It’s always a good idea, when faced with a large and possibly daunting task, to break it down into manageable pieces. Concentrate on the immediate. Get that sorted and completed. Then move on to the next. Try not to bite off more than you can chew, at any given moment.
So, with plans laid to be in San Sabastian by next Thursday (today is Sunday) we break the 1,434 kilometers into do-able days.
Day 1 – as ever, like little clockwork soldiers, we march over to Folkestone. Pitch up within thirty minutes of the chunnel. Our previous go-to, given the proverbial heave-ho. Motorhome and Caravan club’s £37 unacceptable. The Caravan & Camping Club’s £27 a bargain !? The run into CCCs The Warren, lives up to its name . . .
Day 2 – as the heat starts to build, the end of the day finds us enjoying a shady spot at Camping Les Escales, Louviers. Earlier, delays at the Chunnel put us behind on our imaginary schedule. Arriving in Calais after 12.30pm (France one hour ahead), not the best of starts. Coupled with road works, we fall 70k short of our intended Chartres stop. Like a couple of runaway trains, we find ourselves dashing ever southwards. Not taking in the rolling countryside. Just happy to see the kilometers roll on behind.
Day 3 – With Camping les Ormes in today’s sights, we step down for a mid-journey leg stretch at Châteaudun. Clear blue and 35C just about what the doctor ordered.
As it’s lunchtime, the town centre, apart from eateries, is closed too. We have it virtually to ourselves.
Camping les Ormes provides our cheapest inclusive overnight stop ever at €9.80. Hot showers; hot wash-up; hot weather . . . plus half an hour’s table tennis a welcome way to ping-pong off the day’s journey.
For this trip, we have a new virtual navigator on board – English posh Henry. The rude Ossie, Jessica, has been given the heave ho. We now receive upper class instructions from this Michael Portillo sound-alike. Whether he will prove his worth as a better navigator remains to be seen . . . if not, we could always take a train . . .