28/06/23

We stayed in Crete for June’s 70th and caught the ferry the following day. The boat didn’t leave Chania until 10.00 p.m. Having cleaned the house we went to Almyrida for an early supper. Eating good Greek food by the sea was lovely to do as we won’t be back for months. Bonus that we didn’t pay much as we used a raffle voucher.

29/06/23

We arrived in Pireaus at 0600 and stopped in Corinth for breakfast. Having hours to kill before the ferry left Patras, we spent the afternoon in a sleepy small resort watching paddleboarders and swimmers. I crocheted until late lunch. Another water front meal!

We intended to be dry that night. But one half bottle on deck led to countless. I daren’t count the €s! But I slept well! Maybe also, as the top bunks were available so CO2 couldn’t share! They did both attempt the ladder!

30/06/23

We arrived in Bari at 10.30 but didn’t get out the port for an hour and a half! Not only were we kept on deck for ages as our car was right at the bottom, but traffic light timings weren’t adusted to allow the port traffic to exit. CO2 hac to cross their legs and curse until we got to the first service station.

We’d made the decision to drive, drive, drive. So we did. Through the night. Bari is a good 5 hours further south than our Italian port of choice. Minoan have stopped sailing Patras to Ancona and we saved about €350 by sailing to Bari.

We stopped for fuel, driver changes and food. A 1 hr stop where we both snoozed. Bologna during rush hour, but we travelled late and easily around Milan and through the Gotthard tunnel.

01/07/23

We arrived in Calais about 2.30. 200 km in about 26 hours.

We considered catching a boat today but decided against as we’d both hit the tiredness wall.

Fortunately the hotel allowed us an early check in. Oscar had a cardiac arrest and by the time the hotel had helped to identified an emergency vet, it was too late.