With Sammy in charge of the timetable of timing no dared be late for the coach so everyone was up for breakfast in good time. I made a cheese sandwich for the journey with continental breakfast fayre, and then headed across the road to take some final photos. When the coach was almost ready I dipped back to the hotel to make a coffee for the journey. We pulled way at 07:31 just one minute past the strict departure time that Sammy had set.
The weather remained sunny with fluffy clouds and I sat back watched the French landscape pass by while catching up on the Archers. As you travel from west the east the landscape changes from flat plain, with arable fields, to rolling hills with a bit more pasture. At about 10:20 we stopped at Aire de La Baie du Somme, by which time, we had done most of the journey by then. There is a nature reserve near by and a tower for taking in the view. We only had 20 minutes so I shot up the tower to get the panorama, then grabbed a custard tart slice a specialty of the area, it was scrum.
As we approached Boulogne sur mer the landscape became less agricultural and more forested. Passing to the north of Calais we left the motorway and stopped off at Pidou Wine Market for some essential supplies, and some Belgium frites at the Chicken and chip shop. We were told that getting through immigration would take one and a half hours which seems excessive! It actually took about 10 minutes if that. We all got off the bus and went into an airport style queue, which kept moving. I asked if they would let me in with a driving licence but although they hinted that it was possible they just demanded my passport. The swift immigration checks meant more time sat on the tarmac waiting for the 14:20 boat. Whilst we waited I watched a boat on another jetty leave, it had to swing the back out then spin round in the small (by comparison) area of water adjacent to the jetty. I’m Jessing they have now propellers to help move the from end round.
We found a quiet corner of the boat which was a coffee lounge that did not sell coffee, probably the reason why it was quiet. The boat span round and avoided another incoming vessel and we were off destination the famous white cliffs of Dover. Our quiet corner became noisy when an entire school descended on the area, we decided to sit it out. When we docked we found out we were eight near a lift so the trip down the stairs was avoided. We had a brief stop at the Thurrock hub, and were soon on our way round the M25, where the traffic was quite heavy at times, but considering it was bang in the middle of the rush hour, so to be expected.
We were home earlier than expected at 18:30, we unpacked watched the Tour de France highlights then the first episode of Band if Brothers!