Wimeraux – Camberley

Our last day has arrived. Who would have thought it?

To finish as we started Jon went out to the boulongerie and got a croissant and pain au chocolate each for us (everything seems better after a couple of pastries) and we had fresh coffee with it. How many pastries have we eaten this holiday I wonder? Have I eaten my own weight in them perhaps? It has to be close.

Anyway, after the pastry eating, some reading (me) and programming (Jon) we set off for Calais – taking the rather lovely coast road rather than the motorway.

Once we got to Calais we located the shopping centre type place to get some wine. It seemed like what we had to do – fill the van with boxes of french wine – so we did. Well. OK, we didn't actually fill the van (what do you take us for?) We bought 30 bottles of wine and a small box of stubby beers. Pretty restrained eh?

That took up quite a lot of time – and yet I still didn't remember to buy any paprika crisps to take home (love those things – why don't they have them at home?) or any sweets for the journey. Ah well.

We rocked up to the Sea France place – bought our ticket home (€120 – ouch!) and then got in the queue ready for a 5pm sailing. That was it. Time to go home.

I was alright about it all until then – suddenly I realised that this was it, we really were going home and suddenly – I didn't want to :( Of course I knew we had to – we can't afford to travel around in the van forever, and – seriously – my back can't take much more of that bed, but still, the reality of it was a bit sad.

Still. That's the way it goes – and we were on the ferry, nice crossing - pretty calm - and off to blighty before we knew it.

Then it was white cliffs of Dover, M25 and home.

4,150 miles and 47 days after leaving - we were back!

Everything is fine here, there was a lot of post and the garden has gone bonkers, but it's all still standing, there have been no floods or fires - which is good.

It was such a great trip - we had a really great time and saw so much stuff and did so much, but also me & Jon spent a good lot of time together - which we haven't really done in ages - and although we had a few arguments (and a couple were REALLY good ones) we mostly had really good fun together - which was great.

Highly recommended.

Also great was the van - apart from that minor fuel leak in the first week, we haven't had any trouble at all, which is fantastic. Long may it last!

Hope you have enjoyed the blog - look forward to catching up with everyone soon (offers of drinks/running dates/free lunches all welcome) - please come back next year (hopefully) for the sequel :)

The End.