Up at 5am and, after Seb did a check over and I pushed the car down the road to start it (I am glad she starts so well) we were on our way by 6.50. West to Aachen on the motorway, then to Liège by more minor roads - a bit of an error as it turned out, since we got stuck in traffic, had a fruitless hunt for gear oil, and fun and games navigating the back streets with a compass and a road atlas that just showed Aachen as a big blob of pink.
We finally resolved the route, and we had our easiest border crossing ever - just a sign by the road that I didn't recognise as a border until the street signs changed style. There we were in Belgium and still hadn't stopped for breakfast.
From Liege we followed Borghese's route up the pituresque valley of the Meuse, via Namur, Dinant, Rocroi, Revin and Rethel to Reims. Apart from another almost unnoticed border crossing into France, and lots of rain, it was uneventful. I let the Regenmeister do the driving, which he seemed to enjoy - screen fully open, while I tried to get as low as possible to miss the worst of the water. I did notice at one point that the temperature guage had gone so high that the needle was up against the stop pin at zero, from the wrong direction!
Now in Reims - a change of plan, and a little further from Paris than Meaux, but we were persuaded by rallyists to come here for a drink or two en route.
A bit demob happy now, and looking forward to seeing friends and family in London on Sunday. Still nearly 400 miles and a channel crossing to go before then though.
Many thanks for all the supportive comments people have left. Ruairidh and Tanya I hope you have a great time in Norway in your Chummy. Also all the best to the Frazer Nash Raiders, off to the Alps.
We finally resolved the route, and we had our easiest border crossing ever - just a sign by the road that I didn't recognise as a border until the street signs changed style. There we were in Belgium and still hadn't stopped for breakfast.
From Liege we followed Borghese's route up the pituresque valley of the Meuse, via Namur, Dinant, Rocroi, Revin and Rethel to Reims. Apart from another almost unnoticed border crossing into France, and lots of rain, it was uneventful. I let the Regenmeister do the driving, which he seemed to enjoy - screen fully open, while I tried to get as low as possible to miss the worst of the water. I did notice at one point that the temperature guage had gone so high that the needle was up against the stop pin at zero, from the wrong direction!
Now in Reims - a change of plan, and a little further from Paris than Meaux, but we were persuaded by rallyists to come here for a drink or two en route.
A bit demob happy now, and looking forward to seeing friends and family in London on Sunday. Still nearly 400 miles and a channel crossing to go before then though.
Many thanks for all the supportive comments people have left. Ruairidh and Tanya I hope you have a great time in Norway in your Chummy. Also all the best to the Frazer Nash Raiders, off to the Alps.
2 comments:
Sterling stuff Miss Jones! Do you still think you will make it to London on Sunday evening??
First class, what what!
Paul R
Hi Annabel (& Seb!) I'm just off to the Malvern Show Ground. We have a Met Office Severe Weather Warning, having heavy rain and further risk of flooding in these parts: Welcome Home!
Am so sorry to miss your arrival, and will certainly miss the blog shortly, I suppose.
How do you fancy The Welsh? I feel we ought to waive the mileage for you two! ...............
Jim Wood
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