal. 

Talking of meals, we took Trevor out one evening to a seafood restaurant,

and entertained an Esperanto-learning friend of his to coq au vin on what happened to be our tin wedding anniversary (yes – tin, not a mis-type!).

Then on Tuesday 19th June came the news: Harry was ready for the road! We brought him round to Trevor’s and there was a sort of re-union:

Hello, Big Van!

Hello, Little Car!

How are you?

Mmm ….. much better – it’s good to be out in the open again. Where have you been?

I’ve been here – waiting for you!

Das ist aber nett.

What?

C’est chouette, ça.  That’s sweet. 

Well, didn’t have much choice, really. Someone had to look after THEM – and I took them up to London to a funeral. An Uncle of Carol’s. Everyone was asking about you, THEY said. 

Ach, so …. 

Are we going to France, then? Can you pull me? 

Yes, we are – but ‘Doctor’ says got to be careful. 

Tell you what, SHE can drive me to Dover, then we’ll hook up before the ferry and after that – we’ll see. 

In Ordnung. 

What’s your back end like …..

M**de alors! It’s still the same! 

Baint my fault! I wasn’t in for that …. 

Sally – don’t tease him about that. I did it – I’ll sort it in France. 

Bon, d’accord.  Hey, Harry! 

Ja? 

Nice to see you. 

You too, Etulino. Let’s go find THEM a place in the sun ….

And he’s not wrong – we’ve added up the figures and withdrawn from the purchase of the place the TV people found us…… So we booked a ferry crossing for Wednesday night and drove in convoy to Maidstone services where we coupled H & S up and drove on to Dover. We had a meal on board, and I HOPE it was the worst meal we shall have for a long time! Lukewarm at best, fairly tastless and al dente is one thing, but raw carrot is another – should be a starter. Add to that NO WINE at the restaurant; would have had to get it from the bar, by which time the meal would have been completely cold. Very low score for DFDS.

Arriving at Dunkirk at 1am french time, we drove 44 kms till we came to the first aire de service on the motorway and parked up for what was left of the night. Slept quite well, in fact, and since it was an service area, not just a lay-by, we had croissants and pain au chocolat for breakfast. Then did a very useful 380 kms, including getting through Paris in the late afternoon, to arrive at Vauvert Campsite near Etampes at 9.30pm. We had to park outside the barrier, but there was electric hook-up available and we able to use the facilities. It was a nice place, really, but we couldn’t linger. Carol was up at 7.15 and we actually got on the road at 11! (What takes 3 ¾ hours? Don’t ask!)

Shopping was a priority , and we needed fuel during the day; the ‘grey’ water hadn’t been released since before the breakdown and we were becoming aware of it, so we felt a need to find a site with all facilities in good time and have a nice meal – out of doors as it turned out (‘sgettinotter’!). So after only 220 kms we found a site in Chateauroux, just off the free motorway towards Limoges, and here we are. Carcassonne will take another two days, but Harry seems to be running well, towing not a problem, and the weather is promising. There’s sunshine in the south (as we’ve found before) and we’ll find a place in it!

We will!!

Let’s go!

Well, wait till morning  ….. it’s 00.30!