Saturday
Emma has finally done her packing for her first four week trip of the summer - leaving it to the last minute which results in some tensions rising as always. Both Linda and myself are somewhat nervous for her - so many bad things could happen, and she will be so far away. Things are not helped by Emma joking about being jailed in Bangkok
Down to Heathrow and Emma wants to do everything herself rather than us assist her. We suspect she is a little nervous while we are there with her but will be fine after we've gone and she has to manage on her own. So she eventually marches off, with no looking back to where her anxious parents are!
Aftrewards, we are off to Dover and one night at a Premier Inn - our first ever visit to one. We had a meal at a service station on the way intending to contrast this with the ones in France which can be excellent. All set for the ferry tomorrow and a long driving day.
Sunday
We have a "priority" exit from the ferry and are first on this morning, ready to be the first off later. As a result, we get the best seats on the boat, with a fine view through the glass front of the lounge. Reading the papers, having breakfast, we are starting to relax already (esp Linda)
At 11:00 the big drive begins. Today we do 560 miles down to Grenoble, via Reims, Dijon, and champage country. Our much-anticipated lunch at a service station turns out to be that quinessentially French dish of paella!
Music for the journey is provided by the Yonder Mountain String Band and Uncle Earl - a solidly bluegrass feel to the first day
Our first driving mistake occurs near Grenoble when I take the wrong turn thinking we were closer to Grenoble than we really were. We lose 20mins and it is 8:45 when we arrive at the hotel, just in time for last orders at restaurant - steak for me, fish for Linda, and some really nice wine
Tosca is on TV when we are settled in but I can't stay awake, even though Act 2 is just about to start and is superb
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