GednLynne Med trip 2018 - Cecina and Agay via Austria

Off promptly at 9:20 after good breakfast at the Kleiber, as we set off it was dull but dry. I have a problem when in another country that I feel isolated and vulnerable when I can't read text roadsigns and communicate at least at an elementary level. I speak a little French and read more so am fairly at ease but heading into Germany and Austria it's not comfortable for me. Indeed, last night we deliberately stopped short of Germany just for my comfort The irony was that being the Alsace region, more German was being spoken that French! Not long and we were over the border into  Germany and winding our way through the Black Forest through we hadn't identified it as that at the time. (Didn't see a single chocolate & cherry gateau). We weren't stopping as it was a travel day and apart from that, it was dull and damp. We passed the House of a Thousand Clocks and several other buildings faced with ornate clocks and presumably selling them inside Around midday ...

Today was very much an autoroute day, 320 miles of which all but 20km was motorway. The first 200 miles were largely flat agricultural land; only maize and sunflowers remain unharvested, brown and drooping; all other fields are gold or green according to the crop. Disappointed that our destination was forecast heavy rain and thunderstorms for the evening but we seemed to dodge all the storms and only had a little drizzle during the day. 320 miles was around €45 in tills but the model of users paying toward use these massively long and frequently quiet roads does make sense. This 'tell' lives on my dash, moving from side to side whenever I cross the channel. After many years of holidays in Europe, I have a problem of occasional 'flashbacks' in the UK, especially exiting campsites onto country lanes so I even refer to it then. I'm sure I can't be the only one who suffers this issue and this works for me. So, 320 miles later, we are at point 2 of our t...

To my amazement, we were away at 08:20 and it was a good job. 270 miles to the channel tunnel and very little 70 mph. We actually had quiet roads but the miles of 50 mph roadworks and other slow sections agree into our time. 5h40m got used too the Folkestone terminal and we were offered an earlier train at check-in but, as we hadn't stopped, we stick to our 14:50 booking. Wait time at Burger King made this a good decision. Straight onto train, driving into the lower deck through the side door then along the inside. It was very quiet and it felt like we were driving to France. However, we reached the back of the other cars and as we were at a coach connection held back behind yellow lines as shutters closed and fire doors folded in. Soon we could feel movement and then the view through the little window disappeared and other than occasional flashes of lighting remained black for the next 25 mins until we could feel the train climbing and slowing into Calais. We set off dr...

Another trip looms, heading off under the channel tomorrow then through France, Germany and Austria to a week in Italy then along the Med to South of France for another week. I hate packing, so Lynne has had to put up with me being an irratable pain since about 4 when I'd finished planning, preparing car, digging out my bits etc. Car all ready, headlight adapters fitted, washer liquid topped up, tyre pressures for load and speed, fueled up, various hi-vis, breathalysers, triangles, first aid kits, extinguishers etc on board to satisfy several countries. Most kit ready but packing still needs finalising. Hoping to be away at 8 in the morning but doubtless we'll be late. Thank goodness Lynne has the patience of a saint and is a good packer! I'll be more positive when we drove off.