Summer 23 | Clune Gap Years

02/07/23

We used DFDS ferries as they were the cheapest with 72hr either side flexi ticket. Only negative (other than it’s slower than the tunnel and would be somewhat unpleasant in rough seas) is that Corrie had to stay in the car in the hold. She was uber delighted when we returned. Whilst this is the first time she’s been left alone since Oscar passed, we think this was mostly to do with the fact that he would bully boy her out of the way.

*First British bacon* but the coffee undrinkable

For once the M25 behaved and it didn’t rain! We stayed with the Aged Ps in Chichester and Mum cooked. Lots of French cheese so I over ate!

03-04/07/23

We parked the Greek car up and swapped to our aging UK car. Thank goodness we kept that as we can not get fully comp on the Suzuki in the UK (Brexit). A couple of hours saw us in Andover where Jez has been stored.

Back to Woodlands Farm in Chichester where we filled with water. Switched on a tap and water started pumping out the length of the side wall. Shite! A local, and now much loved, motorhome service centre fitted me in that afternoon. The filter on the water pump had frozen during the winter and broken off. Whilst that was being repaired, the owner heard the fridge was trying to click on … we needed a new fridge burner. He would fit us in soon, despite a 3 month waiting list for work and he was going on holiday! So a big shout out for Reliance Motorhomes.

Our solar seemed also not to be charging our lithium batteries. And the new 3000 w inverter not working. So a drive back to Abacus in Andover. The inverter was ME! I’d flicked the switches the wrong way! Blame it on tiredness from the drive and not sleeping well.

The amazing Phil at wildcamping.co.uk suggested that we put Jez on charge for about 12 hours and if that didn’t sort it, to bring the van to him to check over.

05/07/23

Fortunately we ate that night at the Aged Ps again. More cheese and another food baby! And the next night we ate at Michelle and Craigs … another 3 courses and cheese!!!

We finished unpacking and sorting and moved to a nearby CS with hook up. With the car, it was a blinking £24!

*Some of the wine we brought from Greece … at €24 for 10 litres, it was worth the risk of loosing some to customs. 18l pp really ain’t much!!!*

We had a lundin (lunch / dinner) as a staff lunch to thank the Aged Ps for all their help. Mum collects prescriptions and emails post. Dad sorts and regularly drives the car. It’s never a Board Meeting as they would have too many rights and they’re not allowed to resign.

06/07/23

Congratulation to Sinead and Shane on the safe but very early arrival of Kylie May. She was due on 1st August but arrived 6 weeks early. Hence the speed crocheting! Blanket still not finished when we went up to see J’s newest grandchild. Lunch out, so I didn’t cook again!!!

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!

*Granny squares to make a baby blanket for J’s new granddaughter.*

*So gonna miss Greek food and* *the sea*

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.

Clune Gap Years

A journal and reflections of our motorhome travels

Category Archives: Summer 23

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