France and home

Having escaped the Relax hotel and their €80 breakfast

We started at 7.00 to avoid the receptionist. And fired up the BMW for the blast home as soon as possible.

It's in the D1084 just off the A40 junction 8 . Please avoid.

Plotting a route towards Dijon we sped up the A40 to put last night behind us towards Bourg-en-Bresse. Turning right just before hitting the town, onto the A39 to Dijon.

Heading right just before Dijon onto the A31. We were getting ready for a coffee. Pulling into a place just north of Dijon we fuelled up and went to the service area.

Very impressed with the cleanliness, it was spotlessly clean.

The coffee however was a bank of machine's as you can see below. The choice of breakfast was simple. A choice of either chocolate or plain pastries. All wrapped in plastic and looked like they were made to last. For years

We some of those in the glove box for emergencies. So declined and decided on one coffee to share. However as we both hated it nobody wanted their share.

The shop to buy this great choice from was, however fully stocked with as many varieties and different colours of mustard. Clue's in the location, I suppose.

I've never seen so much mustard. But we didn't fancy it as a breakfast alternative.

Leaving the service area and back to the car we saw this van. Very retro and French. It was a Citroen van and looked quite new. Loved it.

The French, to reluctantly give them some credit. The French have suddenly started to produce some really good cars The new Renault 5 looks incredible and I must visit my ex colleagues at Renault and try one.

My favourite drive over the last few years has been a few experiences driving and Alpine A110. What an incredible car. And money no object. This is one I would buy over any Ferrari or other sports car. An incredible car. And at the price miles better per £ than anything on sale. Try one.

The other thing we saw for the first time in a while was a UK registered car. As it was parked as you can see. On double yellow lines right outside the door or the place blocking the entrance. It has to be a Land Rover. Obviously.

We then drank a little of the coffee and ate our emergency pasties in the car and headed for England.

The A31, turned into the A5 toward Troyes and the BMW made light work of the motorway and ate up the miles in the comfort we had gotten used to.

Passing Troyes the A5 turned into the A26 heading for Saint Quentin. Where we stopped for something to eat as by then the hunger kicked in and the preservatives in the pastries was wearing off.

We saw a McDonald's. Actually we searched for one.

Grabbed a burger each and headed for Calais keeping on the A26 all the way now.

The one thing to love about France is the motorway system and quality of the road surface. It's billiard table smooth and at this time of year, quiet.

The BMW was purring along the wind noise if the convertible was now something we didn't hear and the car just sat at 70mph and didn't complain once. I even decided to open it up and shot past 110 with ease. That six cylinder engine needed to stretch a bit after six years in a Sicilian garage.

We arrived at Calais and hour and a half ahead of our booking slot. But as there were only 3 cars in the queue. Were were waved on. After the simple passport control. I imagine the French are glad to see us go. ( Like the boats)

The British one before entering the train was a little longer but they needed something to do .Only three cars remember . We boarded the train with the car and waited. However there was soon an announcement that the train wouldn't be leaving for over an hour. ( Our original slot time). So we stretched our legs chatted to the people behind and waited.

Le Shuttle

We left the train. And weaved our way onto the dark British roads. I always have to readjust to driving in the left. I don't going to Europe. I find it easier. No idea why.

The M20 soon turned into the M25 and the road surface started to make the BMW feel old and creaky. Noisy surfaces and full of potholes that the French motorways just doesn't have.

The M25 soon turned into the A41 to Aylesbury, home and bed.

Work tomorrow 🥵