I started to write this brief travel blog on the Irish Ferries ship heading towards Calais in the pouring rain, luckily I am in the lounge warm and dry.
My trusty Mercedes Vito van is resting and dripping downstairs. The drive from Cambridge to Dover this morning was hairy as the rainfall was amazingly heavy, the standing water meant that the roads were very challenging, luckily I left very early so the traffic was very light indeed, one reason why I chose to travel on Sunday morning. I also found the M25 closed so I was diverted thro London but luckily with very light traffic.
I have never before had such luck checking in for the ferry at the Port of Dover. I was more than 24 hours ahead of my scheduled departure so I knew that I would be charged 30 pounds to change my booking (Irish Ferries) whereas the young lad in the booth told me that he was about to head home so he checked me in in record time and told me to hurry cos the vessel was about to depart and he did NOT charge me the 30 pound fee!!!! I rushed to the numbered lane where ZERO cars were waiting and the two guys called me to drive up onto the ferry which I did of course, I parked up and then they closed the door!!! The ferry departed about 10 minutes after I had found the Club Lounge, truly amazing.
So I was in France 2 hours later heading south. For the first time I decided to try a new route which a friend had suggested (thanks Alan) so I headed East towards Belgium instead of due south through France. In the driving rain I drove south through Belgium, Luxembourg, a bit of Germany and then Switzerland before I drove through the Gottard Tunnel. I purchased a window sticker for the Swiss motorways at the first service station (42 Euro for 2024) and the Gottard tunnel is free. The distance I covered was the same (to within a few kilometres) as my usual route but the biggest saving is the motorway charges which in France are heavy PLUS the Mont Blanc Tunnel which is about 50 Euro. Happy Days.
So Sunday evening I was in Italy and I stopped for the night in Fiorenzuola. I know the town and I knew the Fiore Motel which is just off the motorway exit, perfect. I checked in at 10 pm, found the lovely clean and warm room and fell asleep almost straight away.
The following day I left at 5am and I was in Amalfi for lunch totally tired but happy, GREAT trip thanks old Vito!! The trip was so rapid as well as dark and rainy I took almost zero pictures sorry!!!
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