Arrival in France

The one thing that Peter had insisted upon before he was prepared to embarked on a two week adventure in Lady Sage was a decent coffee maker!

I do not drink coffee nor tea so during our weekend break with the boys he had been the one constantly boiling a kettle to make up the mass of instant coffee they all consumed. 

Over the weekend we had discussed, researched and checked out what was available in the various camping shops we passed during our excursion into the hills. 

I had suggested a simple cafeteria, he thought something better like a percolator was in order! 

On our last night at Fairborne beach we were still no nearer choosing something to sustain him during the forthcoming two week trip!

(At this point we still planned to go to Scotland so a nice warm cup of coffee was on his essential list!!)

That final evening, as we launched rockets into the sky, a father and son made a fire further down the beach from us. I invited them to join us around our inferno fire but they were happy with their own company and although they thanked me they stayed where they were.

I awoke the next morning to find a large carrier bag blowing in the breeze where they had been sitting. 

There were no other vehicles in the car park so I presumed they had left the bag behind in the dark. 

As I was clearing away our camp site I happily wandered over to collect their rubbish too only to find nestled in the bottom of the bag and hidden by the empty wrappers of their feast, the most wonderful, if a little dirty, coffee maker!!

By late afternoon no one had returned to look for it so it was scrubbed and packed away with the rest of our things. 

Peters final item on his list of essential requirements had been fulfilled, talk about instant manifestation!!

With the boys safely in Aberystwyth and Lady Sage packed with all her essentials stickers (plus some strong cheddar cheese and a good supply of cider) Peter and I headed down to Dover.

Although I have flown around the world twice I have never actually been to Dover. 

To 'Peter the ex-lorry driver' it was all boringly familiar, to me it was new and exciting!

The wings were brought out at the castle for their first photo shoot. 

Fairy wings had been on my essential needs list as after their huge success at Fairborne I planned on taking a fairy photo at every one of our stops.

(It didn't happen so don't worry, you wont have to look at hundreds of fairy photos!!)

Lady Sage looked resplendent with all her new stickers and when a coach parked next to us more than a few tourists took as many photos of her as they did the castle!!

With a little encouragement from Peter I bravely drove Lady Sage onto the ferry. 

Which once you have done it once is really quite simple!!

Men wearing fluorescent jackets waved and directed us into position, smiling as we passed as they quickly read the sayings that covered our sides.

Once in our designated place the brakes were put on, doors were locked and with a final hug Lady Sage was left to enjoy the voyage below decks with all the other cars and campers.

I took a photo of our floor just to make sure I could find her again and joined Peter on the stern deck to enjoy the view.

Clouds had now filled the sky after our afternoon of fabulous weather and a cool breeze blasted its way across the sea but we didn't care. 

After three years of waiting Lady Sage and I were at last going travelling abroad!!!

The efficiency of the docks is quite something to watch and as the last of the lorries rolled aboard Peter explained to me the order of loading and unloading. 

He had worked as a lorry driver for years before we had met and started the Taxi and then our mini bus company. 

To him all this was familiar but to me it was a whole new world.

I listened avidly as he pointed out where the refrigeration lorries could plug into the mains so their engines could be turned off for the voyage. He told me about the free showers, bunks and food all lorry drivers received in their own reserved area.

Our contracts for the schools were due for renewal in a year and I asked if he would consider going back on the lorries for work. 

The school contracts gave us a good income but they stopped Peter having holidays during term time. For the past eight years while his children had been in school this hadn't been an issue and I had travelled without him every winter (pre-nuptial arrangements can be useful!)

But Cian would be finishing school in June 2018 and the rest of the children had left home. If change was going to happen the decision needed to be made before the new contracts tied him to the UK for another four years.

Just as we agreed to discuss it more over the next two weeks two ladies approached us.

“Are you Lady Sage?” the darker of the two enquired.

“I'm Ippy, Driver of Lady Sage why do you ask?”

For a moment panic swept over me, had something happened to my beloved van!!

“Wonderful!” she exclaimed, “I knew it had to be you, we are parked behind you and just love all your sayings!!”

Within moments we were all sat chatting together like long lost friends.

Anja was a harp player and faithful companion to Sean her harp who she carried everywhere. She was on her way to play at the Camac Harp Festival in Lorient.

For the next hour we sang songs, recited poems, swapped tales and addresses and totally forgot about the duty free!!

As the klaxon rang to tell us to return to our vehicles we walked down together and they checked out Lady Sage's interior before with a final wave we departed to go our separate ways.

Although I have driven on the right hand side of the road while I lived in Moorea I was still more than happy to left Peter take us off the ferry and onto the roads of France. 

The sun had set by now and Peter just wanted to get as far away from Calais as possible before we stopped for the night.

A quick look at the map showed the town of Le Touquet was just north of a place called Berck approximately an hours drive away. 

As it looked to be on the beach we decided to head there.

Rain began to fall as we neared the town and as we neared the beach the wind howled and battered Lady Sage. 

We drove around trying to find somewhere quiet to park and eventually found a dead end that ended with a foot path to the beach.  The wind by now was roaring across the sea picking up sand from the long beach and whipping it into the air but 20m back down the deserted cul-de-sac and protected by a large sand dune and a housing complex of some sort, cars were parked along one side of the road......

I checked the other parked cars to see if they had parking tickets displayed and satisfied it was a free area we nudged our way into the only available space to park up for the night.

Ten minutes later the Gendarme drove past and stopped. We held our breath waiting for the knock on the door to tell us to move on but it never came. Peter peeped out of the curtains and laughed.

“Don't worry,” he smiled, “They are just having a sneaky cigarette break!!”

Sure enough fifteen minutes later their big armoured vehicle drove out of the cul-de-sac and we were free to stay the night!

That evening as the wind and rain blew in from the sea coffee was brewed, the map was studied and plans were made. 

Both Peter and I love driving (a useful trait when you own a taxi company!) 

Brother Ronnie lived in Josselin near Renne so it was decided we would travel down the coast stopping where ever looked inviting until we got to St Marlo. 

From there we would head cross country to Josselin and after that we would just make it up!!

With the understanding that all plans were open to change, modification or just downright cancellation we settled into our cosy bed for the night.

We were in France!! 

For two whole weeks!!!!