Chris's Experience

The 21.00 departure from Rosslare ferry terminal is very straight-forward and well sign-posted, quite unlike some others I could mention and we join the queue only to be told the departure is delayed by one and a half hours. 1/2 hours.  Ah well no change there then. This doesn't actually materialise and we are ushered onto the boat.  Aimile scrambles up the steep ramps and we emerge onto the open top deck. It feels very vulnerable up there and I park tight next to the funnel for shelter and security. I hope the deck hands strap Aimile down well. I don't want him sliding off mid-channel. We are set to arrive at 16.00 in Cherbourg the following day and we have a cabin booked. It proves very comfortable and we sleep well We see the last of the English coast slip by as we head across towards France. Arrival is on time and we spend three quarters of an hour watching truck after truck of live cattle exiting, before we can go back down through the boat to take our leave. 

The steering wheel is on the left, the correct side for France, so roundabouts don't give us too many frights. Google maps guides us to the hotel Jacky has booked and we enjoy a pleasant aperitif with the owner's family around their bar.

The morning is a bit of a rush as we have a 4/5 hour drive to Chantilly to the north-east of Paris to stay with Olivier and Annie, my neighbours in Syros. The reason for haste in the morning is we want to visit one of the D-Day landings museums and we have picked Utah Beach, which is one of the American sites. There are signs for almost every significant site along the route. Unsurprisingly as the biggest event in recent local history it is being given due reverence. The museum manages to give both the scale of the endeavour and the sacrifices made on both sides. The last few survivors who were actually there, either as a witness or taking part are now passing on. There are pictures of their last visits. This will become a site recording a historic event. 

      

We are in a more sombre mood as we get back on our route to Paris. I might be imagining things, but there seems to be almost a lighter motion in Aimile's suspension, being back in France, which is remarkable considering the load she is carrying. For those Deux Chevaux owners the hub- cap nuts have disappeared under the wheel arches - just to give you a visual guide. The work Peter and Max did at Sparrow Automotive is really showing up and she purrs along the Peage. 

      

We have to hold our own with the Friday evening traffic as we circumvent a portion of Paris to arrive at the village close to Chantilly.