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Published: September 18th 2016
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The plan, Leave the hotel in Eastbourne bright and early, head for the tunnel, grabbing breakfast on the way. 10:20 train to France and reach the accommodation by 16:30 / 17:00. That was the plan.
It all started well. Everyone up and ready on time, check. Out the door and on the bikes, check. Off and making good time, check. Stop for petrol and arrive at the tunnel with 50 minutes to spare, check. Trains delayed by 60 minutes.... Ah. Into the departure lounge for coffee and wait. And wait. And wait. After about an hour we were called to go down, then we stood in our lanes, in the rain, for another hour before finally boarding the train. One on the train we found out that there was a signalling problem, and sat through about an hour of apologies until at about 13:00 we finally set off.
At this point I feel my age and nationality kicking in and I am trying to contain a rant. Trying but failing. WTF? Signalling? There are two tunnels, with trains heading along one direction. In this modern age of automation, there is no need for signals because there is no need
for drivers. The whole system could be automated and be safer, rather than hope some bloke spots a light change colour.
Rant over, France. It was a bit wet but only a bit. Once on the road and heading in the right direction (don't ask) we were making good time. We had to abandon the planned stop at Dunkirk but ok we will try and make it on the way home. We were avoiding the toll roads, partly because there is a toll, partly because they are just so DULL. For Ken and Briony's first continental foray they were a little nervous but soon settle into the rhythm of things. I think the quiet French roads were a surprise and so un threatening. We knew however when we crossed into Belgium. We entered a stretch of roadworks, passed a Belgium sign and then it was broken tarmac and high speed pothole for the next 50 Miles. Not sure what the Belgians do with their part of the EU subsidies but it does not go into the roads. At times they are down right dangerous. It is the reason I ride an adventure bike, because there is enough suspension travel
to ride through Belgium.
About 20 miles from the French border we stopped for a break and fuel. Briony had her first experience of the strange continental requirement to pay before you get fuel. That may seem reasonable for a car driver with a 50 litre tank, just stick in 30 euros, but with a bike that has a 15 litre tank, it's not easy to guess how much will fill it. could be 5.35 euros and no where neat 10. Briony however, not wishing to be beaten, smiled at the nice man, and he softened and let us fill up first and then pay. Go Briony.
It was only then about an hour to Le Chateau and our home for the week. We arrived about 19:00, tired but in good spirits. We were greeted by the lady of the house who showed us around our "wing". and explained the layout, how to operate the sauna and the sad fate of the original owner. It seems that during the revolution he lost his head but that was in Paris so no headless ghosts to keep us company.
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