Five years in the making and the day has finally dawned. Pity it dawned when despite having a 5 year notice, I am probably at my heaviest and unfittest.
Anyway no more words about weight only about the trip!
The stuff on the spare bed finally found its way into my panniers and the bar bag contents that's been slumbering on the dining room table in where it belongs.
We said our goodbyes which were always sad, leaving daughter to look after the dogs - long list written of stuff to look after whilst we're spinning pedals.
I snoozed enroute so lost about 40 miles of the journey. I guess switch off started!
Arriving at the Port we headed for an Aldi to get some bottled water. Another blog I found warned that carrying two 1.5L were strongly advised and as tomorrow is Sunday and France shut at 12.30, that was a good move.
We parked the car at the Brittany Ferries building and off loaded panniers and bikes. I stayed at the check in whilst Mr B moved the car to an NCP car park 20min walk away ( cheaper than Port car park so don't opt for the closest!)
Some serious looking German cyclists arrived. Front and back panniers with rack bags on Ridgeback bikes. They off loaded and went into the check in. I haven't seen them since.
Mr B arrived from his parking expedition and we wheeled the bikes towards the booths. I got a stare from the customs official and smiled. Then off towards the security check where we had to take a bag off the bike to put through a scanner. Mr B bleeped. I didn't :)
Then a short pedal to mingle with cars with roofboxes to wait for 50min to board. Whilst there we met up with another cyclist on a road bike enroute to Barcelona. He had virtually nothing as gear only a very very small frame bag with flip flops and some toiletries. He is cycling down on 8 days hoping to do 100 miles a day to meet with his family for a week in Majorca.
Finally the call came and we boarded the Ferry. Bikes were stored in a separate room and we zeroed in on the reception to put our name down for a cabin. When we changed our dates from July to August we lost the cabin booking so relieved to be assigned a cabin after a 45min wait.
Dinner was good and filling. The service girl a bit forceful in deciding what you want!
Clocks adjusted to Central European time...
Bedtime zźzzzzzz
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| All the panniers and the rack bags loaded into the back of the car with the Thule Bike Carrier tilted forward to allow boot access |
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| The cyclist we met who was cycling to Barcelona in 10 days from St. Malo - he was a lean machine! |
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| Sunset on the Ferry |
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| Getting fresh air on the Ferry |
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| The new Aircraft Carrier in Portsmouth Harbour |
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