Tuesday 31 May

Despite feeling under the weather we managed a good start so with nothing to hold us up – heating etc is now on internet control – we proceeded onto the A1. Travelling at a brisker pace than normal it still seemed to take ages to get anywhere and the gradually declining weather didn't help. Jamie of course was as good as gold, jumping into his cage and settling down to sleep for almost the entire journey.

Having an appointment which looked like we were going to make easily we were somewhat concerned to run into almost stationary traffic at Tibshelf Services in Derbyshire, so decided to take a break and hope it cleared soon. Turned out to be a caravan that had overturned and completely blocked the motorway which of course then created chaos for the rest of the day. Luckily by the time we were ready to carry on traffic had started moving again so we didn't “lose” too much time, although our appointment now started looking a little tight.

It was here at Tibshelf we realised the first two things we'd forgotten – the chaps phone number (not important, he rang us in the end) and the dog gate, a LOT more important so we'll have to see about getting another.

We differed from TomTom and took the M69/A46 across country to join the M40, which completely flummoxed it and repeatedly told us we were going to be an hour late – until we got onto the M40 when it changed it's mind. However it didn't help when we discovered we had input the wrong services, so we were late anyway. No worries the chap was very understanding and the deal was quickly completed.

So on to Little Acre just a few miles away and we were greeted by the usual friendly owner, in pouring rain of course, who told us to remain on the hardstanding forecourt as the grass was rather soggy. £12 changed hands and we settled down for the evening. Terry was by now feeling very delicate and had hardly eaten all day, so as the rain stopped we decided to walk down to the local pub to get something to eat.

Then Jamie got out! He thought it was great being chased round this huge garden and was in no mind to come back to the van for anything. Took us 30 mins to eventually round him up, but that just reinforced our need to get a replacement dog gate.

The meal was fine, but neither of us could finish it so we returned to Little Acre to try and order a dog gate for collection on our way to Folkestone. High Wycombe was just off our route so we arranged that – aren't Argos wonderful!

Then an early night although there's no rush in the morning. Unless Terrys health deteriorates we've decided to take our crossing then perhaps stay a couple of nights on t'other side of the Channel to recover.

Well, not an auspicious start!

We had moved the start of our trip back a couple of days so we could go to a neighbours wedding reception, but while we were getting ready Bren was overtaken by a nasty stomach bug, so we didn't go. Not to be outdone, of course, Terry quickly latched on to a milder, but longer lasting version which left us both right out of sorts for getting everything ready. This showed up later of course when we started realising what we'd left behind – so much for check lists!

Of course, what we should have done is called Eurotunnel and put our crossing back a couple of days. But Terry had sold a bike rack to a chap from Brecon, in Wales, and had agreed to meet him at Oxford Services on 31^st May so we just had to carry on. Bren recovered okay but Terry was somewhat under the weather and the thought of a 250 mile drive was a little unwelcome.

 Ah well, needs must so we carried on with our plans.

We've got a Caravan Club CL booked close to the Service Area so if things get too bad we will make changes then.

In the beginning..

Terry has always wanted to see Scandinavia, especially after some years ago when we crossed on the North Shields to Bergen, via Stavanger ferry on one of their three day trips. Sadly there are now no direct crossings from the UK to anywhere in Scandinavia so we're going to have to go the "pretty" way. Having now learned how to make pictures out of Autoroute maps, here is our proposed route:

We intend to take in all the capital cities , as well as a few others we've learned about. Highlights will be a visit to Santa Claus Village in Finland (sad ain't we?) and Nordkapp, the furthest north you can drive in Mainland Europe and the Land of the Midnight Sun. We haven't yet decided if we will travel north through Sweden and Finland, then south through Norway, or t'other way round, although all the advice we've received leads to the former. However we shall see.

So Chunnel booked, van cleaned, polished and loaded, we're ready for the off on Tuesday 31 May.